Atlanta Braves righthander John Smoltz has struggled throughout his career to live up to other people's expectations. Despite compiling an above-average record in his first seven seasons, he never could become one of the best pitchers in baseball. That all changed in 1996 when Smoltz quieted all his critics with a spectacular season. He won a major-league high 24 games and earned the National League Cy Young Award as that league's best pitcher. Now that he has arrived as one of the top hurlers in the major leagues, Smoltz can enjoy playing baseball once again.

Growing up

Tiger toddler

John Andrew Smoltz Jr. was born May 15, 1967, in Warren, Michigan, but grew up in Lansing, Michigan, the state capital. He is the oldest of John and Mary Smoltz's three children. His father owned an electronics shop and his mother was a homemaker.

Smoltz grew up as a Detroit Tiger fan. His...