Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves. The Atlanta Braves are a professional Major League Baseball franchise based in Atlanta, Georgia, and are a member of the National League East division. With a history dating to 1871, they are the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in the United States. The team has won four World Series titles, most recently in 2021, and is celebrated for its sustained competitive success, including a record 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005.

History

The franchise originated in Boston as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871, becoming a charter member of the National League in 1876 under various names, including the Boston Beaneaters and Boston Doves. After a period as the Boston Bees, the team was purchased by Lou Perini and renamed the Boston Braves in 1941. Seeking a larger market, the team moved to Milwaukee in 1953, becoming the Milwaukee Braves and winning a World Series in 1957 behind stars like Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn. In 1966, seeking to expand into the southeastern United States, owner William Bartholomay relocated the franchise to Atlanta, where they played their first season at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium. The Ted Turner ownership era, beginning in 1976, brought national prominence through broadcasts on WTBS and ushered in a period of dominance in the 1990s under general manager John Schuerholz and manager Bobby Cox.

Ballpark

The Braves played their home games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium from 1966 until 1996, a period that included Hank Aaron's record-breaking 715th home run in 1974. They then moved to the Olympic Stadium-converted Turner Field for the 1996 Olympics and the 1997 baseball season. In 2017, the organization opened a new stadium in Cobb County, Truist Park, as part of a larger mixed-use development known as The Battery Atlanta. This move, facilitated by a public-private partnership, sparked debate but established a modern ballpark experience. The adjacent Georgia Tech field served as a temporary home during the 2021 All-Star Game relocation from Atlanta.

Rivalries

The team's primary and most historic rivalry is with the New York Mets, intensified by numerous postseason meetings and divisional races, particularly during the 1990s and 2000s. A significant American League rivalry exists with the Houston Astros, stemming from their time together in the National League West and a dramatic 2005 NLDS. Geographic proximity fuels a spirited interleague rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies, while the move to the National League East in 1994 cemented competitive tensions with the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins. Historic rivalries from their National League West days, such as with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, also retain potency.

Players of note

Legendary figures define the franchise, led by Hank Aaron, the all-time MLB home run leader for over three decades, who spent most of his career in Milwaukee and Atlanta. Iconic pitchers include Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, the core of the 1990s dynasty, all inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Third baseman Chipper Jones, the 1999 NL MVP, spent his entire career with the team. Other notable Hall of Famers associated with the Braves are Warren Spahn, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, and manager Bobby Cox. Contemporary stars have included Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddie Freeman, and Austin Riley.

Championships and achievements

The franchise boasts four World Series championships, captured in 1914 (as the Boston Braves), 1957 (as the Milwaukee Braves), 1995, and 2021. They have won 18 National League pennants, most recently in 2021. The team's most remarkable regular-season achievement is winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005, a record across North American professional sports, primarily in the National League West and later the National League East. Individual accolades include multiple Cy Young Award winners like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, and MVP seasons from Chipper Jones, Terry Pendleton, and Dale Murphy.

Culture and fan base

Nationally dubbed "America's Team" in the 1970s due to nationwide broadcasts on WTBS under owner Ted Turner, the Braves cultivated a vast fan base across the Southeastern United States. The "Tomahawk Chop" chant and accompanying arm motion, adopted in the early 1990s, became a ubiquitous and sometimes controversial game tradition. The fan base is represented by organized groups like the Tomahawk Team and gathers annually at Spring training in North Port, Florida. The team's games are broadcast on regional sports network Bally Sports South, with radio coverage on 680 The Fan. The Braves maintain a strong philanthropic presence through the Atlanta Braves Foundation.