Atlanta Braves icons John Smoltz and Ryan Klesko are no strangers to high-stakes battles. But this time, instead of facing batters and pitchers, the pair found themselves squaring off with the IRS. And the verdict is not good for them.
The two former Braves stars jointly purchased a large 1,561-acre property north of Macon, Georgia, dubbing it Buckelew Farms. They later claimed a massive $50 million valuation on the land, citing a potential residential development plan. That valuation, they argued, entitled them to a charitable tax deduction after placing the property under conservation.
IRS Rules Against Atlanta Braves Icons
In fact, a tax appeals judge just ruled that the land was actually worth closer to $7.4 million — not even one-sixth of what Smoltz and Klesko claimed. The court shredded their argument, noting that the lofty valuation was “firmly planted somewhere in the realm of fantasy.”
Adding insult to injury, the ruling also referenced how the duo had tried to sell the land for $14 million just a year ago — and couldn’t find any buyers, even at that lower price.
The result? Their company is now stuck with a hefty 40% penalty for overvaluing the land and inflating the deduction.
For Braves fans who remember John Smoltz as the Hall of Fame anchor of Atlanta’s pitching dynasty and Klesko as the big-swinging slugger with that “Captain Caveman” cut, this latest chapter is more surprising than any ninth-inning drama. But unlike baseball, there’s no arguing balls and strikes with the IRS.
To be clear, neither Smoltz nor Klesko is facing jail time. These kinds of tax disputes are common, especially around conservation easements. Still, the ruling leaves the former teammates with a painful financial hit — and a cautionary tale about trying to have it both ways with Uncle Sam.
