The Greenville Braves were an American minor league baseball franchise, based in Greenville, South Carolina , that served as the Class AA farm team of the Atlanta Braves between 1984 and 2004. The Braves played in Greenville Municipal Stadium for all 21 years of their existence.
128-404: The team had much success and many famous future Atlanta players such as Tom Glavine , Chipper Jones , Javy López , Jason Marquis , Eddie Pérez , Andruw Jones , and John Rocker played there. They won multiple Southern League championships, and the 1992 edition, managed by Grady Little and featuring Chipper Jones and López, won 100 out of 143 games (.699) during the regular season to take
256-702: A 13–13 record and a respectable 3.53 ERA. The Mets' faith in Glavine was rewarded when he returned to his old form during the 2006 season. He finished one victory shy of the NL lead in wins and was selected to the All-Star team. That season Tom Glavine became the first Mets left-hander in nearly 30 years to start at least thirty games in four consecutive seasons. Glavine and the Mets got a scare in August 2006. His pitching shoulder
384-748: A 1982 playoff game known as the Miracle on Manchester . In 1988, the Kings traded with the Oilers to get their captain Wayne Gretzky , leading to a successful phase of the franchise that raised hockey's popularity in Los Angeles, and helped elevate the sport's profile in the American Sun Belt region. Gretzky, fellow Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille , and defenseman Rob Blake led the Kings to
512-666: A 2.47 ERA. Years later, after Glavine joined the Mets and Maddux played for the San Diego Padres , the three (along with Smoltz who still pitched for Atlanta) all recorded wins on the same day, June 27, 2007. The Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians in six games in the 1995 World Series , and Glavine was named the Series MVP . He won two games during that series: Game 2 and Game 6. In Game 6, he pitched eight innings of one- hit shutout baseball. In addition to
640-485: A 5–0 deficit in the third period and eventually win in overtime – the Kings upset the vaunted Oilers, but they wound up eliminated by eventual finalists Vancouver Canucks in five games. The 1982 off-season saw the moribund Rockies move to East Rutherford, New Jersey . To keep the divisions geographically and numerically balanced, the renamed New Jersey Devils were re-aligned to the Patrick Division while
768-828: A contract in December to become coach and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks with just months left on his Kings contract – eventually being suspended by NHL President John Ziegler for creating a conflict of interest - and Dionne left the franchise in March in a trade to the New York Rangers . Despite these shocks, a young squad that would lead the Kings into the next decade, including star forwards Bernie Nicholls , Jimmy Carson , Luc Robitaille , and defenseman Steve Duchesne , started to flourish under head coach Mike Murphy , who played thirteen season with
896-658: A dramatic reversal in the Braves' competitive fortunes as they won the National League pennant and earned a trip to the World Series , though they lost to the Minnesota Twins in seven games. In an era of the diminishing 20-game winner (there were none in the majors in 2006 and 2009), Glavine became the last major league pitcher to win 20 games in three straight years (1991–1993). Atlanta, long thought of as
1024-653: A few bright spots in the form of draft picks that would attribute to future success for the team, beginning with the 2003 NHL entry draft . Players such as Dustin Brown (2003), Anze Kopitar , Jonathan Quick (both 2005), and Drew Doughty (2008) were drafted and would help the Kings reach the playoffs once again. During the 2009–10 season, the team had built a consistent roster with goaltender Jonathan Quick , defenseman Drew Doughty , and forwards Dustin Brown , Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams . Finishing sixth overall in
1152-454: A left-hander, gradually lost velocity over the latter part of his career. Even at the end of his career, he was an effective starting pitcher in the National League due to his excellent control and deception, changing speeds, and locating pitches off the outside corner of the strike zone. His most common approach was to begin by locating his circle changeup off the outside corner, then follow with alternating fastballs and changeups to confuse
1280-423: A new line with two young, mostly unknown players: second-year right winger Dave Taylor and left winger Charlie Simmer , who had been a career minor-leaguer. Each player benefited from each other, with Simmer being the gritty player who battled along the boards, Taylor being the play maker, and Dionne being the natural goal scorer. This line combination, known as the "Triple Crown Line", would go on to become one of
1408-455: A notable highlight during that year on March 23, 1994, when he scored his 802nd career goal to pass Gordie Howe as the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer. At the same time, McNall defaulted on a loan from Bank of America , who threatened to force the Kings into bankruptcy unless he sold the team. After the federal government launched an investigation into his financial practices, McNall finally sold
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#17327811844741536-412: A one-year, $ 13 million contract option for the 2008 season with the Mets on October 5, 2007, ending his tenure with the team. However, he did collect a $ 3 million buyout when he declined the $ 13 million option. On November 18, 2007, Glavine rejoined the Braves, seemingly bringing his career full circle, with a one-year contract worth $ 8 million. On April 18, 2008, Glavine was placed on
1664-545: A perennial cellar dweller, was lifted in the 1990s into one of the most successful franchises in the game on the strength of its stellar pitching staff and solid hitting. After the Braves signed free-agent Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs in 1993, Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz formed one of the best pitching rotations in baseball history. Among them, they won seven Cy Young Awards during the period of 1991 to 1998. Glavine won his second Cy Young Award in 1998, going 20–6 with
1792-551: A personal highlight at the end of the season, however, when the Mets called up his brother Mike to join the team. Glavine began 2004 well, highlighted by a May 23 one-hit shutout of the Colorado Rockies and selection to the National League All-Star team. However, he struggled again during a second half marred by losing front teeth in a car accident while riding in a taxicab. He went on to post
1920-452: A plus- curve ball , a slider , and a tailing two-seam fastball. Despite being a left-handed pitcher, Glavine was often more effective against right-handed batters. Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully noted that this attribute was likely due to Glavine pitching from the extreme right edge of the pitching rubber . Like longtime Atlanta teammates Greg Maddux and John Smoltz , Glavine was one of
2048-510: A plus-minus rating of -9, despite the heavy expectations that came with his new deal. His first season with the Kings would be his only one, as he would be traded in a one-for-one deal to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper , who had previously spent time with the Kings. The Los Angeles Kings debuted in the NHL wearing purple – officially the shade "Forum blue" – and gold uniforms. The original design
2176-403: A record of 40–27–15, the Kings became the first defending Stanley Cup champion to miss the postseason since the 2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes and only the fourth overall since the 1967 NHL expansion season. At the start of the 2015–16 season, the Kings were expected to make the playoffs. They entered the playoffs as the fifth seed in their conference and second seed in their division. They faced
2304-414: A score of 2–1, Canadiens coach Jacques Demers requested a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley 's stick blade. His suspicions proved to be correct, as the curve of blade was too great, and McSorley was penalized. The Canadiens pulled their goaltender, Patrick Roy , giving them a two-man advantage, and Eric Desjardins scored on the resulting power play to tie the game. Montreal went on to win
2432-808: A senior, he was named the Merrimack Valley 's Most Valuable Player. In baseball, he led his team to the Division I North Title and the Eastern Massachusetts Championship as a senior. He graduated from high school in 1984 with honors. Glavine was elected to the Billerica Memorial/Howe High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. Glavine was drafted by both the Los Angeles Kings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft (in
2560-522: A slightly better record, though still a losing one, going 11–14. He started off 2005 slowly, but rebounded after advice from pitching coach Rick Peterson , who encouraged Glavine to begin pitching inside more often (including a change-up in) and incorporate a curveball in his repertoire. Glavine's turnaround helped him earn National League Pitcher of the Month in September. He finished the season with
2688-420: A suburb of Los Angeles. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the Kings had many years marked by impressive play in the regular season only to be washed out by early playoff exits. Their highlights in those years included the strong goaltending of Rogie Vachon , and the "Triple Crown Line" of Charlie Simmer , Dave Taylor and Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne , who had a famous upset of the rising Edmonton Oilers in
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#17327811844742816-875: A sufficient financial package to build a new stadium as the cause of the move. With the Greenville Braves out, the Greenville Bombers (formerly the Capital City Bombers ), Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox , moved into the old Braves stadium in 2005. In 2006, a brand new stadium located in Downtown Greenville, Fluor Field at the West End , opened and the Bombers changed their name to
2944-546: A trade to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. He would be dealt to the St. Louis Blues in 1996. On October 6, 1995, one day before the 1995–96 season opener , a bankruptcy court approved the purchase of the Kings by Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski for $ 113.5 million. The subsequent rebuild saw the Kings only return to the playoffs in 1998 , led by captain Rob Blake and players like Jozef Stumpel and Glen Murray , where
3072-471: Is the 23rd pitcher to win 300 games, and the fifth left-handed pitcher to do so, joining Eddie Plank , Lefty Grove , Warren Spahn , and Steve Carlton . ( Randy Johnson won his 300th game on June 4, 2009, becoming the 24th pitcher and 6th left-hander to do so.) On September 30, 2007, Glavine started the final game of the Mets' 2007 regular season against the Florida Marlins . The Mets, tied with
3200-578: The 1976–77 season after constant feuding with then owner Jack Kent Cooke, and General Manager Jake Milford decided to leave as well. This led to struggles in the 1977–78 season , where the Kings finished below .500 and were easily swept out of the first round by the Maple Leafs. Afterwards, Vachon became a free agent and sign with the Red Wings. The following season, Kings coach Bob Berry tried juggling line combinations, and Dionne found himself on
3328-408: The 2014 Stadium Series . The uniforms featured a metallic treatment of the alternate crown logo in front. The sleeve numbers were slightly tilted diagonally, while the back numbers were enlarged for visibility purposes. A new 'LA' alternate logo was placed on the left shoulder yoke. For the 2015 Stadium Series, the Kings wore a tricolored jersey featuring the team's silver, black and white colors. Both
3456-520: The 2014–15 season as the early favorites to retain their title. However, the Kings struggled often, with scoring slumps, defensemen losing games to injury and suspensions and frequent road losses. A defeat to the Calgary Flames in the penultimate game of the season eliminated the Kings from playoff contention, while qualifying Calgary, which coincidentally missed the postseason during the Kings' five-season playoff streak. Despite finishing with
3584-623: The 2017 MLB draft but chose to play at Auburn University . He currently pitches in the Washington Nationals organization. They live in Johns Creek, Georgia , and Glavine coaches his sons' hockey teams. Glavine is a Roman Catholic and is a member of Catholic Athletes for Christ. Glavine is known for being humble about his accomplishments and an avid golfer, so a good friend, Jack Kennedy, gifted Glavine six dozen golf balls that display his uniform number, 47, on one side and
3712-543: The Detroit Red Wings . Behind Dionne's offensive prowess, the strong goaltending of Rogie Vachon, and the speed and scoring touch of forward Butch Goring , the Kings played two of their most thrilling seasons yet, with playoff match ups against the then- Atlanta Flames in the first round, and the Boston Bruins in the second round, both times being eliminated by Boston. Bob Pulford left the Kings after
3840-769: The Greenville Drive . Greenville also hosted a team in the low Class A Western Carolinas League —the former identity (1960–79) of the South Atlantic League—called the Braves as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves in 1963 and 1964. This two-year affiliation was brief, but produced the 1963 playoff champions of the WCL. When the New York Mets replaced the Braves as the team's parent in 1965,
3968-700: The Houston Astros . Glavine finished the 2006 season with a fine 15–7 record and a 3.82 ERA, as the Mets won the National League Eastern Division , allowing him to make his first playoff appearance since leaving the Braves. He started Game 2 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers , pitching six shutout innings and surrendering only four hits to pick up the win, as the Mets went on to sweep
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4096-905: The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , home of the Lakers, but the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which managed the Sports Arena (and still manages the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum today), had already entered into an agreement with the WHL's Los Angeles Blades (whose owners had also tried to land the NHL expansion franchise in Los Angeles) to play their games at the Sports Arena. Frustrated by his dealings with
4224-563: The New Jersey Devils , and 2014 over the New York Rangers , while Quick and Williams respectively won the Conn Smythe Trophy . The franchise has had mixed success since; to the present day, the Kings qualified for the playoffs for the last three consecutive seasons, but only five times in the last decade, never advancing past the first round. When the NHL decided to expand for the 1967–68 season amid rumblings that
4352-534: The Philadelphia Phillies after having squandered a seven-game lead over the past sixteen games, needed a win to either win the division or force a playoff game with the Phillies for the division. Unfortunately, Glavine made one of the worst starts of his career, allowing seven runs while recording only one out, and the Mets were eliminated from playoff contention with an 8–1 loss. Glavine declined
4480-525: The San Jose Sharks , but lost to them in five games. On June 16, 2016, the Kings named Anze Kopitar the 14th captain in team history, replacing Dustin Brown, who had led the team for the past eight seasons. The Kings celebrated their 50th anniversary during the 2016–17 season along with the other still active 1967 expansion teams (the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins), and for
4608-532: The Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, which was built by Anschutz and Roski. Staples Center was a state-of-the-art arena, complete with luxury suites and all modern amenities. With a new home, a new coach ( Andy Murray ), a potential 50-goal scorer in the fold in Zigmund Palffy , and players such as Blake, Robitaille, Murray, Stumpel, Donald Audette , Ian Laperrière , and Mattias Norstrom ,
4736-560: The West Division and missed the playoffs again. During the 2021 NHL expansion draft , the Seattle Kraken selected Kurtis MacDermid from the Kings, who was left unprotected. In the lead-up to the 2021–22 season , the Kings acquired forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson during the off-season. They also signed defenseman Alexander Edler in an effort to bolster their blue line presence. The Kings qualified for
4864-567: The Western Hockey League (WHL) was proposing to turn itself into a major league and compete for the Stanley Cup , Canadian entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke paid the NHL $ 2 million to place one of the six expansion teams in Los Angeles. Following a fan contest to name the team, Cooke chose the name Kings because he wanted his club to take on "an air of royalty," and picked the original team colors of purple (or "Forum Blue", as it
4992-560: The Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois , who signed an eight-year, $ 68 million contract upon being traded. The 2023–24 season got off to a strong start, as the team began the season with an 11-0-0 record on the road, breaking the NHL record (previously held by the Buffalo Sabres ) for the longest unbeaten road streak to start the year. Goaltender Cam Talbot 's resurgent play lead to him being named to
5120-526: The Winnipeg Jets took their place in the Smythe Division. It was immediately apparent that the Kings, now the lone American team in the division, would have a much more difficult time staying out of last place since Winnipeg, after struggling for their first two seasons after moving over from the WHA , had already improved to a .500 record the previous season. Despite Dionne's leadership, the Kings missed
5248-587: The disabled list (DL) for the first time in his 22-year career. On May 14, 2008, Glavine won his first game with the Atlanta Braves since September 19, 2002. This was also his 304th win, and it occurred while the Atlanta Braves were playing against the Philadelphia Phillies . Coincidentally, both his win on September 19, 2002, and May 14, 2008, were against the Phillies. On August 14, 2008, Glavine appeared in his final game. He started against
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5376-482: The 1980s. In 1987, coin collector Bruce McNall purchased the Kings from Buss and turned the team into a Stanley Cup contender almost overnight. After changing the team colors to silver and black, McNall acquired the league's best player, Wayne Gretzky, in a blockbuster trade with the Edmonton Oilers on August 9, 1988. The trade rocked the hockey world, especially north of the border, where Canadians mourned
5504-414: The 1988–1998 Kings motif. The current logo, now in a black and silver banner with the updated crown logo and 'LA' abbreviation on top, made its debut with the jersey. Three years later, the Kings completed the transition back to the classic black and silver by unveiling a new away jersey, which unlike the home jersey, features a black and silver tail stripe. The Kings script from their 1988–98 logo returned on
5632-648: The 2000–01 season, whereupon they swept the second-seeded St. Louis Blues, advancing to the conference finals for only the second time in franchise history. In doing so, the Kings also became the first NHL team to enter the playoffs as the eighth seed and eliminate the first- and second-seeded teams in the conference. They then defeated Phoenix in five games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals , culminating in an overtime goal by Dustin Penner in Game 5, and thus becoming
5760-519: The 2012 playoffs. After losing the first two games, the Kings won four in a row to eliminate the Blues in six games. In the second round, they then played a very tough San Jose Sharks team, this time with home-ice advantage. In the first game, Jarret Stoll suffered an injury from the Sharks' Raffi Torres , who ended up being suspended for the rest of the series. The Kings eventually won in seven games. In
5888-488: The 2019–20 season, the Kings brought back the 1992–1998 white uniform (with black letters and silver trim) as a heritage uniform for two games. The 2020 Stadium Series saw the Kings wear special black and white uniforms with "LA" tilted upward in front, along with chrome helmets. The uniforms took cues from the angular architecture and aircraft of the United States Air Force Academy . In
6016-504: The 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. However, in January, the Kings' season collapsed; despite making no major lineup or personnel changes, the Kings suddenly won just three of their final seventeen games before the all-star break. On February 2, 2024, the Kings fired head coach McLellan, with assistant Jim Hiller named interim head coach. Under Hiller, the Kings regained their footing but never fully returned to their stronger form from earlier in
6144-513: The Atlanta Braves team representative to the Major League Baseball Players Association , succeeding former NL Most Valuable Player and Braves icon Dale Murphy in the position. Prior to and during the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike , Tom Glavine was heavily involved in negotiations between the union and team owners and was frequently interviewed and quoted in the press about the talks. Ultimately,
6272-470: The Chicago Cubs, and he gave up seven runs in only four innings. A few days later, he was placed on the disabled list because of a recurring shoulder injury. On February 19, 2009, Glavine agreed to return to Atlanta by signing a $ 1 million, one-year contract that included another $ 3.5 million in possible bonuses based on roster time. However, the Braves released Glavine on June 3, 2009, as he
6400-483: The Coliseum Commission, Cooke said, "I am going to build my own arena. ... I've had enough of this balderdash." Construction on Cooke's new arena, the Forum , was not yet complete when the 1967–68 season began, so the Kings opened their first season at the Long Beach Arena in the neighboring city of Long Beach on October 14, 1967, defeating another expansion team, the Philadelphia Flyers , 4–2. The "Fabulous Forum" finally opened its doors on December 30, 1967, with
6528-460: The Colorado Avalanche once again, this time in the first round. The series would prove to be a carbon copy of their previous meeting, with the Kings behind three games to one and bouncing back to tie the series, only to be dominated in the seventh game and eliminated. The next seasons would be major disappointments as the Kings hit another major decline, missing the postseason up until the 2009–10 season . During those mediocre seasons, there would be
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#17327811844746656-472: The Colorado Avalanche six years earlier, but near the trade deadline, the Kings traded him to Tampa Bay for another goaltender, Ben Bishop who shared the crease with Jonathan Quick down the stretch, the superstar having returned from his injury. Despite the trade, the Kings ultimately missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons and, in the off-season, fired general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Darryl Sutter. Assistant general manager Rob Blake
6784-417: The Kings and was their captain for seven years, and his replacement Robbie Ftorek . The Kings made the playoffs for two seasons, but they were unable to get out of the first round given the playoff structuring forced them to play either the Oilers or the equally powerful Calgary Flames en route to the conference finals. In all, the Kings faced either the Oilers or the Flames in the playoffs four times during
6912-443: The Kings became the first team since the 2007 Anaheim Ducks to win the Stanley Cup at home, as well as the second Californian NHL team to do so. The Kings became the first eight seed champion in any of the North American major leagues, the first Stanley Cup champion that finished below fifth in its conference, and the third to finish below second in its division (after the 1993 Canadiens and the 1995 Devils). Goaltender Jonathan Quick
7040-490: The Kings being shut out by the Flyers, 2–0. While the first two seasons had the Kings qualifying for the playoffs, afterwards poor management led the Kings into hard times. The general managers established a history of trading away first-round draft picks, usually for veteran players, and attendance suffered during this time. Eventually the Kings made a few key acquisitions to resurge as a contender. By acquiring Toronto Maple Leafs winger Bob Pulford , who would later become
7168-413: The Kings finished with a 39–35–10 record (88 points), clinching third place in the Smythe Division. Heavily contested series in the 1993 playoffs had the Kings eliminating the Flames, Canucks and Leafs en route to their first berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. In the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals , the Kings faced the Montreal Canadiens . They won the first game 4–1, but late in Game 2, with the Kings leading by
7296-485: The Kings fired Stevens as head coach after the team started the 2018–19 season 4–8–1, and replaced him with Willie Desjardins . In Desjardins' debut on November 7, the Kings defeated the Ducks 4–1. The Kings finished the 2018–19 season in last place in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference with 71 points and they missed the playoffs for the third time in five seasons. The Kings hired Todd McLellan as their next head coach on April 16, 2019. The 2019–20 season
7424-419: The Kings improved dramatically, finishing the season the 1999–2000 season with a 39–31–12–4 record (94 points), good for second place in the Pacific Division. While Audette would struggle under the Kings' system and was unhappy as the number two right wing, most of the new Kings like Bryan Smolinski and Palffy would find success under Andy Murray. But in the 2000 playoffs, the Kings were once again dispatched in
7552-418: The Kings only resurging as they broke a six-year playoff drought in the 2009–10 season , with a team that included goaltender Jonathan Quick , defenseman Drew Doughty , and forwards Dustin Brown , Anze Kopitar , and Justin Williams . Under coach Darryl Sutter , who was hired early in the 2011–12 season , and with the acquisition of Jeff Carter , the Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years: 2012 over
7680-407: The Kings the first team in history to accomplish this feat, but they also managed to win all game sevens on opposing ice. For the third time, the Kings were finalists after finishing third in their division and sixth or lower in their conference. In the Stanley Cup Finals , the Kings faced the Eastern Conference -winning New York Rangers , who had defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games in
7808-433: The Kings' colors changed to black and silver, mirroring those of the Los Angeles Raiders . The new uniforms did not deviate much from the prior design, save for the color scheme, a new primary Kings logo, and a switch from a contrasting yoke color to sleeve stripes. With minor changes to the text, number font and pant striping, the uniforms were used until the 1997–98 season . The Kings briefly reintroduced purple and gold to
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#17327811844747936-505: The Kings' head coach, in 1970, Finnish center Juha Widing in a trade from the New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Rogie Vachon in 1971, the Kings went from being one of the worst defensive teams in the league to one of the best, and in 1974 they returned to the playoffs. After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in both 1973–74 and 1974–75 , the Kings moved to significantly upgrade their offensive firepower when they acquired center Marcel Dionne from
8064-458: The Mets for the 2007 season, needing only 10 wins to reach 300 wins for his career. He started his fourth Opening Day game as a Met in the 2007 season. On August 5, 2007, Glavine won his 300th game, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball . In the game, he also was 1 for 2 with a run batted in and a walk . He pitched 6 + 1 ⁄ 3 innings and won 8–3, bringing his lifetime record to 300–197. Glavine
8192-426: The NHL's Kings did, as well as the Colorado Rockies (not to be confused with the NHL Rockies who became the New Jersey Devils ) of Major League Baseball . The bottom of the jerseys read the city name. A purple alternate jersey featuring the updated secondary crown logo was unveiled for the 1999–2000 season. In 2002, the crown logo became the primary while the shield logo was demoted to alternate status. The socks on
8320-404: The NHL's expanding or moving into other Sun Belt cities such as Dallas , Phoenix , Tampa , Miami , Nashville , and Las Vegas . In Gretzky's first season with the Kings, he led the team in scoring with 168 points on 54 goals and 114 assists and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player . The fourth overall Kings eliminated Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in
8448-409: The Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002. The Kings started off the season with a sluggish October and November, and then found their game again to finish with 95 points. They in fact were tied in points with the second-place Phoenix Coyotes, and only finished third in the Pacific Division and seventh in the West due to a head-to-head record — the Coyotes won the season series, 3–0–2. In the playoffs they met
8576-401: The West with 101 points, just the third 100-plus point season in franchise history, and establishing a franchise record with a nine-game unbeaten streak, the Kings returned to the playoffs, where they lost to a highly skilled third seeded Vancouver Canucks team in six games. The Kings entered the 2011 playoffs as the seventh seed in the West and played the second seeded San Jose Sharks in
8704-473: The better-hitting pitchers of his generation. He had a career .186 batting average —decent for a modern pitcher—and hit over .200 in nine seasons, with a career-best of .289 in 1996. He had a good eye, drawing a high number of walks (for a pitcher), which, combined with his hits, gave him a career on-base percentage of .244. Because Glavine got on base almost a quarter of the time he came at bat, opposing pitchers were never able to treat him as an automatic out in
8832-410: The black and purple uniforms also switched designations to match their counterparts. Upon moving to the Reebok Edge design in 2007, the jerseys were updated without the tail stripes. The purple-tinged road jerseys were used until the 2010–11 season, while the home jersey was demoted to alternate status in 2011 and remained in use until 2013. In 2008, the Kings unveiled an alternate jersey inspired by
8960-404: The championship won with the Braves in 1995, he pitched in four other World Series with the team (in 1991 , 1992 , 1996 , and 1999 ) when the Braves lost to the Minnesota Twins , Toronto Blue Jays , and New York Yankees twice, respectively. In 2003, Glavine left Atlanta to play for the rival New York Mets , signing a four-year, $ 42.5 million deal. Glavine's performance had slumped in
9088-444: The club to IDB Communications founder Jeffrey Sudikoff and former Madison Square Garden president Joseph Cohen. It later emerged that McNall's free-spending ways put the Kings in serious financial trouble; at one point, Cohen and Sudikoff were even unable to meet player payroll, and were ultimately forced into bankruptcy in 1995. They were forced to trade many of their stronger players, and the middling results led to Gretzky demanding
9216-518: The color scheme upon unveiling an alternate jersey for the 1995–96 season. The uniform featured a gradually fading black splash, medieval-inspired serif text, and a logo of a bearded figure wearing a golden crown. The so-called " Burger King " jersey proved to be unpopular with fans, and was scrapped after only one season. For the 1998–99 season, the Kings unveiled new logos, uniforms and a new purple-silver-white color scheme, as black and silver had become associated with gang colors . The shade of purple
9344-540: The conference finals, they faced the number one seed in the West and Presidents' Trophy winning- Chicago Blackhawks . After dropping the first two games, the Kings won Game 3 with Jeff Carter suffering an injury from Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith , who was suspended for Game 4 as a result. After losing Game 4, the Kings battled the Blackhawks through two overtime periods in Game 5, with Patrick Kane eventually scoring
9472-479: The conference finals. The Kings won the Stanley Cup in five games, culminating with an Alec Martinez goal in the second overtime of Game 5 at Staples Center . The championship run had a record-tying 26 playoff games (the 1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers and 2003–04 Calgary Flames being the others), with the Kings facing elimination a record seven times. With their Game 7 victory in the conference finals and wins in
9600-555: The deal, right wing Adam Deadmarsh and defenseman Aaron Miller , became impact players for the Kings, who finished the 2000–01 season with a 38–28–13–3 record (92 points), good for a third-place finish in the Pacific Division and another first-round playoff date with the Detroit Red Wings. The heavily favored Red Wings suffered an upset, losing in six games for the Kings' first playoff series win since 1993. In
9728-419: The eventual champion Oilers. Gretzky spearheaded the Kings to their first regular season division title in franchise history in the 1990–91 season, but the heavily favored Kings lost a close series against Edmonton in the second round that saw four games go into overtime. After a third straight elimination by the Oilers in 1992, Webster was fired. General manager Rogie Vachon was moved to a different position in
9856-422: The first line. The 2022–23 season would start off well, as Fiala would lead the team in points for much of the season and be elected to the 2023 All-Star Game . Clinching the 2023 playoffs , the Kings once again faced the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, this time losing in six games. The Kings made a blockbuster move in the 2023 off-season, trading forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari to
9984-545: The first round of the 2014 playoffs , the Kings played their in-state rivals, the San Jose Sharks. After losing the first three games to the Sharks, the Kings became the fourth team in NHL history to win the final four games in a row after initially being down three games to none, beating the Sharks in San Jose in the deciding Game 7. In the second round, the Kings played another in-state rival, Anaheim. After starting
10112-435: The first round of the 1989 playoffs before being swept out in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Flames. Clashes between Gretzky and head coach Robbie Ftorek led to Ftorek's dismissal, and he was replaced by Tom Webster . The next season , where Gretzky became the league's all-time leading scorer, was the inverse of its predecessor, with the Kings eliminating the defending champion Flames before falling to
10240-559: The first round, this time by the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep. The 2000–01 season was controversial, as fans began to question AEG's commitment to the success of the Kings because they failed to significantly improve the team during the off-season. Adding fuel to the fire was the February 21, 2001, trade of star defenseman and fan favorite Rob Blake to the Colorado Avalanche . Despite this, two players received in
10368-440: The first round. Despite Anze Kopitar's absence with injury, the Kings pushed the series to six games until an overtime goal by Joe Thornton qualified the Sharks. A bad start to the 2011–12 season resulted in coach Terry Murray being fired, with Darryl Sutter being chosen as his replacement. The Kings were much improved under Sutter, finishing with the eighth seed after trading for Jeff Carter midseason and having finishing
10496-561: The first time since 2002, they hosted the NHL All-Star Game ; Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty would represent the Kings at the All-Star Game, with the former leading the team in scoring this season. Goaltender Jonathan Quick suffered an injury on opening night that sidelined him for most of the season, and the Kings struggled without him. Backup Peter Budaj filled the void, earning his first starting duties since his time with
10624-529: The first two games of the Cup Finals, they became the first team to win three consecutive playoff games after trailing by more than one goal in each game. Justin Williams , who scored twice in the Cup Finals and had points in all three Game 7s throughout the playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Having won two Stanley Cup championships in the last three years, the Kings entered
10752-542: The fourth round, 69th overall —two rounds ahead of future National Hockey League star Brett Hull and five rounds ahead of Luc Robitaille , both 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees), and the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball organization in the second round of the 1984 amateur baseball draft. Glavine elected to play baseball and made his major league debut on August 17, 1987. Glavine had mixed results during his first four seasons in
10880-522: The franchise's sole division title in 1990–91 , and the Kings' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1993 , where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens . After the 1993 Finals, the Kings entered financial problems, with a bankruptcy in 1995, which led to the franchise being acquired by Philip Anschutz (the owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group and the operators of Crypto.com Arena) and Edward P. Roski . A period of mediocrity ensued, with
11008-504: The game in overtime on another goal by Desjardins, and the Kings never recovered. They dropped the next two games in overtime, and lost Game 5, 4–1, giving the Canadiens their league-leading 24th Stanley Cup in franchise history. The years after the 1993 playoff run were tough for the Kings, as a sluggish start in the 1993–94 season cost them a playoff berth, their first absence from the postseason since 1986. However, Gretzky provided
11136-407: The game-winning goal that won the game and the series, sending the Blackhawks to the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins (whom they defeated in six games for their second Stanley Cup in four seasons) and ending the Kings' season. During the 2013–14 season, the Kings acquired Marian Gaborik , and qualified for their fifth straight playoffs with the sixth-best result of the West. In
11264-549: The helmets, and would stay that way until 2013, when they were replaced by the current Kings script. From the 2010–11 to the 2016–17 seasons, the Kings have also worn their classic purple and gold jerseys from the late 1970s as part of "Legends Night" on select home dates. Minor changes in the uniform include the NHL shield logo on the neck piping, as well as the use of the Reebok Edge design. The Kings wore silver jerseys with white trim, black stripes and shoulder yoke during
11392-616: The highest-scoring line combinations in NHL history. During the first three seasons of the Triple Crown Line, a period where Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Kings, the Lakers, and the Forum for $ 67.5 million, the Kings were eliminated in the first round. The Kings regressed in 1981–82 finishing 17th overall, but this was nevertheless good enough to make the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs under the new format put in place that year as they were still fourth in their division with 63 points,
11520-557: The highly skilled St. Louis Blues swept the team in four games. The Kings suffered through an injury-plagued season in 1998–99 as they finished last in the Pacific Division and missed the playoffs with a 32–45–5 record, leading to the dismissal of head coach Larry Robinson . The Kings, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, made an even bigger move in 1999 , as they left The Forum after 32 seasons and moved to
11648-493: The hitter. While batters frequently made contact with his pitches, the substantial movement he placed on them made drives very soft, resulting in easily fielded ground balls and fly outs. Glavine's consistency was also highlighted by his durability; beginning with his first full year, in 1988, he started at least 25 games every season and was never placed on the disabled list until his final season—at age 42. In addition to his excellent changeup and well-controlled fastball, Glavine had
11776-427: The lineup. In 2004, Glavine walked as often as he struck out (10 times each). Glavine's 201 sacrifice bunts prior to 2007 ranked second among active players at the time, only behind Omar Vizquel . Glavine won four Silver Slugger Awards , ranking him second all-time for pitchers behind Mike Hampton , while being the most among Cy Young Award Winners and Hall of Famer pitchers. Starting in 1991, Tom Glavine served as
11904-671: The loss of a player they considered a national treasure. Gretzky's arrival generated much excitement about hockey and the NHL in Southern California, and the ensuing popularity of the Kings is credited for the arrival of another team in the region (the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, renamed the Anaheim Ducks in 2006), as well as the arrival of a new team in Northern California (the San Jose Sharks ) and
12032-473: The lowest point total of any playoff team but ahead of the Colorado Rockies , the worst team in the league that season. However, Los Angeles managed to upset the second overall Edmonton Oilers , who finished 48 points ahead of them during the season and were led by the young Wayne Gretzky . With two victories in Edmonton and one at the Forum – dubbed " Miracle on Manchester ", where the Kings managed to erase
12160-545: The majors, compiling a 33–43 record from 1987 to 1990, including a 17-loss performance in 1988. His fortunes turned around in 1991, when he won 20 games and posted a 2.55 earned run average . It was his first of three consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins, and saw him earn his first National League Cy Young Award . Glavine was the ace of the 1991 Braves' starting rotation that included Steve Avery , Charlie Leibrandt , and another future NL Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Fame inductee, John Smoltz . His season helped ensure
12288-484: The nickname was changed . The following is a list of the Greenville Braves season-by-season record. Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine (born March 25, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball , for the Atlanta Braves (1987–2002, 2008) and New York Mets (2003–2007). With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine earned
12416-633: The number of losses he had in his career on the other, 203. The gift was given around the time Glavine received the phone call that he would be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee. Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles . The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference . The team
12544-530: The organization and named Nick Beverley as his successor, and Beverley hired Barry Melrose , then with the American Hockey League 's Adirondack Red Wings , as head coach. Melrose would help the Kings reach new heights in the 1992–93 season , even if Gretzky missed 39 games with a career-threatening herniated thoracic disk. Led by Luc Robitaille, who served as captain in Gretzky's absence,
12672-706: The pennant, then captured the SL playoff title. The 1992 Braves were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time . After the 2004 season, the parent club in Atlanta transferred the G-Braves to Pearl, Mississippi , where the team is now known as the Mississippi Braves . The Braves cited an outdated stadium that did not meet current standards and the City of Greenville's unwillingness to create
12800-605: The playoffs for the first time in four seasons, despite losing Drew Doughty to injury. This season would also prove to be Dustin Brown's last, as the forward announced on April 28, 2022, that he would retire following the 2022 playoffs . They were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the first round. During the 2022 off-season, the Kings acquired Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild to replace Brown on
12928-437: The playoffs in the next two seasons. The Kings managed to record a winning record in 1984–85 under coach Pat Quinn , although it was still only good enough for fourth place. This time, the Kings were quickly swept out of the playoffs by the Oilers on their way to capturing their second-straight Stanley Cup championship. After a losing season in 1985–86 , the Kings saw two important departures during 1986–87 , as Quinn signed
13056-595: The regular season was officially ended, and the Kings were one of seven teams left out of the playoffs. They were automatically entered into the first phase of the 2020 NHL draft lottery , in which the Kings received the second overall pick. In the 2020–21 season , the Kings had another rebuilding year as they traded Jeff Carter , extended Alex Iafallo and saw debuts of prospects such as Jaret Anderson-Dolan , Arthur Kaliyev , Tobias Bjornfot , Rasmus Kupari and Quinton Byfield . A bright spot saw Anze Kopitar score his 1,000th point near season's end. They finished sixth in
13184-519: The season with a 40–27–15 record for 95 points. The Kings then headed into the 2012 playoffs against the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy -winning Vancouver Canucks . After playing two games in Vancouver and one in Los Angeles, the Kings were up 3–0 in the series, a franchise first. By winning Game 5 in Vancouver in overtime, the Kings advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since
13312-483: The season. They finished third in the Pacific Division and clinched the 2024 playoffs , where they would be eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers for the third year in a row, this time in five games. Hiller was subsequently promoted to full-time head coach following the season. Much discussion during and after the Kings' season centered around Pierre-Luc Dubois, as his season in Los Angeles was largely underwhelming. Dubois only managed 16 goals and 40 points, and finished with
13440-472: The second half of 2002 and he was ineffective in his two postseason starts, so Atlanta refused to guarantee a third year on his contract. Glavine struggled in his first year as a Met. For the first time since 1988, he failed to win 10 games, also posting his first losing record in that span, 9–14. He also allowed his first career grand slam, hit by José Vidro of the Expos on September 19. Glavine did get to enjoy
13568-466: The second round, the Kings forced seven games in their series against the Avalanche, but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions. Afterwards, during the off-season, Luc Robitaille turned down a one-year deal with a substantial pay cut and ended up signing with Detroit, as the Red Wings represented his best chance at winning the Stanley Cup, and like Tomas Sandstrom before him in 1997, Robitaille won
13696-499: The second team in NHL history to beat the top three Conference seeds in the playoffs (the Calgary Flames achieved the same feat in 2004, ironically also under Darryl Sutter) and the first eighth seed to accomplish the feat. Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Devils in the Cup Finals, defeating them in six games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. With the Game 6 victory occurring on home ice at Staples Center,
13824-559: The second-highest number of wins as a pitcher in the National League , second only to teammate Greg Maddux 's 176. He was a five-time 20-game winner and two-time Cy Young Award winner, and one of only 24 pitchers (and just six left-handers) in major league history to earn 300 career wins . He was the Most Valuable Player of the 1995 World Series as the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians . In 2014 , Glavine
13952-634: The series from the Dodgers. He then started Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals , pitching seven shutout innings to pick up the win, helped by Carlos Beltrán 's two-run home run. Glavine's postseason scoreless innings streak ended in his next start. He suffered the loss in Game 5 while the Mets went on to drop the series to the Cardinals in seven games. Glavine re-signed with
14080-407: The series in the fifth and sixth games. On June 1, 2014, the Kings advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years after winning Game 7, 4–3, in overtime through a goal from Alec Martinez , clinching their third Western Conference title in franchise history. The Kings became the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7s en route to a Stanley Cup Finals berth. Not only were
14208-527: The series with two wins, the Kings lost three-straight games, trailing the series three games to two. However, for the second time in the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Kings were able to rally back after being down in the series and defeated the Ducks in Anaheim in Game 7. In the third round, the Kings jumped out to a three-games-to-one lead against Stanley Cup-defending Chicago, but were unable to close out
14336-451: The sleeve and back numbers are enlarged, while white pants were used with this jersey. As part of the Kings' 50th anniversary in the 2016–17 season, the team wore commemorative silver alternate jerseys with a black shoulder yoke and striping for every Saturday home game. The logos and lettering were accented with metallic gold, while a purple neckline featured five gold diamonds to symbolize the Kings' original colors. A 50th Anniversary patch
14464-399: The strike caused the cancellation of the 1994 World Series and lasted 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 months. When play resumed in 1995, Glavine was frequently booed by Braves fans for his role in the players' union and was criticized for it in the local Atlanta press. Glavine and his wife Christine married in 1998 and have a blended family of five children. One of their sons, Peyton, was selected in
14592-487: Was a guest analyst for some Braves games for several seasons. Following the death of his father in 2021, Glavine announced that he would be taking a break from broadcasting during the 2022 season. He returned to the broadcast booth in a part-time role in 2023. The Braves retired Glavine's #47 on August 6, 2010. On July 29, 2021, Glavine was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors. Glavine,
14720-513: Was a lighter shade than the one used in the "Forum blue and gold" era. The new primary logo was a shield and crest featuring three royal symbols–a sunglass-clad lion, a crown and the Sun. The jerseys featured the shield logo with hints of purple on the yoke, sleeve stripes and tail. By coincidence, this was the same color scheme as the NBA's Sacramento Kings , who had rebranded to the scheme four years before
14848-410: Was adorned on the right shoulder. Adidas signed an agreement with the NHL to be the official manufacturer of uniforms and licensed apparel for all teams, starting with the 2017–18 season, replacing Reebok . The home and away uniforms that were debuted in the 2007–08 season remained identical with the exception of the new Adidas ADIZERO template and the new collar. With the new collar, the NHL shield
14976-471: Was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs, and soon after signed a ten-year contract extension on June 28. Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout , the 2012–13 NHL season began on January 19, 2013, and was shortened to 48 games. The Kings finished the season as the fifth seed in the West and began the defense of the Cup on the road against the St. Louis Blues, who they swept in
15104-405: Was completing his rehab assignment. On June 20, Glavine announced he would not pitch for the rest of the season. On February 11, 2010, he officially retired from the sport, having strongly hinted at that decision throughout the prior few months. On the date of his retirement, Glavine agreed to take a job as a special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz starting in the 2010 season. He
15232-743: Was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, receiving 91.9% of the votes cast. Glavine was born in Concord, Massachusetts , and raised in Billerica, Massachusetts . Glavine attended Billerica Memorial High School , where he was an excellent student and a letterman in ice hockey as well as baseball. He was a four-year member of the honor roll and the National Honor Society . In hockey, he scored 47 goals and 47 assists in 23 high school games, and as
15360-560: Was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent Cooke was awarded an NHL expansion franchise for Los Angeles on February 9, 1966, becoming one of the six teams that began play as part of the 1967 NHL expansion . The team plays its home games at Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles , their home since the start of the 1999–2000 season . Prior to that, the Kings played for 32 years at the Forum in Inglewood, California ,
15488-473: Was highlighted by several rebuilding moves, as players such as Trevor Lewis , Jack Campbell , Kyle Clifford , Derek Forbort and Alec Martinez would all depart the team, through trades or via free agency. The team notably won the 2020 Stadium Series in a 3–1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, which saw Tyler Toffoli score the league's first hat trick in an outdoor regular season game; Toffoli
15616-752: Was later officially called) and gold because they were colors traditionally associated with royalty. This color scheme, first popularized by the NCAA 's LSU Tigers and later on the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL), was then adopted by the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which Cooke also owned. Cooke wanted his new NHL team to play in
15744-407: Was moved to the front and center on a pentagon with a new "Chrome Flex" style. The waist stripes on the road white jersey became curved instead of being straight across. In the 2018–19 season, the Kings brought back their silver alternate uniforms last used in the 2016–17 season, minus the metallic gold elements in the logo and numerals. The uniform was retired following the 2020–21 season. During
15872-519: Was promoted to be the new general manager and John Stevens took over as head coach after serving as associate head coach for the Kings for several seasons. In the 2017 NHL expansion draft , the Vegas Golden Knights drafted defenseman Brayden McNabb , who had been left unprotected by the Kings. In the next season , the Kings clinched the 2018 playoffs as a wild card, but were swept by the expansion Golden Knights. On November 4, 2018,
16000-407: Was simple and straightforward, featuring monochrome striping on the shoulders and tail, as well as purple pants with white and gold trim. Later on, white trim was added on the numbers, and names were also added, while tail stripes were adjusted. At one point, gold pants were used to pair with the gold uniforms during the 1970s. A variation of the original crown logo, with a contrasting color background,
16128-420: Was tested for a blood clot because he was suffering from coldness in his left ring finger. This was originally thought to be a symptom of Raynaud's syndrome , which had been diagnosed in 1990. According to the pitcher, "Doctors... picked something up when they did the ultrasound ." The results of that new test showed the problem could be treated with medicine, and Glavine resumed pitching on September 1, against
16256-521: Was traded to the Vancouver Canucks two days after the feat. In their later portion of the season, the Kings called up several prospects including Mikey Anderson , Gabriel Vilardi and Cal Petersen , as the team went on a seven-game win streak, showcasing their deep and talented prospect pool. However, this win streak would mark the end of their season; the NHL would pause its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic , and as part of their plan to return to play,
16384-399: Was used with this uniform. From 1980 to 1988, the Kings modified their uniforms to include a contrasting yoke that extends from sleeve to sleeve. White was also added to the socks, on the tail stripes, and at the bottom of the yoke, but the color was removed from the pants. The names and numbers were also modified to a standard NHL block lettering. Just in time for Wayne Gretzky's arrival,
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