History of the Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves team was established in 1876 as the Boston Red Stockings. They won their first World Series in 1892. Their best years, however, came 100 years later, when they dominated the National League in the 1990s. During that decade, they went to the postseason eight times. Their best season was 1998, when they had 106 wins and 56 losses.

1876-1879

The Red Stockings started playing at South End Grounds in 1876. They had winning seasons in each of their first four years. They were managed by Harry Wright from 1876 through 1881. One key player in these early years was future Hall of Famer Jim O'Rourke.

1880-1889

In 1883, the Red Stockings were renamed the Boston Beaneaters, a name they would keep through 1906. From 1882 through 1889, the team had six winning seasons (1882-1884, 1887-1889). They finished first in the National League in 1883. In the last years of the decade, future Hall of Famer John Clarkson played with them.

The Red Stockings/Beaneaters had five managers during the 1880s. John Morrill followed Wright and managed the team from 1882 through 1887. Jack Burdock managed 54 games in 1883, and future Hall of Fame player King Kelly managed for 95 games in 1887. The final manager, in 1889, was Jim Hart.

1890-1899

The Beaneaters had winning seasons every year from 1890 through 1899. Their best seasons were 1892 with 102 wins and 48 losses and 1898 with again 102 wins and 47 losses. They finished in first place in the NL five times (1891-1893, 1897-1898).

In 1892, the Beaneaters went to their first World Series. They defeated the Cleveland Spiders to win their first World Series title. Their manager for the series and the entire decade was Frank Selee, who would eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a manager.

Several future Hall of Famers were on the Beaneaters' winning teams in the 1890s. First to arrive was Kid Nichols, who played with them from 1890 through 1901. Tommy McCarthy first played with the team in 1885, but then left and didn't return until 1892. Hugh Duffy joined the team in 1892 and stayed with them through 1900.

1900-1909

The Beaneaters' success came to an end at the start of the twentieth century with the establishment of the American League's Boston Red Sox. The owners of the new team lured away the best players from the Beaneaters and the team went from a winning team to a losing one. Even changing the team's name in 1907 to the Boston Doves did not help.

The Beaneaters only winning season from 1900 through 1909 was in 1902, when they had 73 wins and 64 losses. They were managed that year by Al Buckenberger, who continued to manage the team through 1904. He was followed by Fred Tenney (1905-1907), Joe Kelley (1908), and both Harry Smith and Frank Bowerman in 1909.

1910-1919

In 1911, the Boston Doves became the Boston Rustlers, a name that lasted for just one season. Finally, in 1912, they became the Braves.

Two years after becoming the Boston Braves, the team's home games moved to Fenway Park. In 1915, they moved to Braves Field and they continued to play there through 1952.

The Braves changed managers every year until 1913. They started with Fred Lake in 1910, Fred Tenney in 1911, and Johnny Kling in 1912. They finally had stability in management with the hiring of George Stallings in 1913. He continued to manage the team through 1920.

Under Stallings leadership, the Braves had winning seasons in 1914, 1915, and 1916. Their best season was 1914, when they had 94 wins and 59 losses. They went to the World Series and swept the Philadelphia Athletics in four games. Two future Hall of Famers who helped them win that series were Rabbit Maranville and Johnny Evers.

1920-1929

The Braves struggled in the 1920s, having just one winning season. In 1921, they had 79 wins and 74 losses.

From 1920 through 1929, the Braves had six managers. Stallings managed the team in 1920, followed by Fred Mitchell from 1921 through 1923. Future Hall of Fame player Dave Bancroft took over in 1924 as a player-manager and he continued in that position through 1927. Jack Slattery then managed 31 games in 1928 before being replaced for the rest of the year by another future Hall of Famer and player-manager, Rogers Hornsby. The decade ended with Judge Fuchs managing the team in 1929.

1930-1939

The Braves had losing seasons from 1930 through 1932. Then in 1933, they had 83 wins and 71 losses. The following year they started a downhill slide again, finishing with 78 wins and 73 losses. Even acquiring the great Babe Ruth in 1935 did not turn things around for the team. Ruth retired from baseball on June 1st of that year and the Braves ended up with their worst season, winning only 38 games and losing 115 games.

At the end of 1935, new owners took over the Braves and renamed the team the Boston Bees. The new name didn't lead to a winning season, although their 71-83 record in 1936 was a huge improvement over their disastrous 1935 season. They finished the 1937 season with more wins than losses (79-73).

In 1938, the Braves hired a new manager, Casey Stengel, to replace Bill McKechnie, who had managed the team from 1930 through 1937. Stengel continued to manage the team through 1943. Unfortunately, the change in managers did not help the Braves. They finished the decade with 77 wins and 75 losses in 1938 and a much worse year in 1939, when they had only 63 wins and 88 losses.

1940-1949

In 1941, the the Boston Bees became the Boston Braves again. Seven years later, the team had improved significantly, in large part due to the pitching of Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain.

After having losing seasons from 1938 through 1945, the Braves finally had winning seasons in 1946 and 1947. They finally won the NL pennant in 1948, with 91 wins and 62 losses. They went on to face the Cleveland Indians in the World Series but they lost the series in six games.

The Braves had five managers from 1940 through 1949. Casey Stengel was replaced by Bob Coleman, who managed the team through part of 1945. Billy Southworth managed the team from 1945 through most of 1949. Two short-term managers during the decade were Del Bissonette (60 games in 1945) and Johnny Cooney (46 games in 1949).

1950-1959

After three more losing seasons and decreased attendance at games, the owner of the Braves, Lou Perini, moved the team to Milwaukee in 1953. The new Milwaukee Braves played at Milwaukee County Stadium.

The Milwaukee Braves prospered in their new home, with winning seasons from 1953 through 1959. They still had Spahn pitching and they had two great hitters in future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. In 1957, the team had a 95-59 record and they won the NL pennant. They faced the powerhouse New York Yankees in the World Series and they won the series in seven games.

In 1958, the Braves won 92 games and lost 62. They again won the National League pennant but they lost the World Series to the Yankees in seven games.

The manager who led the Braves to two World Series and one series win was Fred Haney, who managed the team from 1956 through 1959. Prior to Haney, the team was managed by Billy Southworth (1950-1951), Tommy Holmes (1951-1952), and Charlie Grimm (1952-1956).

1960-1969

The Braves continued to have winning seasons from 1960 through 1965, but they didn't make it to the postseason in any of those years. Their managers during those years were Chuck Dressen (1960-1961), Birdie Tebbetts (1961-1962), and Bobby Bragan (1963-1966). Future Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro joined the team in 1964. He would remain an important part of the team's starting rotation through 1983.

In 1966, the new owner of the Braves moved the team to Atlanta. They played in their new home at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium from 1966 through 1996.

The Braves had losing seasons in their first three years in Atlanta. Their manager in 1966 and 1967 was Billy Hitchcock. Lum Harris took over in 1968 and remained as manager through 1972.

In 1969, the team was moved from the NL East division to the NL West division and the move seemed to help them. That year, they had a winning season with 93 wins and 69 losses. They won the division title but lost the NL Championship series to the New York Mets.

1970-1979

The Braves has winning seasons in 1971 and 1974, but the 1970s were not good years for the team. In 1976, they gained a new owner, Ted Turner. Two years later, the Braves acquired Bobby Cox as a manager and a new young player named Dale Murphy. These changes would eventually lead the Braves to winning seasons and postseason play.

In between Lum Harris (1970-1972) and Bobby Cox (1978-1981), the Braves had four managers. Eddie Mathews returned to the team to manage from 1972 to 1974. Clyde King took over in 1974 and continued until he was replaced in 1975 by interim manager Connie Ryan. After managing in just 27 games, Ryan was replaced by Dave Bristol, who led the team in 1976 and 1977.

1980-1989

The Braves started off the 1980s with winning seasons in 1980, 1982, and 1983. After the 1981 season, Bobby Cox was replaced as manager by Joe Torre. In 1982, he led the team to a NL West division title with 89 wins and 73 losses. They then faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS and lost the series in three games.

Torre was replaced as manager in 1985 with Eddie Haas, who was, in turn, replaced by Bobby Wine. Chuck Tanner took over in 1986, but he was replaced in 1988 by Russ Nixon. None of these managers were able to lead the Braves to winning seasons, and the team finished the decade with dismal seasons in 1988 (54-106) and 1989 (63-97).

One of the key players for the Braves in the 1980s was Dale Murphy, who was named the NL MVP in 1982 and 1983. He won Gold Gloves from 1982 through 1986 and Silver Slugger awards from 1982 through 1985. He led the NL in home runs in 1984 and 1985, and in RBIs in 1982 and 1983.

1990-1999

Bobby Cox returned as manager of the Braves in 1990. He revitalized the team with young players, including future Hall of Fame pitchers Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux. Chipper Jones added power and defense to the infield and Andruw Jones gave the Braves one of the best center fielders in major league baseball. The Braves' domination of the National League began with the 1991 season and it lasted until 2005, with the Braves winning 14 division championships, 5 league pennants and one World Series (1995).

In 1994, the Braves were moved back to the NL East division. Three years later, they moved to a new ballpark named after their owner (Turner Field).

Cox led the team to 94 wins and 68 losses in 1991, and he was named the NL Manager of the Year. The team went on to win the NLCS over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but they lost the World Series to the Minnesota Twins. The following season was almost the same. They had 98 wins and 64 losses, defeated the Pirates again in the NLCS, and lost the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Braves had an even better season in 1993, when they won 104 games and lost 58. However, they lost the NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies. The next season, 1994, was shortened due to a strike and there was no postseason play.

The Braves came back strong after the strike season, and finished the 1995 season with 90 wins and 54 losses. This time, they won the NL pennant by defeating the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS and the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS. They then defeated the Indians to win a World Series title.

The Braves went to the World Series again in 1996 after sweeping the Dodgers in the NLDS and defeating the Cardinals in the NLCS. They lost the series, however, to the Yankees. In 1997 and 1998, they again had winning records (101-61 in 1997 and 106-56 in 1998), and they won the NLDS both seasons. They swept the Houston Astros in the NLDS in 1997 and the Chicago Cubs in 1998. They lost the NLCS in 1997 to the Miami Marlins and in 1998 to the San Diego Padres.

The decade ended with the Braves going once again to the World Series. After finishing the regular season with 103 wins and 59 losses, they defeated the Astros in the NLDS and then the Mets in the NLCS. They then again faced the Yankees in the World Series, but they were no match for that powerful team and they lost the series in four games.

2000-2009

The Braves continued to have winning seasons through most of the first decade of the new century, but they didn't go to the postseason after 2005. They also didn't get to another World Series. Their best seasons were 2002 with 101 wins and 59 losses and 2003 with 101 wins and 61 losses. Cox remained manager of the team throughout the decade and he won two NL Manager of the Year awards (2004 and 2005).

The Braves went to the postseason every year from 2000 through 2005. They lost the NLDS in 2000 to the Cardinals, in 2002 to the Giants, in 2003 to the Cubs, and in 2004 and 2005 to the Astros. They swept the Astros in the NLDS in 2001, but they lost the NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although they had winning seasons in 2007 and 2009, they didn't get to the postseason in those years.

In 2005, the Braves added three strong players to their roster. Tim Hudson strengthened their starting rotation, Jeff Francoeur gave them one of the best arms in baseball in right field, and catcher Brian McCann added power and defense behind the plate.

2010-2019

For the past nine years, the Braves have had inconsistency, finishing in every position in the NL East division except for third place. They had winning seasons from 2010 through 2013 and in 2018. They have had constantly changing rosters, with Freddie Freeman being the only position player who has stayed with them for more than two or three seasons.

In 2010, the Braves had 91 wins and 71 losses and they won a NL Wild Card spot. They lost the NLDS to the Giants. That season was the last one for manager Bobby Cox. He was replaced in 2011 with Fredi Gonzalez.

Gonzalez led the Braves to 89 wins and 73 losses and a second place finish in the NL East division in 2011. The following season, they again finished in second place, and they won a Wild Card spot. They lost the Wild Card game to the Cardinals. At the end of the 2012 season, Chipper Jones retired.

The Braves had a good season in 2013, finishing with 96 wins and 66 losses and a first place finish in the NL East division. However, they again lost the NLDS, this time to the Dodgers.

The Braves had losing seasons from 2014 through 2016, finishing in second place in the division in 2014, fourth place in 2015, and fifth place in 2016. Gonzalez was fired as manager on May 17, 2016, and he was replaced by third base coach Brian Snitker.

The Braves started the 2017 season in a new ballpark (SunTrust Park), but it didn't help them win games. They finished the season in third place in the NL East division with 72 wins and 90 losses.

The 2018 season was a strong one for the Braves. They finished the season with 90 wins and 72 losses and an NL East division title. Although they lost the NLDS to the Dodgers, it was still a successful season for the team. They saw the emergence of young players, like Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award. They also saw strong seasons from veteran players like Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.

The Braves continued to dominate the NL East division in 2019, again finishing in first place. Under Snitker's leadership they won 97 games and lost 65. However, they didn't get far in the playoffs, losing the NL Division Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.

2020-2022

In 2020, the Braves remained the NL East division leaders, finishing the season in first place with 35 wins and 25 losses. They then defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card game with a score of 2-0. They played against the Miami Marlins in the NL Division Series and they won three games and lost none. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Braves in the NL Championship Series in seven games. Freddie Freeman, who would become the Dodgers first baseman in 2022, won the NL MVP award in 2020.

The Braves proved that they were the NL East team of the 21st century in 2021, when they again won the division title. They had 88 wins and 73 losses that season. In the playoffs, they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Division Series (3 games to 1) and the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series (4 games to 2). They played against the Houston Astros in the World Series and won the series in six games.

Although both the Braves and the New York Mets finished the 2022 season with 101 wins, the Braves earned the division title by winning their final series against the Mets. They struggled in the playoffs and lost the NL Division Series to the Philadelphia Phillies in four games. A star player for the Braves in 2022 was newcomer Michael Harris II, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Atlanta Braves
Baseball Reference - Atlanta Braves