They were selected with the third overall pick in the amateur draft. The Braves have picked third three times since moving to Atlanta, with mixed results.
No complaints about Avery, though Robin Ventura, Tino Martinez and Brian Jordan — drafted later in the first round in 1988 — had longer, more productive careers.
Ken Dayley, drafted third in 1980, had a decent stint as a reliever. That happened in St. Louis, where he was dealt in exchange for Ken Oberkfell, which tells you all you need to know. In their defense, it was a weak draft.
The 1976 draft was anything but weak.