We’ll get to that later, but first let us tell you how Gilbreath became an American Brave 48 years ago. Anyone who grew up in Mississippi’s Pine Belt in the 1960s will recall Rod Gilbreath, one of the most versatile and skilled high school athletes Mississippi has ever seen. This old Hattiesburg Tiger will always remember him. He was the Laurel Tornadoes quarterback for three years. He could run or pass the ball and win. He was Laurel’s basketball point guard. He could score, orchestrate and play the baseline in a 1-3-1 defense. He was a shortstop, pitcher, and he also sewed the ball. It is difficult to recall how Rod Gilbreath defeated our Tigers in so many ways. Gilbreath could have played in any of these three sports collegiately. To fulfill a lifelong dream, he signed with Ole Miss in order to play football for Johnny Vaught. He aspired to be Archie Manning or Jake Gibbs. The Atlanta Braves drafted him in round three of the free-agent draft in 1970. He was the 69th overall pick. Gilbreath then had to make a decision. Vaught helped Gilbreath to make that decision. Wednesday morning Gilbreath remembered his conversation with Vaught a few days after the draft. Vaught stated, “I still want to have you as our quarterback.” Gilbreath: “Coach, what are you thinking? Baseball or football?” Gilbreath said, “Coach, I love playing both baseball and football. Vaught: “I don’t think I can play football and baseball. Gilbreath: “But Coach, you let Archie Manning (football) come here.” Vaught: “But son, you’re not Archie.” Gilbreath says, “But, coach, I told him that I thought I could be like Archie Manning if given the opportunity, but he said that he couldn’t.” And that was it. Gilbreath signed for the Atlanta Braves just a few days later, receiving a $25,000 signing bonus. That was a lot back then. Gilbreath said, “I could have bargained more, but it was what I wanted to do. He rose through the Braves’ minor-league system like no one has before or since. In May 1970, he graduated high school. In June 1972, he joined the Braves Major League Club. He was just 19 years old. This is a remarkable feat. Gilbreath recalls, “I moved up so quickly.” “Rookie League one, Double-A another, then I skipped Triple-A Atlanta.” Gilbreath hit.237 in 18 games in his rookie season, and then hit.284 in his second year when a leg injury stopped that rapid rise. Gilbreath said, “I was slow in coming back from that,” and spent some time at Triple A. In 1975, he was back full-time with the Braves. Through 1978, he was a second baseman for the Braves. In 1979, he was released and spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates before retiring. He was hired by the Braves in 1980 as a talent scout. Since then, he has been a member of the club. Through the glory years of Bobby Cox and the down years that came after, he was there. He also helped with the recent rapid reclamation project. His current job, as a pro scout, involves him scouting Minor League talent for the Braves. He helps determine who is ready for promotion and who is not. He also keeps track of progress at all levels. He has seen the Braves’ young double-play combination of Dansby Swanson & Ozzie Albies progress through the Braves system, although not as quickly as he used to, but just as quickly. Gilbreath, who is from Atlanta, visits all Braves minor-league teams at least twice a year, including the Mississippi Braves. Gilbreath stated, “I love the young talent in the organization at both the Major League level as well as the lower levels.” We are heading in the right direction. This team is going to get better and better. Third baseman Austin Riley, a 21-year old Southaven native, projects as the Braves’ future power-hitting corner infielder. Touki Toussaint was called up late in the season and made it onto the playoff roster. Gilbreath stated that Riley can hit it a mile, and can play third base. “Touki’s stuff is just electrifying.” Gilbreath just turned 66 and has no plans of retiring. He says that he doesn’t regret anything after all these years, and after the memorable phone call from Vaught.