Chris Sale Adds Gold Glove to Trophy Case in Unforgettable 2024 Season

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Chris Sale secured his first-ever Rawlings National League Gold Glove Award.
Chris Sale secured his first-ever Rawlings National League Gold Glove Award.

The Braves’ legacy of top-tier pitching just added another accolade. Chris Sale secured his first-ever Rawlings National League Gold Glove Award on Sunday night. Sale steps into the ranks of Braves pitchers who have excelled defensively with this award.

That is a category where Atlanta has historically led the pack. In fact, Braves pitchers have now claimed a stunning 20 of the 47 Gold Gloves awarded to NL pitchers over the past 50 years.

Sale’s honor highlights a season where his achievements went well beyond defense. The 35-year-old left-hander put up numbers that make him a frontrunner for other significant awards, including the Cy Young and the Comeback Player of the Year.

Sale dominated the National League with an 18-win season, led in ERA at 2.38, and tallied 225 strikeouts, earning the coveted Triple Crown for pitchers in 2024. This combination of power pitching and defensive reliability demonstrates a return to form for Sale.

Sale’s defensive performance was flawless with no errors across the season and four defensive runs saved. That is a career-best that placed him third among all NL pitchers. His efforts in fielding his position helped reinforce the value of pitchers who excel from the rubber and across the entire field of play.

Chris Sale joins a prestigious list of former Braves pitchers who have excelled on the defensive front. This list includes Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who won five Gold Gloves from 1978 to 1983, and Greg Maddux, who set a nearly unbeatable record with ten consecutive Gold Gloves from 1993 to 2002. More recent Braves Gold Glove winners include Mike Hampton in 2003 and Max Fried, who earned three straight from 2020 to 2022.

While Sale’s Gold Glove win is certainly a high point, he wasn’t the only Brave contending for a defensive accolade. First baseman Matt Olson was a finalist. Unfortunately, he was beat out by the Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker, who claimed his third consecutive Gold Glove at first base.

Sale’s success reflects a season of hard-earned accolades and highlights the Braves’ enduring tradition of excellence on the mound and in the field. With an award-winning defense and some of the league’s most impactful arms, Atlanta’s rotation is poised to remain dominant.