The Braves did not find much success in Atlanta until 1991. From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles,[7][8][9] making an MLB record eight consecutive National League Championship Series appearances, and producing one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball including Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine.[10]
The Braves are one of the two remaining National League charter franchises that debuted in 1876.[11] The club has won an MLB record 23 divisional titles, 18 National Leaguepennants, and four World Series championships. The Braves are the only Major League Baseball franchise to have won the World Series in three different home cities.[12] At the end of the 2024 season, the Braves' overall win–loss record is 11,114–10,949–154 (.504). Since moving to Atlanta in 1966, the Braves have an overall win–loss record of 4,850–4,461–8 (.521) through the end of 2024.[13]
The Cincinnati Red Stockings, formed in 1869, were the first openly all-professional baseball team but disbanded after the 1870 season.[14] Manager Harry Wright and players moved to Boston, forming the Boston Red Stockings, a charter team in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP).[15] Led by the Wright brothers, Ross Barnes, and Al Spalding, they dominated the National Association, winning four of five championships.[11] The original Boston Red Stockings team and its successors can lay claim to being the oldest continuously playing franchise in American professional sports.[6][14]
The club was known as the Boston Red Caps when they played the first National League game in 1876, winning against the Philadelphia Athletics.[16][17][18] Despite a weaker roster in the league's first year, they rebounded to secure the 1877 and 1878 pennants.[19] Managed by Frank Selee, they were a dominant force in the 19th century, winning eight pennants.[15] By 1898 the team was known as the Beaneaters and they won 102 games, with stars like Hugh Duffy, Tommy McCarthy, and "Slidin'" Billy Hamilton.[20][15]
In 1901, the American League was introduced, causing many Beaneaters players including stars Duffy and Jimmy Collins to leave for clubs of the rival league.[21] The team struggled, having only one winning season from 1900 to 1913 and losing 100 games five times. In 1907, they temporarily dropped the red color from their stockings due to infection concerns.[22] The club underwent various nickname changes until becoming the Braves before the 1912 season.[22] The president of the club, John M. Ward named the club after the owner, James Gaffney.[22] Gaffney was called one of the "braves" of New York City's political machine, Tammany Hall, which used a Native American chief as their symbol.[22][23]
In 1914, the Boston Braves experienced a remarkable turnaround in what would become one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history.[24][25] Starting with a dismal 4–18 record, the Braves found themselves in last place, trailing the league-leading New York Giants by 15 games after losing a doubleheader to the Brooklyn Robins on July 4.[26] However, the team rebounded with an incredible hot streak, going 41–12 from July 6 to September 5.[27] On August 3, Joseph Lannin the president of the Red Sox, offered Fenway Park to the Braves free of charge for the remainder of the season since their usual home, the South End Grounds, was too small.[28] On September 7 and 8, they defeated the Giants in two out of three games, propelling them into first place.[29] Despite being in last place as late as July 18, the Braves secured the pennant, becoming the only team under the old eight-team league format to achieve this after being in last place on the Fourth of July.[30][31] They were in last place as late as July 18, but were close to the pack, moving into fourth on July 21 and second place on August 12.[32]
The Braves entered the 1914 World Series led by captain and National League Most Valuable Player, Johnny Evers.[33] The Boston club were slight underdogs against Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's.[34] However, they swept the Athletics and won the world championship.[35] Inspired by their success, owner Gaffney constructed a modern park, Braves Field, which opened in August 1915 and was the largest park in the majors at the time, boasting 40,000 seats and convenient public transportation access.[36][37]
1915–1953
The Boston Braves cap logo, 1946 to 1952
From 1917 to 1933, the Boston Braves struggled. After a series of different owners, Emil Fuchs bought the team in 1923.[38] Fuchs brought his longtime friend, pitching great Christy Mathewson, as part of the syndicate that bought the club.[39] However, the death of pitching legend in 1925 left Fuchs in control.[40] Despite Fuchs' commitment to success, the team faced challenges overcoming the damage from previous years. It wasn't until 1933 and 1934, under manager Bill McKechnie, that the Braves became competitive, but it did little to help the club's finances.[41]
In an effort to boost fan attendance and finances, Fuchs orchestrated a deal with the New York Yankees to acquire Babe Ruth in 1935.[42][43] Ruth was appointed team vice president with promises of profit shares and managerial prospects.[44] Initially, Ruth seemed to provide a spark on opening day, but his declining skills became evident.[45] Ruth's inability to run and poor fielding led to internal strife, and it became clear that his titles were symbolic.[45] Ruth retired on June 1, 1935, shortly after hitting his last three home runs.[45] The Braves finished the season with a dismal 38–115 record, marking the franchise's worst season.[44]
Fuchs lost control of the team in August 1935,[44] leading to a rebranding attempt as the Boston Bees, but it did little to alter the team's fortune. Construction magnate Lou Perini took over, eventually restoring the Braves' name.[46] Despite World War II causing a brief setback, the team, led by pitcher Warren Spahn, enjoyed impressive seasons in 1946 and 1947 under Perini's ownership.[44]
In 1948, the team won the pennant, behind the pitching of Spahn and Johnny Sain.[47] The remainder of the rotation was so thin that in September, Boston Post writer Gerald Hern wrote this poem about the pair:[48]
First we'll use Spahn
then we'll use Sain
Then an off day
followed by rain
Back will come Spahn
followed by Sain
And followed
we hope
by two days of rain.
The poem received such a wide audience that the sentiment, usually now paraphrased as "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain", entered the baseball vocabulary.[49]
The 1948 World Series, which the Braves lost in six games to the Indians, turned out to be the Braves' last hurrah in Boston.[50] On March 13, 1953, Perini announced he was moving the club to Milwaukee.[51] Perini cited advent of television and the lack of enthusiasm for the Braves in Boston as the key factors in deciding to move the franchise.[51]
The Milwaukee Braves' move to Wisconsin for the 1953 season was an immediate success, as they drew a National League-record 1.8 million fans and finished the season second in the league.[52] Manager Charlie Grimm was named NL Manager of the Year.[53]
Throughout the 1950s, the Braves were a National League power; driven by sluggers Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron, the team won two pennants and finished second twice between 1956 and 1959.[54] In 1957, Aaron's MVP season led the Braves to their first pennant in nine years, then a World Series victory against the formidable New York Yankees.[55] Despite a strong start in the World Series rematch the following season, the Braves ultimately lost the last three games and the World Series.[55] The 1959 season ended in a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which defeated the Braves in a playoff. The ensuing years saw fluctuating success, including the Braves finishing fifth in 1963, their first time in the "second division."[54]
In 1962, team owner Louis Perini sold the Braves to a Chicago-based group led by William Bartholomay.[54] Bartholomay intended to move the team to Atlanta in 1965, but legal hurdles kept them in Milwaukee for an extra season.[54]
Atlanta (1966–present)
1966–1974
Hall of Fame right fielder and designated hitter Hank Aaron
After arriving in Atlanta in 1966, the Braves found success in 1969, with the onset of divisional play by winning the first National League West Division title.[56] In the National League Championship Series the Braves were swept by the "Miracle Mets."[57] They would post only two winning seasons between 1970 and 1981.[58] Fans in Atlanta had to be satisfied with the achievements of Hank Aaron, who by the end of the 1973 season, had hit 713 home runs, one short of Ruth's record.[59] On April 4, opening day of the next season, he hit No. 714 in Cincinnati, and on April 8, in front of his home fans and a national television audience, he finally beat Ruth's mark with a home run to left-center field off left-hander Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers.[60][61] Aaron spent most of his career as a Milwaukee and Atlanta Brave before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on November 2, 1974.[62]
Ted Turner era
1976–1977: Ted Turner buys the team
Media magnate Ted Turner purchased the team in 1976, and played a large role in the team's operation.
In 1976, the team was purchased by media magnate Ted Turner, owner of superstationWTBS, as a means to keep the team (and one of his main programming staples) in Atlanta.[58] Turner used the Braves as a major programming draw for his fledgling cable network, making the Braves the first franchise to have a nationwide audience and fan base.[58] WTBS marketed the team as "The Atlanta Braves: America's Team", a nickname that still sticks in some areas of the country, especially the South.[63][58] The financially strapped Turner used money already paid to the team for their broadcast rights as a down-payment. Turner quickly gained a reputation as a quirky, hands-on baseball owner. On May 11, 1977, Turner appointed himself manager, but because MLB passed a rule in the 1950s barring managers from holding a financial stake in their teams, Turner was ordered to relinquish that position after one game (the Braves lost 2–1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates to bring their losing streak to 17 games).[64][65]
The Braves didn't enjoy much success between 1978 and 1990, however, in the 1982 season, led by manager Joe Torre, the Braves secured their first divisional title since 1969.[66] The team was led by standout performances from key players like Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, Phil Niekro, and Gene Garber.[67] The Braves were swept in the NLCS in three games by the Cardinals.[68] Murphy won the Most Valuable Player award for the National League in 1982 and 1983.[69]
1991–2005: 14 consecutive division titles
From 1991 to 2005, the Atlanta Braves enjoyed a remarkable era of success in baseball, marked by a record-setting 14 consecutive division titles, five National League pennants, and a World Series championship in 1995.[70] Bobby Cox returned as manager in 1990, leading the team's turnaround after finishing the previous season with the worst record in baseball. Notable developments included the drafting of Chipper Jones in 1990 and the hiring of general manager John Schuerholz from the Kansas City Royals.[71][72]
The Braves' remarkable journey began in 1991, known as the "Worst to First" season.[73] Overcoming a shaky start, the Braves bounced back led by young pitchers Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.[74] The team secured the NL pennant in a memorable playoff race, ultimately losing a closely contested World Series to the Minnesota Twins. The following year, the Braves won the NLCS in dramatic fashion against the Pirates but fell short in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In 1993, the Braves strengthened their pitching staff with the addition of Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux in free agency.[75] Despite posting a franchise-best 104 wins, they lost in the NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies. The team moved to the Eastern Division in 1994, sparking a heated rivalry with the New York Mets.[76][77][78][79]
The player's strike cut short the 1994 season just before the division championships, but the Braves rebounded in 1995, defeating the Cleveland Indians to win the World Series.[80] With this World Series victory, the Braves became the first team in Major League Baseball to win world championships in three different cities.[81] The Braves reached the World Series in 1996 and 1999 but were defeated both times by the New York Yankees.[82][83]
In 1996, Time Warner acquired Ted Turner's Turner Broadcasting System, including the Braves.[84] Despite their continued success with a ninth consecutive division title in 2000, the Braves faced postseason disappointment with a sweep by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.[85] The team won division titles from 2002 to 2004 but experienced early exits in the NLDS each year.[86]
Liberty Media era
Liberty Media buys the team
Chipper Jones salutes the crowd at Turner Field prior to his final regular-season game on September 30, 2012. Jones announced he would retire after 19 seasons with the Braves
In December 2005, Time Warner, put the club up for sale, leading to negotiations with Liberty Media.[87][88] After over a year of talks, a deal was reached in February 2007 for Liberty Media to acquire the Braves for $450 million, a magazine publishing company, and $980 million in cash. The sale, valued at approximately $1.48 billion, was contingent on approval from 75 percent of MLB owners and Commissioner Bud Selig.[89]
Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones retire
Bobby Cox's final year as manager in 2010 saw the Braves return to the postseason for the first time since 2005.[90] The team secured the NL Wild Card but fell to the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series in four closely contested games, marking the conclusion of Bobby Cox's managerial career.[91] The following season the Braves suffered a historic September collapse to miss the postseason.[92] The club bounced back in 2012 and returned to the postseason in Chipper Jones' final season.[93] The Braves won 94 games in 2012, but that wasn't enough to win the NL East, so they faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the inaugural Wild Card Game.[94] Chipper Jones last game was a memorable one: the Braves lost the one game playoff 6–3, but the game would be remembered for a controversial infield fly call that helped end a Braves rally in the 8th inning.[94]
Truist Park and return to the World Series
Truist Park prior to its first regular-season game
In 2017, the Atlanta Braves began playing at Truist Park, replacing Turner Field as their home stadium.[95] Following an MLB investigation into international signing rule violations, general manager John Coppolella resigned and faced a baseball ban.[96]Alex Anthopoulos took over as the new general manager.[97] The team's chairman, Terry McGuirk, apologized for the scandal and expressed confidence in Anthopoulos' integrity.[97] A new on field mascot named Blooper was introduced at a fan event before the 2017 season.[98] Under Anthopoulos, the Braves made the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.[99] In 2020 the Braves reach the National League Championship Series, but ultimately lost to the Dodgers after leading 3–1.[100]
President Joe Biden hosts the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves on September 26, 2022, in the East Room of the White House.
In the 2021 season, the Braves won the National League East with an 88–73 record. In the postseason, they quickly defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series 3–1. The Braves again faced the Dodgers in the 2021 NLCS, and won in six games to take Atlanta's first National League pennant since 1999. The Braves advanced to the World Series.[101] They defeated the Houston Astros in six games to win their fourth World Series title.[102]
The Braves logos have evolved over the years, featuring a Native American warrior from 1945 to 1955, followed by a laughing Native American with a mohawk and a feather from 1956 to 1965.[103][104] The modern logo, introduced in 1987, includes the cursive word "Braves" with a tomahawk below it.[105]
Uniform changes occurred in 1987, with the team adopting uniforms reminiscent of their 1950s classic look.[106] For the 2023 season, the Braves had four uniform combinations, including the classic white home and gray road uniforms, a navy blue road jersey for alternate games, and two alternate uniforms for home games - a Friday night red uniform and a City Connect uniform worn on Saturdays, paying tribute to Hank Aaron.[107] The City Connect uniform features "The A" across the chest, accompanied by a cap with the "A" logo and 1974 uniform colors.[108]
World Series championships
Over the 120 years since the inception of the World Series (119 total World Series played), the Braves franchise has won a total of four World Series Championships. The Braves are the only franchise to have won a World Series in three different cities.[12]
The Atlanta Braves home ballpark has been Truist Park since 2017. Truist Park is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) northwest of downtown Atlanta in the unincorporated community of Cumberland, in Cobb County, Georgia.[109] The team played its home games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium from 1966 to 1996, and at Turner Field from 1997 to 2016. The Braves opened Truist Park on April 14, 2017, with a four-game sweep of the San Diego Padres.[110] The park received positive reviews. Woody Studenmund of the Hardball Times called the park a "gem" saying that he was impressed with "the compact beauty of the stadium and its exciting approach to combining baseball, business and social activities."[111] J.J. Cooper of Baseball America praised the "excellent sight lines for pretty much every seat."[112]
Since 2019, the Braves have played spring training games at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.[113][114] The ballpark opened on March 24, 2019, with the Braves' 4–2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.[115][116] The Braves left Champion Stadium, their previous Spring Training home near Orlando to reduce travel times and to get closer to other teams' facilities.[117] CoolToday Park also serves as the Braves' year round rehabilitation facility.[118]
Although their first major confrontation occurred when the Mets swept the Braves in the 1969 NLCS, the rivalry did not become especially heated until the 1994 season when division realignment put both the Mets and the Braves in the National League East division.[77][76][120]
The Braves faced the Mets in the 1999 National League Championship Series.[121] The Braves initially took a 3–0 series lead, seemingly on the verge of a sweep, but the Mets rallied in Game 4 and Game 5.[121] Despite the Mets' resilience, the Braves eventually won the series in Game 6 with Andruw Jones securing a dramatic walk-off walk, earning their 5th National League pennant of the decade.[121] In 2022, the Braves and Mets, both finished with 101 wins.[122] The National League East title and a first-round bye came down to a crucial three-game series at Truist Park from September 30 to October 2.[123] The Mets entered with a slight lead but faltered as the Braves swept the series.[123] Atlanta claimed the NL East division title and first-round bye, by winning the season series against the Mets.[123]
Nationwide fanbase
In addition to having strong fan support in the Metro Atlanta area and the state of Georgia, the Braves are often referred to as "America's Team" in reference to the team's games being broadcast nationally on TBS from the 1970s until 2007, giving the team a nationwide fan base.[124]
The Atlanta Braves encouraged fans to gesture with the "Tomahawk Chop", distributing foam tomahawks at games and other events.
In 1991, fans of the Atlanta Braves popularized the "tomahawk chop" during games.[127] The use of foam tomahawks drew criticism from Native American groups, deeming it demeaning.[128] Despite protests, the Braves' public relations director defended it as a "proud expression of unification and family."[128] The controversy resurfaced in 2019 when Cherokee Nation member and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley found the chop insulting, prompting the Braves to modify their in-game experience.[129] During the off-season, discussions ensued with Native American representatives, and amid pressure in 2020 to change their name, the Braves announced ongoing talks about the chop but insisted the team name would remain unchanged.[130]
The debate over the tomahawk chop continued into 2021.[131] While some Native American leaders, like Richard Sneed, the Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, expressed personal indifference or tolerance, acknowledging it as an acknowledgment of Native American strength, others vehemently opposed it.[132][133] Sneed emphasized larger issues facing Native American communities and questioned the focus on the chop.[134] The Eastern Cherokee Band of Indians and the Braves initiated efforts to incorporate Cherokee language and culture into the team's activities, stadium, and merchandise, aiming for greater cultural sensitivity despite differing opinions within the Native American community.[135]
The Braves have retired eleven numbers in the history of the franchise, including most recently Andruw Jones' number 25 in 2023, Chipper Jones' number 10 in 2013, John Smoltz's number 29 in 2012, Bobby Cox's number 6 in 2011, Tom Glavine's number 47 in 2010, and Greg Maddux's number 31 in 2009. Additionally, Hank Aaron's 44, Dale Murphy's 3, Phil Niekro's 35, Eddie Mathews' 41, Warren Spahn's 21 and Jackie Robinson's 42, which is retired for all of baseball with the exception of Jackie Robinson Day, have also been retired.[136] Six of the eleven numbers (Cox, Jones, Jones, Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine) were on the Braves at the same time.[137] Of the eleven Braves whose numbers have been retired, all who are eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame have been elected with the exceptions of Dale Murphy and Andruw Jones.[138] The color and design of the retired numbers on commemorative markers and other in-stadium signage reflect the primary uniform design at the time the player was on the team.[139]
The radio broadcast team is led by the tandem of play-by-play announcer Ben Ingram and analyst Joe Simpson. Braves games are broadcast across Georgia and seven other states on at least 172 radio affiliates, including flagship station 680 The Fan in Atlanta and stations as far away as Richmond, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; and the US Virgin Islands. The games are carried on at least 82 radio stations in Georgia.[168]
References
Footnotes
^The team's official colors are navy blue and scarlet red, according to the team's mascot (BLOOPER)'s official website.[1]
^The Cubs are a full season older as they were originally founded as the Chicago White Stockings in 1870. The White Stockings did not field a team in 1871 or 1872, however, due to the Great Chicago Fire. The Braves, therefore, have played more consecutive seasons.
^"Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves unveil the official logo of the 2021 All-Star Game". Braves.com (Press release). MLB Advanced Media. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020. The official logo of the 2021 MLB All-Star Game highlights Atlanta's spectacular new ballpark. From the shape of the wall medallion to the entry truss, baseball fans are welcomed into the event with its modern amenities surrounded by Southern hospitality. From the warmth of the brick to the steel of the truss, the logo is punctuated by Atlanta's colors of navy and red and is signed by the signature script of the Braves' franchise.
^ abMacdonald, Neil W. (May 18, 2004). The League That Lasted: 1876 and the Founding of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. McFarland. ISBN978-0786417551.
^Nowlin, Bill (February 1, 2014). The Miracle Braves of 1914: Boston's Original Worst-to-First World Series Champions. Society for American Baseball Research. p. 380. ISBN978-1933599694.
^Cohen, Neft, Johnson and Deutsch, The World Series, The Dial Press, 1976.
^"Million and a Half in Wagers on World Series". New Castle News. October 9, 1914. p. 15. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. The general betting today, however was 5 to 4 on the Athletics. Last week the odds were around 7 to 4 on the Athletics, while two or three weeks ago when it looked certain that the Braves would win the pennant, the Athletic backers offered 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 against the Braves
^ abJohnson, William (March 28, 2014). "Henry 'Hank' Aaron". Thar's Joy in Braveland: The 1957 Milwaukee Braves. Society for American Baseball Research. pp. 13–16. ISBN978-1933599717.
^ abBodley, Hal (September 16, 1993). "Pirates OK new realignment". USA Today. p. 1C. The Pirates will switch from the East next season. They opposed the move last week when realignment was approved, but agreed to allow Atlanta to move to the East.
Formerly the Boston Red Stockings, Boston Red Caps, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, Boston Bees, Boston Braves and the Milwaukee Braves
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