2013 Atlanta Braves Preview
Check back in the Spring for the Braves 2013 Season Preview.
ATLANTA BRAVES INFORMATION:
Founded: 1871 (in Atlanta since 1966)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Stadium: Turner Field
Conference: National League
Division: East Division
Rivals: New York Mets
Notable Players: Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavin, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones
Atlanta Braves World Series Title: 3 - last World Series appearance, 1999
Atlanta Braves NL Championships: 17 - last NL Championship appearance, 2001
The Atlanta Braves have become one of the most successful franchises in National League history, but it was a long and winding road for the team before they found themselves in the Peach State. The franchise dates back to 1876 when they were one of the original teams in Boston called the Red Caps. The team was in flux for a majority of its history, changing its name to the Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Braves, Bees and back to the Braves again before moving to Milwaukee in 1953. The squad's tenure in Milwaukee was short-lived, and they moved to Atlanta in 1966 where they have become one of the strongest contenders in the National League.
The Braves came to Atlanta with great fanfare in 1966, boasting a stellar lineup featuring future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron and pitcher Phil Niekro. Although the team would win division titles in 1969 and 1982, the Braves' biggest run of success came in the early 1990s. From 1991 to 2005, the Braves won 14 straight division titles and were one of the most-feared teams in the National League. With a dominant pitching staff featuring Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine, the Braves were constantly in the thick of the NL Pennant race and made five appearances in the World Series during the 1990s.
As talented as the Braves were during the '90s, they only have one World Series title to show for it. After two trips to the World Series and a few heartbreaking losses in the National League Championship Series, the Braves finally pulled through in the 1995 season. After knocking off the upstart Colorado Rockies in the NLCS, the Braves were pitted against the Cleveland Indians, who had made quick work of AL teams all season long. The team jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead in the series, but the Indians fought back to force a Game 6. Luckily for the Braves, World Series MVP Tom Glavine limited the Indians' hitters to one hit over eight innings, giving the Braves their first World Championship.
Since the Braves' glory days of the early 1990s, the team has steadily rebuilt its farm system and looks to challenge the Philadelphia Phillies' supremacy in the division over the coming years.
See Also:
Atlanta Braves Playoff Tickets
Atlanta Braves Preview History