Topic: Brett Butler

Brett Morgan Butler (born June 15, 1957 in Los Angeles, California) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams from 1981 through 1997.

Butler spent his teenaged years in Libertyville, Illinois, where he was a reserve on the Libertyville High School baseball team that finished second in the Illinois state tournament, along with fellow teammate Robert Larsen. Upon graduating, he announced plans to play baseball in college, and his high school coach, Ernie Ritta, scoffed. Butler, who had explored walking on at baseball powerhouse Arizona State, made the team at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

After attending Southeastern Oklahoma, Butler was drafted in the 23rd round of the 1979 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves. The Braves were building a contender with players like Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, and Glenn Hubbard after years of losing, but they lacked a leadoff hitter with speed. Butler gave them just that. After playing in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the Braves on August 20, 1981. Butler helped lead the Braves to a 13-0 start and the National League West Division title in 1982, their first division title since 1969. He had another fine year with the Braves in 1983, but they finished second in the West to the Los Angeles Dodgers.