Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Cecil Upshaw died Tuesday at a Lawrenceville, Ga., hospital after a heart attack. He was 53.

   Upshaw , selected the National League's Relief Pitcher of the Year in 1969, signed with the Braves after graduation from Centenary College in 1966.

   He appeared in three games of the 1969 National League Championship Series.

   Upshaw pitched for the Braves until 1973, though he spent most of that season with the Astros. For the Astros that season, he appeared in 35 games, going 2-3 with one save.

   He also played for Cleveland and the Yankees in 1974 and spent his last season, 1975, with the White Sox.

   In nine years in the majors, Upshaw was 34-36 with 86 saves and a 3 .13 ERA in 348 games.

   He is survived by four children and two grandchildren.