Former Braves, Mets All-Star, 1974 ERA Champion Dies

Lee "Buzz" Capra, the right-hander who went from unlikely rookie to National League All-Star in one remarkable season with the Atlanta Braves, died May 11. He was 78.

Capra's major league career lasted parts of seven seasons, but his place in baseball history was secured in 1974. Pitching for the Atlanta Braves at a time when Hank Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record dominated the sport, Capra emerged as one of the National League's best pitchers. He finished that season 16-8 with a league-leading 2.28 ERA and earned the only All-Star selection of his career.

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Born Oct. 1, 1947, in Chicago, Capra attended Lane Tech High School before playing at Illinois State University. He helped lead Illinois State to an NCAA championship in 1969. The school later retired his No. 9 jersey.

The New York Mets drafted Capra in the 27th round of the 1969 MLB Draft. He debuted in the majors two years later and was a member of the Mets' 1973 National League championship team, though he did not appear in the World Series against Oakland.

After the 1973 season, the Mets traded Capra to Atlanta in a deal that changed the course of his career.

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Capra's breakout season in Atlanta came with little warning. He had entered 1974 with a career record of 5-7. By season's end, he had become one of the league's most dependable starters. Braves fans remembered him not only for his All-Star season but for helping stabilize a pitching staff during a transitional period for the franchise.

Arm injuries shortened his peak. Capra never again matched the success of 1974, and his playing career ended after the 1977 season. Still, baseball remained central to his life. He later worked as a pitching coach in the farm systems of the Braves, Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, and spent years coaching youth baseball.

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Friends and former teammates often described Capra as approachable and grounded. Away from baseball, he worked as a carpenter and stayed closely connected to family and longtime friends. In 2021, he was inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Capra is survived by his daughters, Leanne and Leslie, four grandchildren, and several siblings.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 9:47 AM.