Atlanta Braves All-Time Greats Roster
By Ron Juckett
With over 140 years of history, the Atlanta Braves have a great legacy of players. Who would you put on their all-time roster? Here is our choices.
The roots of the Atlanta Braves date back to the creation of the National League in 1876.
Originally known as the Boston Beaneaters, the team claimed eight championships in the NL’s first 21 years. When the rival American League formed and placed the Boston Americans on Huntington Avenue, the fortunes of the Beaneaters changed.
A trio of name changes followed. First to the friendlier sounding Doves, then one season as the Rustlers and finally, in 1912, the name Braves. Through the period, the team graced the second division. A miracle in 1914 changed everything as the Braves shocked the sports world by not only winning the NL, but sweeping the Philadelphia Athletics to win their first modern World Series.
During the 1930s they changed names again, spending five seasons as the Bees, before becoming the Braves again for good.
The postwar years brought success. In 1948, they captured a second pennant, nearly playing the crosstown Red Sox, but the Cleveland Indians prevailed over both, winning their last championship.
As the 1950s dawned, it became apparent Boston could no longer support two teams. With the country expanding and travel easier, the Braves left the Jimmy Fund for the Red Sox to sponsor while the team moved west to Milwaukee. That move turned the Braves into a contending team with a rabid fan base.
Two consecutive pennants hit in 1957 and 1958. In two thrilling World Series, the Braves bested the New York Yankees in seven in ’57 while losing to them in seven in 1958.
After dropping the best-of-three playoff in 1959 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves never reached the playoffs again in Milwaukee. The inviting markets of the new South came calling and, after a court forced the Braves to stay in 1965, they moved to Atlanta in 1966.
Two trips to the new National League Championships followed in 1969 and 1982. Magnate Ted Turner purchased the Braves in the mid-70s and, with the advent of cable television, beamed the Braves coast-to-coast nightly for over 20 years. Known as “America’s Team,” the Braves created new fans in markets that craved Major League Baseball. Before having every game on television was normal, the Braves filled endless hours of summer television while the local teams graced the television once a week, if that.
Although those teams were not good, everything changed in 1991 as Atlanta stormed into their first World Series since 1958. In 1995, the Braves won their lone championship in Atlanta with a six-game victory over the Indians. Several more trips followed, but they ran into the powerful Yankees and never could grab another ring.
Today, the team eagerly awaits a move into new Sun Life Stadium in 2017, bringing in 141 years of tradition and excellence with them.
Let’s meet their all-time roster!
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