History of the Atlanta Braves facts for kids

The Atlanta Braves are a famous Major League Baseball team. This article tells the story of how the team has changed over many years.

The Braves started playing in Boston in 1871. They stayed there until 1953. Then, the team's owner, Lou Perini, moved them to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Milwaukee, the Braves had amazing players like Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, and Hank Aaron. They even played in the World Series in 1957 and 1958. They won the World Series in 1957!

In the early 1960s, the Braves weren't playing as well. In 1962, William Bartholomay bought the team. He moved the Braves to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966.

From the late 1960s to the 1980s, the Braves were mostly an average team. They won their division in 1969 and 1982. In 1976, Ted Turner, a media owner, bought the Braves. He promised to keep the team in Atlanta.

Things changed a lot in 1991. The Braves became the first team in the National League to reach the World Series just one year after finishing last! This started a streak of 14 straight division titles for the Braves. They were called the "Team of the 90s." During this time, they played in five World Series (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1999). They won in 1995. This made them the only team to win the World Series in three different cities. Their success came from amazing pitchers like John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux.

In 2006, the Braves' long streak of division titles ended. They had a few average years. But then, they started winning division titles again in 2018. In 2021, the Braves won their fourth World Series title!

The Boston Years

The Braves started their journey in Boston. They played there for many years, from 1871 until 1953.

Moving to Milwaukee

Milwaukee's Excitement (1953–1959)

When the Braves moved to Milwaukee, fans were incredibly excited! In their first season there, in 1953, the Braves won 92 games and lost 62. They also attracted a record 1.8 million fans. Other teams noticed this success. Soon, other baseball teams also moved to new cities.

As the 1950s continued, the Braves became even better. Strong hitters like Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron led the offense. They hit a combined 1,226 home runs while playing for the Braves! Pitchers Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl were key to the team's success.

Winning the World Series (1957)

In 1957, the Braves won their first league championship in nine years. Hank Aaron had an amazing year, winning the MVP award. He led the National League in home runs and runs batted in (RBI). One of his most famous home runs that year was a "walk-off" hit on September 23. It gave the Braves a 4–2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and clinched the league title.

The team drew over 2.2 million fans at home that season. Then, they went on to win their first World Series in over 40 years! They beat the powerful New York Yankees in seven games. Lew Burdette was the Series MVP. He pitched three complete game wins, allowing only two earned runs. He even pitched a 5–0 shutout in the final game in New York.

Back to the World Series (1958)

In 1958, the Braves won the National League championship again. They took a 3–1 lead in the World Series against the New York Yankees. This was thanks to the strong pitching of Spahn and Burdette. However, the Yankees came back to win the last three games. Bob Turley was the World Series MVP for the Yankees.

A Close Finish (1959)

The 1959 season ended with the Braves tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Many fans hoped for a World Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Braves. But the Braves lost a best-of-three playoff to the Dodgers. This ended their streak of winning the league championship.

Later Milwaukee Years (1960–1965)

The next six years were a mix of good and bad for the Braves. In 1960, Burdette and Spahn each pitched a "no-hitter" game. Milwaukee finished second that year. However, fewer fans came to games.

In 1961, the Braves finished fourth. Spahn won his 300th game and pitched another no-hitter. But attendance continued to drop.

Hank Aaron hit 45 home runs in 1962, his most in Milwaukee. But the team still finished fifth. In 1963, Aaron hit 44 home runs and had 130 RBI. Spahn also had a great year, winning 23 games. But other players didn't perform as well. The team finished in the lower half of the league for the first time in Milwaukee.

The Braves were an average team in the early 1960s. Their last season in Milwaukee was 1965. They finished with 86 wins and 76 losses, placing fifth. Major League Baseball wouldn't return to Milwaukee until 1970. The Milwaukee Braves are the only team in modern baseball history to play more than one season and never have a losing record.

Moving to Atlanta

After the 1962 season, Lou Perini sold the Braves to a group led by William Bartholomay. Bartholomay immediately started looking for a bigger TV market for the team. At the same time, the city of Atlanta built a new stadium, Atlanta Stadium. It cost $18 million and opened in 1965. Atlanta hoped to attract a major league team.

Atlanta's mayor, Ivan Allen, Jr., convinced the Braves to move. The team announced they would move to Atlanta for the 1965 season. However, a court order in Wisconsin made the Braves play one more "lame-duck" season in Milwaukee. Home attendance was very low that year.

The Braves officially moved to Atlanta before the 1966 season. They drew over 1.5 million fans in their new stadium that first year.

The Atlanta Era

Early Years in Atlanta (1966–1975)

In their first few years in Atlanta, the Braves were an average team. In 1969, when baseball started using divisions, the Braves won the first-ever National League West title. But they lost to the "Miracle Mets" in the first National League Championship Series. The Braves didn't win their division again for a long time.

During this time, fans enjoyed watching Hank Aaron's achievements. He hit even more home runs in Atlanta Stadium, which was known as "The Launching Pad" because it was good for hitters. By the end of the 1973 season, Aaron had hit 713 home runs. This was just one short of Babe Ruth's record.

In 1974, it was only a matter of time before Aaron broke the record. On April 4, he hit #714 in Cincinnati. Then, on April 8, in front of his home fans, he hit #715 off Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers. This broke Babe Ruth's record! Aaron ended his career with 755 home runs. Almost all of them were hit while he was a Brave.

Ted Turner Buys the Braves (1976–1989)

In 1976, media owner Ted Turner bought the Braves. He owned a TV channel called WTCG (later WTBS, now WPCH-TV). Turner bought the Braves to keep them in Atlanta and to have a major program for his new cable channel. This made the Braves one of the first baseball teams to have a regular, nationwide audience. WTCG called the Braves "America's Team." This nickname is still used today, especially in the Southern United States.

Ted Turner was known for being a unique owner. He even tried to manage the team himself for one game in 1977! But Major League Baseball rules stopped him.

In 1978, Bobby Cox became the manager for the first time. He brought up a young player named Dale Murphy. Murphy hit many home runs. In 1980, Murphy moved to center field and became an excellent fielder. The Braves had their first winning season since 1974.

Cox was fired after the 1981 season. Joe Torre took over. In 1982, the Braves won their first 13 games of the season! They won their division title for the first time since 1969. But they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs. Dale Murphy won the MVP and a Gold Glove award that year. He won another MVP award the next season.

However, the Braves started to decline in the mid-1980s. They averaged only 65 wins per season between 1985 and 1990. Their worst year was 1988, when they lost 106 games. In 1986, Bobby Cox returned to the Braves as the general manager.

Successes and Stars (1990–2004)

The "Worst to First" Story (1990–1994)

Bobby Cox became manager again in the middle of the 1990 season. The Braves finished that year with the worst record in baseball. But things were about to change. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone helped young pitchers Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, and John Smoltz become stars. The Braves also drafted Chipper Jones in 1990. He became one of the best hitters in team history.

The most important change was hiring John Schuerholz as general manager. He came from the Kansas City Royals.

In 1991, Glavine, Avery, and Smoltz became the best young pitchers in the league. They won 52 games together. The Braves, led by players like Dave Justice, Ron Gant, and MVP Terry Pendleton, had a slow start. But they won 55 of their last 83 games! They beat the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game in a thrilling race. These "Worst to First" Braves, who hadn't won a division title since 1982, excited everyone in Atlanta.

They beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a very close seven-game playoff. But they lost the World Series to the Minnesota Twins, also in seven games. Many people think this was one of the greatest World Series ever. Both the Twins and Braves had finished last in their division the year before.

During this time, the Braves' "tomahawk chop" cheer became well-known. Fans would chop their arms and make a war cry. This tradition started when former Florida State Seminole player Deion Sanders joined the team.

The Braves' success continued. In 1992, they returned to the playoffs. They beat the Pirates again in seven games. But they lost the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 1993, the Braves signed Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs. Many experts said the Braves had the best pitching staff. The 1993 team won a team-best 104 games. They had a dramatic race with the San Francisco Giants, who won 103 games. The Braves had to win 55 of their last 74 games to beat the Giants! However, the Braves lost in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 1994, the National League changed its divisions. The Braves moved to the Eastern Division. This started a strong rivalry with the New York Mets. The player's strike ended the 1994 season early.

World Series Champions (1995–2004)

The Braves came back strong after the strike-shortened 1995 season. They beat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series! This win proved that the Braves were not like the "Buffalo Bills of baseball" (a team famous for losing big games). With this victory, the Braves became the first team in Major League Baseball to win championships in three different cities.

With their strong pitching, the Braves also played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series. They lost both to the New York Yankees. They had a streak of division titles from 1991 to 2005, only interrupted by the 1994 strike. John Schuerholz stayed as the team's general manager until 2007. Terry Pendleton returned as a coach for many years.

In 2000, the Braves won their ninth straight division title. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2001, Atlanta won the division again. They won their first playoff series but then lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. One memorable game that year was on September 21. The Braves played their rivals, the New York Mets, in the first major sports event in New York City after the 9/11 attacks.

In 2002, 2003, and 2004, the Braves won their division again. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs each time.

Cy Young Award Winners

Many Braves pitchers won the Cy Young Award in the 1990s. This award goes to the best pitcher in each league.

• In 1991, Tom Glavine won his first award.
• Greg Maddux won three in a row with the Braves, from 1993 to 1995.
• In 1996, John Smoltz won his only Cy Young Award.
• In 1998, Glavine won his second award.

A New Generation (2005)

In 2005, the Braves won their division championship for the 14th time in a row since 1991! This is a record for all of Major League Baseball. This team was called the "Baby Braves" because they had many young players. These included Wilson Betemit, Brian McCann, Pete Orr, Ryan Langerhans, and Jeff Francoeur. Many of these young players grew up near Atlanta. The team finished with 90 wins and 72 losses.

However, the season ended sadly. The Braves lost in the playoffs to the Astros in four games. Game 4 was especially long, lasting 18 innings! It was the longest playoff game in history.

After the 2005 season, the Braves lost their long-time pitching coach, Leo Mazzone. They also traded shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Struggles (2006)

In 2006, the Braves did not play as well as usual. They had trouble hitting and many pitchers were injured. In June, they had their worst month ever in Atlanta, winning only 6 games and losing 21.

After the All-Star break, the Braves started hitting much better. They won five games in a row, scoring 65 runs in that time! This was the best scoring streak for the team since 1897. Chipper Jones also had a 20-game hitting streak.

However, on September 18, the Braves were mathematically eliminated from winning their division. This ended their 11-year streak of winning the NL East. On September 28, they had their first losing season since 1990. The Braves finished the season in third place with 79 wins and 83 losses.

Sale to Liberty Media

In 2005, the Braves' owner, Time Warner, announced they were selling the team. In 2007, Time Warner agreed to sell the Braves to Liberty Media. The sale was approved by Major League Baseball owners. The Braves are one of only two Major League Baseball teams owned by a large company.

More Struggles (2007)

On July 5, Chipper Jones hit two home runs. This gave him 372 home runs as an Atlanta Brave, passing Dale Murphy for the team record.

The Braves struggled in the second half of 2007. They finished with a winning record but missed the playoffs again. On October 12, 2007, John Schuerholz stepped down as general manager. Frank Wren became the new general manager.

Return of Solid Pitching (2009)

In 2009, the Braves made several trades and signed new pitchers like Derek Lowe and Kenshin Kawakami. They also brought back former Brave Tom Glavine. Long-time Brave John Smoltz left to play for the Boston Red Sox.

The Braves made a strong push at the end of the season. They came within 2 games of the wild card spot. But on October 1, the Colorado Rockies won their game, ending the Braves' playoff hopes for 2009.

Bobby Cox's Final Season (2010)

The 2010 season was Bobby Cox's 25th and final season as manager. The Braves started slowly but then had a nine-game winning streak in May and June. On May 31, they took first place in the National League East.

On July 13, 2010, Braves catcher Brian McCann won the All-Star Game MVP Award. He hit a big double that helped the National League win the All-Star Game for the first time since 1996.

The Braves made some trades to get players like Álex González and Derrek Lee. They dropped to second in the NL East in September. But they won the NL Wild Card spot! They lost to the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs in four close games. After the last game, fans and players from both teams gave Bobby Cox a standing ovation as he retired.

Fredi González Takes Over (2011)

On October 13, 2010, the Braves announced that Fredi González would replace Bobby Cox as manager in 2011.

On June 11, 2011, the Braves' all-time win-loss record became over .500 for the first time since 1923. On July 15, 2011, the Braves became the third team in MLB history to reach 10,000 wins! Just 16 days later, they also became the second team in history to reach 10,000 losses.

Many young players from the Braves' minor league system played for the team in 2011. These included Freddie Freeman and Brandon Beachy.

September Collapse

The Braves were leading the National League Wild Card race for most of the 2011 season. They had a big lead of 8.5 games in the Wild Card standings on August 26. But in September, the Braves played poorly. They won only 9 games and lost 18. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals played very well, winning 18 games and losing 8.

The Braves finished the season with 89 wins and 73 losses, missing the playoffs. The Cardinals finished with 90 wins and 72 losses, taking the Wild Card spot. Braves closer Craig Kimbrel and other pitchers struggled in September. The team's hitting also declined.

Chipper Jones' Last Season (2012)

On March 22, 2012, the Braves announced that third baseman Chipper Jones would retire after the 2012 season. He had played 19 seasons with the team. The Braves also lost some key players but gained new ones like outfielder Michael Bourn and shortstops Tyler Pastornicky and Andrelton Simmons.

Pitcher Kris Medlen moved into the starting rotation. The Braves won every game Medlen started, setting an MLB record of 23 consecutive wins when a single pitcher starts! Atlanta stayed close to the Washington Nationals in the division race. The Nationals won their first division title. But the Braves stayed in first place for the NL Wild Card.

In 2012, a new MLB rule meant the top two wild card teams would play each other in a playoff game. The Braves played the St. Louis Cardinals in the first-ever Wild Card Game. The Braves were losing 6–3 in the eighth inning. A play happened where the umpire called Andrelton Simmons out, using the infield fly rule. Fans were upset and threw things onto the field, delaying the game. The Braves lost the game 6–3, ending their season.

Braves Win the East (2013)

After the tough loss in 2012, the Braves worked to improve their offense. They acquired B.J. Upton and his younger brother Justin Upton. They also got a new third baseman, Chris Johnson, after Chipper Jones retired.

The Braves started the 2013 season very well, winning 17 games in April. They took first place in the National League East division and never gave up the lead. The team faced many injuries to key players like Jason Heyward, Brian McCann, and Freddie Freeman. But they still found ways to win.

Rookie pitcher Julio Teherán also became a star. From July 26 to August 10, the Braves won 14 games in a row! This was their longest winning streak since 2000.

On June 28, 2013, the Braves retired Chipper Jones' jersey number 10. Thousands of fans honored him at Turner Field.

The Braves won the National League East division title on September 22, 2013. This was their first division title since 2005. It was also manager Fredi González's first division title. After winning the division, they lost to the Dodgers in the playoffs.

Losing Season (2014)

On November 11, 2013, the Braves announced they would move from Turner Field to a new stadium in Cobb County in 2017. The new stadium was built with a mix of public and private money. During the offseason, the Braves signed many young players to long-term contracts.

The Braves finished the 2014 season in second place with 79 wins and 83 losses. This was their first losing season since 2008.

Rebuilding the Team (2015–2016)

Before the 2015 season, the Braves changed their general manager. They traded many key players like Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, and Craig Kimbrel. They received many young prospects in return. This was part of a plan to rebuild the team for the future.

The Braves continued rebuilding before the 2016 season. They traded Andrelton Simmons and signed some new players.

The Braves started the 2016 season with a nine-game losing streak. This was their worst start since 1988. After a very poor start, Fredi González was fired as manager on May 17. Brian Snitker became the interim manager. The Braves finished the season with 68 wins and 93 losses, in last place.

During the 2016 offseason, the Braves signed pitchers R. A. Dickey and Bartolo Colón. Brian Snitker was promoted to full-time manager.

New Ballpark and Changes (2017)

The Braves opened their new stadium, SunTrust Park (now Truist Park), on April 14, 2017. They swept the San Diego Padres in a four-game series. The park received good reviews for its design and features. The Braves also introduced "The Freeze," a former sprinter who races a fan between innings.

On October 2, 2017, John Coppolella resigned as general manager. This happened during a Major League Baseball investigation into the Braves' international player signings. On November 13, 2017, the Braves announced Alex Anthopoulos as the new general manager. The Braves apologized to fans for the issues. On November 21, 2017, Major League Baseball announced its findings. The Braves had to give up 13 international prospects. John Coppolella was banned from baseball. The team also faced limits on signing international players in the future.

Return to the Postseason and World Series Title (2018–2023)

The Braves introduced a new mascot named Blooper on January 27, 2018. Blooper replaced the old mascot, "Homer of the Brave."

The Braves started a new streak of NL East division titles in 2018, winning 90 games. In 2019, they had their best record since 2003, with 97 wins. However, they did not advance past the first round of the playoffs in either season.

In the 2020 National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, the Braves led 3–1. But the Dodgers came back to win the series. The Braves returned to the NLCS in 2021 after beating the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs. Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning home run in Game 4 to send them to the next round.

On October 23, 2021, the Braves defeated the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. This was a rematch of the 2020 series. The Braves won in six games, reaching the World Series for the first time since 1999! They then defeated the Houston Astros in six games to win their fourth World Series title!

In 2022, the Braves tied with the New York Mets for the best record in the National League East. The Braves won the division title because they had a better record against the Mets. However, the Braves were eliminated in the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2023, the Braves had their best season since 1998, winning 104 games. Right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. made history. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in a season! He was also named the National League MVP. But once again, the Braves were eliminated in the playoffs by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Team Uniforms

Early Atlanta Uniforms (1966–1979)

When the Braves first moved to Atlanta in 1966, their uniforms were similar to their Milwaukee ones. The cap was navy with a red brim and a script "A." Both home and road uniforms had navy stripes and the "Braves" name in red with navy trim.

From 1968 to 1971, navy became the main color. Pinstripes were added to the home uniform. By 1969, an all-navy cap became the main cap.

From 1972 to 1975, the Braves changed to royal blue. Home uniforms were white with blue sleeves. Road uniforms were blue with white sleeves. Both sleeves had a feather patch. Caps were royal blue with white front panels and a red "a."

From 1976 to 1979, the Braves returned to pinstripes and gray road uniforms. The home uniform removed the blue sleeves. The road uniform was gray with blue sleeves and had "Atlanta" written on the front.

Modern Uniforms (1980–Present)

From 1980 to 1986, the home uniform removed pinstripes and added player names. The road uniform became powder blue.

Since 1987, the Braves have worn a classic uniform style. The white home uniform has red and navy stripes, the "Braves" name, and a tomahawk on the front. The gray road uniforms are similar but say "Atlanta" on the front.

The main cap is navy with a red brim and a script "A." Since 2008, an all-navy cap has also been used as the main road cap.

The Braves also have red alternate home uniforms. The design has changed a few times. They also had cream-colored alternate uniforms from 2012 to 2019, which honored their first season in Atlanta.

The Braves have worn three versions of their alternate navy blue road jerseys. The newest version, from 2024, has red lettering and red piping.

In 2023, the Braves introduced their City Connect uniform. Its design was inspired by their early 1970s home uniform. It has blue sleeves and a red, white, and blue triangle. "The A" is on the chest, and there are tributes to Hank Aaron's 715th home run.

The home uniforms are worn on a schedule. But the starting pitcher chooses the road uniform on game day. However, road uniforms must be a different color than the home team's uniforms.