Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves, founded in Boston in 1871, won World Series titles in 1914, 1957, 1995 and 2021 and a record 14 straight division titles, 1991-2005.
The Atlanta Braves are one of the two oldest continuously operating franchises in professional baseball. The club was founded in Boston in 1871, moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and to Atlanta in 1966, and never stopped playing. It has won four World Series titles, in 1914, 1957, 1995 and 2021, and was the first franchise to win championships in three different home cities. Its 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005 are the longest such run in major league history.
| Vitals | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1871, Boston (Boston Red Stockings, National Association) |
| League / division | MLB, National League East (NL West 1969–1993) |
| Stadium | Truist Park, Cumberland, Ga. (opened 2017) |
| Owner | Atlanta Braves Holdings, Inc. |
| Manager | Walt Weiss (as of Nov. 9, 2026) |
| World Series titles | 4: 1914, 1957, 1995, 2021 |
| NL pennants | 18: 1877, 1878, 1883, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897, 1898, 1914, 1948, 1957, 1958, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2021 |
| Other league titles | National Association pennants 1872–1875 |
Boston: Red Stockings to Beaneaters (1871–1899)
Harry Wright’s club. Harry Wright had managed the Cincinnati Red Stockings before coming to Boston, and he managed the new club in every one of its National Association seasons. Boston won four straight pennants there from 1872 to 1875, and the 1875 team went 71–8. The club joined the National League as a charter member in 1876 and won NL pennants in 1877 and 1878.
The Beaneaters. Boston won the pennant again in 1883. Frank Selee’s Beaneaters then won five more, in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1897 and 1898. Kid Nichols won 330 games for the franchise. Hugh Duffy’s 145 RBI in 1894 are still the club’s single-season record.
Decline and the Miracle Braves (1900–1916)
From champions to the cellar. After 1900, players left for the new American League and the club collapsed. It hit bottom at 44–107 in 1911, playing as the Rustlers. The name Braves first appeared in 1912.
Last on the Fourth of July. On July 4, 1914, George Stallings’s Braves were in last place, 15 games behind the New York Giants. Led by pitchers Dick Rudolph and Bill James, they finished first at 94–59, and Johnny Evers won the 1914 NL MVP. In the World Series, Oct. 9–13, 1914, the Braves swept the reigning champion Philadelphia Athletics.
Lean decades and the 1948 pennant (1917–1952)
The worst of times. The 1935 team went 38–115, the worst record in franchise history. That was also the season Babe Ruth ended his playing career in a Braves uniform. From 1936 to 1940 the club was called the Bees.
Spahn and Sain. Warren Spahn won 356 games for the franchise, the club record. He and Johnny Sain led the 1948 Braves to the pennant at 91–62, but the team lost the World Series to Cleveland. After that, attendance in Boston collapsed.
Milwaukee (1953–1965)
Leaving Boston. Owner Lou Perini moved the Braves to Milwaukee on March 18, 1953. The move ended a stretch of 50 seasons, from 1903 to 1952, in which the majors had 16 teams in 10 cities. That first Milwaukee season, the club set an NL attendance record of 1,826,397.
Aaron, Mathews and the 1957 title. Hank Aaron joined the club in 1954. For the franchise, Aaron hit 733 home runs and Eddie Mathews 493. In 1957 Aaron won the NL MVP and Spahn won the Cy Young Award. The Braves then beat the New York Yankees 4–3 in the World Series. Lew Burdette won three games, including a Game 7 shutout at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 10, and was named Series MVP.
Atlanta: Aaron, Turner and Murphy (1966–1990)
715. The Braves played their first Atlanta season in 1966. In 1969 they won the first NL West title at 93–69, then were swept by the Mets in the NLCS. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th career home run, off the Dodgers’ Al Downing, and passed Babe Ruth. He had received racist threats throughout the chase. Aaron holds the franchise records for games (3,076), hits (3,600) and RBI (2,202), per Baseball-Reference.
America’s Team. Ted Turner bought the club in 1976 and broadcast its games nationally on his cable superstation. Dale Murphy won back-to-back NL MVPs in 1982 and 1983, but the 1988 Braves went 54–106. The next contender was already being built. Bobby Cox was hired back as general manager on Oct. 22, 1985 and moved to the dugout in June 1990. Atlanta took Chipper Jones first overall in the 1990 draft, and John Schuerholz became general manager.
The 14-year dynasty (1991–2005)
Worst to first. In 1991 the Braves went from last place to the World Series. They lost it to Minnesota when Jack Morris won Game 7, 1–0 in 10 innings. In Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS against Pittsburgh, Francisco Cabrera’s pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth scored Sid Bream for a 3–2 pennant-winning victory.
Maddux and the 1995 title. Greg Maddux signed before the 1993 season and won the Cy Young in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz led the rotation, and in 1995 Atlanta beat Cleveland 4–2 in the World Series. In the 1–0 Game 6 clincher on Oct. 28, 1995, Glavine and Mark Wohlers combined on a one-hitter.
Pennants, then October heartbreak. Atlanta moved into Turner Field in 1997. It lost the 1996 and 1999 World Series to the Yankees, and in 1998 it won a franchise-record 106 games. In 2005, the streak’s final season, Andruw Jones hit 51 home runs.
Between dynasties (2006–2017)
The streak ends. The run of division titles ended with a 79–83 finish in 2006. Liberty Media bought the club in 2007, and Cox retired after the 2010 season. Craig Kimbrel became the franchise’s career saves leader with 186. Atlanta won the division in 2013 and then rebuilt. SunTrust Park, now Truist Park, opened in Cobb County in 2017, and the club hired Alex Anthopoulos as general manager that November.
The Acuña era (2018–2026)
2021: the unlikeliest champion. Ronald Acuña Jr. was the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year, and Freddie Freeman was the 2020 NL MVP. Acuña was injured in 2021, so Anthopoulos rebuilt the outfield with midseason trades. Atlanta won the division at 88–73, and Eddie Rosario was named NLCS MVP. The Braves beat Houston 4–2 in the World Series, finishing with a 7–0 shutout on Nov. 2, 2021. Jorge Soler was the Series MVP.
Olson and Acuña’s 2023. When Freeman left for the Dodgers, Atlanta traded for Matt Olson and signed him to an eight-year, $168 million contract. In 2023 Olson hit a franchise-record 54 home runs. Acuña had the first 40–70 season in MLB history and was the unanimous NL MVP.
Reset and return. Chris Sale won the 2024 NL Cy Young. The 2025 club finished 76–86, and Walt Weiss replaced Brian Snitker as manager. In 2026 Atlanta went 94–68 and won the NL East. It beat Philadelphia in the Wild Card Series and lost the NLDS to the Dodgers, who clinched with a 4–1 win at Truist Park on Oct. 7, 2026. On Sept. 2, 2026, Acuña became the fastest player to reach 200 home runs and 200 steals, needing 904 games. The Braves later exercised his $17 million club option for 2027.
Retired numbers
The Braves have retired 11 numbers of their own. Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 is also retired, as it is across MLB, per the club’s history.
| No. | Player | Pos. | Team tenure | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dale Murphy | OF | 1976–1990 | June 13, 1994 |
| 6 | Bobby Cox (manager) | — | 1978–1981, 1990–2010 | Aug. 12, 2011 |
| 10 | Chipper Jones | 3B | 1993, 1995–2012 | June 28, 2013 |
| 21 | Warren Spahn | P | 1942, 1946–1964 | Dec. 11, 1965 |
| 25 | Andruw Jones | OF | 1996–2007 | Sept. 9, 2023 |
| 29 | John Smoltz | P | 1988–1999, 2001–2008 | June 8, 2012 |
| 31 | Greg Maddux | P | 1993–2003 | July 17, 2009 |
| 35 | Phil Niekro | P | 1964–1983, 1987 | Aug. 1984 |
| 41 | Eddie Mathews | 3B | 1952–1966 | July 26, 1969 |
| 42 | Jackie Robinson (MLB-wide) | 2B | — | Apr. 15, 1997 |
| 44 | Hank Aaron | RF | 1954–1974 | Apr. 15, 1977 |
| 47 | Tom Glavine | P | 1987–2002, 2008 | Aug. 2010 |
Season by season
The full record of all 156 seasons, per Baseball-Reference. The National Association years (1871–1875) are included in the 1870s.
The 2020s 587–444 · 6 playoff berths · 1 World Series title
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 94-68 | 1st, NL East | Won WC (PHI 2-1); lost NLDS (LAD 1-3) |
| 2025 | 76-86 | 4th, NL East | — |
| 2024 | 89-73 | 2nd, NL East | Lost WC (SD 0-2) |
| 2023 | 104-58 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (PHI 1-3) |
| 2022 | 101-61 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (PHI 1-3) |
| 2021 | 88-73 | 1st, NL East | Won World Series (HOU 4-2) |
| 2020 | 35-25 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLCS (LAD 3-4) |
The 2010s 843–776 · 5 playoff berths
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 97-65 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (STL 2-3) |
| 2018 | 90-72 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (LAD 1-3) |
| 2017 | 72-90 | 3rd, NL East | — |
| 2016 | 68-93 | 5th, NL East | — |
| 2015 | 67-95 | 4th, NL East | — |
| 2014 | 79-83 | 2nd, NL East | — |
| 2013 | 96-66 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (LAD 1-3) |
| 2012 | 94-68 | 2nd, NL East | Lost Wild Card Game (STL) |
| 2011 | 89-73 | 2nd, NL East | — |
| 2010 | 91-71 | 2nd, NL East | Lost NLDS (SF 1-3) |
The 2000s 892–726 · 6 playoff berths
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 86-76 | 3rd, NL East | — |
| 2008 | 72-90 | 4th, NL East | — |
| 2007 | 84-78 | 3rd, NL East | — |
| 2006 | 79-83 | 3rd, NL East | — |
| 2005 | 90-72 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (HOU 1-3) |
| 2004 | 96-66 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (HOU 2-3) |
| 2003 | 101-61 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (CHC 2-3) |
| 2002 | 101-59 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (SF 2-3) |
| 2001 | 88-74 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLCS (ARI 1-4) |
| 2000 | 95-67 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLDS (STL 0-3) |
The 1990s 925–629 · 8 playoff berths · 5 pennants · 1 World Series title
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 103-59 | 1st, NL East | Lost World Series (NYY 0-4) |
| 1998 | 106-56 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLCS (SD 2-4) |
| 1997 | 101-61 | 1st, NL East | Lost NLCS (FLA 2-4) |
| 1996 | 96-66 | 1st, NL East | Lost World Series (NYY 2-4) |
| 1995 | 90-54 | 1st, NL East | Won World Series (CLE 4-2) |
| 1994 | 68-46 | 2nd, NL East | Season ended by strike |
| 1993 | 104-58 | 1st, NL West | Lost NLCS (PHI 2-4) |
| 1992 | 98-64 | 1st, NL West | Lost World Series (TOR 2-4) |
| 1991 | 94-68 | 1st, NL West | Lost World Series (MIN 3-4) |
| 1990 | 65-97 | 6th, NL West | — |
The 1980s 712–845 · 1 playoff berth
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 63-97 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1988 | 54-106 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1987 | 69-92 | 5th, NL West | — |
| 1986 | 72-89 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1985 | 66-96 | 5th, NL West | — |
| 1984 | 80-82 | 2nd, NL West | — |
| 1983 | 88-74 | 2nd, NL West | — |
| 1982 | 89-73 | 1st, NL West | Lost NLCS (STL 0-3) |
| 1981 | 50-56 | 5th, NL West | — |
| 1980 | 81-80 | 4th, NL West | — |
The 1970s 725–883 · no playoff berths
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 66-94 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1978 | 69-93 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1977 | 61-101 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1976 | 70-92 | 6th, NL West | — |
| 1975 | 67-94 | 5th, NL West | — |
| 1974 | 88-74 | 3rd, NL West | — |
| 1973 | 76-85 | 5th, NL West | — |
| 1972 | 70-84 | 4th, NL West | — |
| 1971 | 82-80 | 3rd, NL West | — |
| 1970 | 76-86 | 5th, NL West | — |
The 1960s 851–753 · 1 playoff berth · moved to Atlanta (1966)
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 93-69 | 1st, NL West | Lost NLCS (NYM 0-3) |
| 1968 | 81-81 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1967 | 77-85 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1966 | 85-77 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1965 | 86-76 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1964 | 88-74 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1963 | 84-78 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1962 | 86-76 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1961 | 83-71 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1960 | 88-66 | 2nd, NL | — |
The 1950s 854–687 · 2 pennants · 1 World Series title · moved to Milwaukee (1953)
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 86-70 | 2nd, NL | Lost pennant playoff (LAD) |
| 1958 | 92-62 | 1st, NL | Lost World Series (NYY 3-4) |
| 1957 | 95-59 | 1st, NL | Won World Series (NYY 4-3) |
| 1956 | 92-62 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1955 | 85-69 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1954 | 89-65 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1953 | 92-62 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1952 | 64-89 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1951 | 76-78 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1950 | 83-71 | 4th, NL | — |
The 1940s 719–808 · 1 pennant
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 75-79 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1948 | 91-62 | 1st, NL | Lost World Series (CLE 2-4) |
| 1947 | 86-68 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1946 | 81-72 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1945 | 67-85 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1944 | 65-89 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1943 | 68-85 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1942 | 59-89 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1941 | 62-92 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1940 | 65-87 | 7th, NL (as Bees) | — |
The 1930s 700–829 · no pennants · Bees from 1936
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 63-88 | 7th, NL (as Bees) | — |
| 1938 | 77-75 | 5th, NL (as Bees) | — |
| 1937 | 79-73 | 5th, NL (as Bees) | — |
| 1936 | 71-83 | 6th, NL (as Bees) | — |
| 1935 | 38-115 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1934 | 78-73 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1933 | 83-71 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1932 | 77-77 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1931 | 64-90 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1930 | 70-84 | 6th, NL | — |
The 1920s 603–928 · no pennants
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 56-98 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1928 | 50-103 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1927 | 60-94 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1926 | 66-86 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1925 | 70-83 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1924 | 53-100 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1923 | 54-100 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1922 | 53-100 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1921 | 79-74 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1920 | 62-90 | 7th, NL | — |
The 1910s 666–815 · 1 pennant · 1 World Series title
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | 57-82 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1918 | 53-71 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1917 | 72-81 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1916 | 89-63 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1915 | 83-69 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1914 | 94-59 | 1st, NL | Won World Series (PHA 4-0) |
| 1913 | 69-82 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1912 | 52-101 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1911 | 44-107 | 8th, NL (as Rustlers) | — |
| 1910 | 53-100 | 8th, NL (as Doves) | — |
The 1900s 587–877 · no pennants
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | 45-108 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1908 | 63-91 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1907 | 58-90 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1906 | 49-102 | 8th, NL | — |
| 1905 | 51-103 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1904 | 55-98 | 7th, NL | — |
| 1903 | 58-80 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1902 | 73-64 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1901 | 69-69 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1900 | 66-72 | 4th, NL | — |
The 1890s 869–508 · 5 pennants
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 95-57 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1898 | 102-47 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1897 | 93-39 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1896 | 74-57 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1895 | 71-60 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1894 | 83-49 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1893 | 86-43 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1892 | 102-48 | 1st, NL | Pennant; won championship series (CLE 5-0-1) |
| 1891 | 87-51 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1890 | 76-57 | 5th, NL | — |
The 1880s 575–497 · 1 pennant
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1889 | 83-45 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1888 | 70-64 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1887 | 61-60 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1886 | 56-61 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1885 | 46-66 | 5th, NL | — |
| 1884 | 73-38 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1883 | 63-35 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1882 | 45-39 | 3rd, NL | — |
| 1881 | 38-45 | 6th, NL | — |
| 1880 | 40-44 | 6th, NL | — |
The 1870s 401–158 · 4 NA pennants · 2 NL pennants
| Season | W–L | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 | 54-30 | 2nd, NL | — |
| 1878 | 41-19 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1877 | 42-18 | 1st, NL | Pennant |
| 1876 | 39-31 | 4th, NL | — |
| 1875 | 71-8 | 1st, NA | Pennant |
| 1874 | 52-18 | 1st, NA | Pennant |
| 1873 | 43-16 | 1st, NA | Pennant |
| 1872 | 39-8 | 1st, NA | Pennant |
| 1871 | 20-10 | 2nd, NA | — |
By the numbers
The franchise record book, counting National League play from 1876 through the 2026 season, per Baseball-Reference.
Franchise marks
Ranks
- 1st Consecutive division titles, MLB history (14, 1991–2005)
- 1st Home runs, franchise history: Hank Aaron (733)
- 1st Pitching wins, franchise history: Warren Spahn (356)
- 1st Strikeouts, franchise history: John Smoltz (3,011)
- 1st Saves, franchise history: Craig Kimbrel (186)
- 2nd Hits, franchise history: Chipper Jones (2,726)
Honors
- 1914 World Series champion
- 1957 World Series champion
- 1995 World Series champion
- 2021 World Series champion
- 9 NL MVP awards (Evers 1914, Elliott 1947, Aaron 1957, Murphy 1982 and 1983, Pendleton 1991, C. Jones 1999, Freeman 2020, Acuña 2023)
- 8 Cy Young Awards (Spahn 1957, Glavine 1991 and 1998, Maddux 1993–1995, Smoltz 1996, Sale 2024)
- 4 National Association pennants (1872–1875)
Per Baseball-Reference franchise page, batting leaders, pitching leaders, MVP and Cy Young lists, and MLB.com, through Nov. 9, 2026.
The arguments
One title in 14 straight division crowns. Critics call the 1991–2005 run the biggest underachievement of the wild-card era. Defenders reply that short playoff series are close to random and that no other club has won 14 straight division titles.
Olson for Freeman. Fans still argue about letting Freeman sign with the Dodgers. Critics point to his success in Los Angeles, and defenders point to Olson’s franchise-record power.
Suburbs and symbols. The move to Cobb County was criticized for its public financing. Native American groups have long criticized the team name and the tomahawk-chop chant.
Why it matters
No franchise traces a clearer unbroken line from the start of the major leagues to the present. That line runs from Harry Wright’s 1871 club through Aaron’s 715th home run, Cox’s 14-year run and the 2021 title. No other franchise has won the World Series in three different cities.
