Who are the Braves' most dangerous hitters of all time?

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Atlanta has a rich history of baseball, but there are five specific players who have earned a spot as the five best hitters in Braves history.

The Atlanta Braves are one of the most successful baseball organizations over the last three decades, but they are currently trying to get back to elite status. They’ve had their fair share of Hall of Fame inductees thanks to their incredible run in the 1990s, and most of those guys have stuck around to help support this organization through its growing pains.

What most general baseball fans don’t realize is that the Braves have had incredible athletes playing for their team before guys like Chipper Jones and Tom Glavine entered the league. Heck, a few of the players on this list were hitting homers well before Chipper and Andruw Jones ever picked up a baseball.

Needless to say, the players on this list vary from different generations, but they all have one thing in common: They are five of the most dangerous hitters in Braves history.

5. Andruw Jones (1996-2007)

It’s amazing how fast time flies, as it seems like just yesterday when Andruw Jones made his first appearance in the big leagues in 1996. As much as Braves fans have come to love current center fielder Ender Inciarte, I don’t think there’s one Atlanta fan that wouldn’t trade him in a heartbeat for one more season of a young Andruw Jones.

What many people around baseball may not remember is that Jones was one of the best outfielders the game has ever seen. Not to mention, he is easily one of the best Atlanta Braves of all time.

Jones made the MLB All-Star Game five different times and won 10 Gold Glove Awards. However, it was hit ability to hit the baseball that earned him the number-five spot on this list.

Take a look at where he ranks on the Braves’ all-time list in some major hitting categories, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Total Hits: 1,683 (8th in Atlanta History)
Total Home Runs: 368 (5th in Atlanta History)
Total Bases: 3,185 (5th in Atlanta History)
Total RBI: 1,117 (5th in Atlanta History)

What a special career Andruw Jones was able to put together. It’s real shame that some of these young Braves fans will never get to see him put on the Navy and Red, while making incredible catches at Turner Field. However, Jones is just one of many great Atlanta baseball players on this list.

4. Dale Murphy (1976-1989)

What a shame it is that Dale Murphy was an Atlanta Brave just before their incredible run in the 1990s. The younger Braves fans have never seen this talented guy play in an MLB game, but that doesn’t mean he should be forgotten, especially since Murphy is one of the most decorated Atlanta athletes of all time.

Murphy won the MVP Award two different times, was a seven-time All-Star, won five Gold Glove Awards and four Silver Sluggers. Needless to say, pitchers never enjoyed facing Dale Murphy throughout the summers of the 1980s.

While Murphy stats active in Atlanta and on social media, he also still reigns as one of the most dangerous Braves hitters ever. Take a look at where he ranks on the Braves’ all-time list in some major hitting categories, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Total Hits: 1,901 (6th in Atlanta History)
Total Home Runs: 371 (4th in Atlanta History)
Total Bases: 3,394 (4th in Atlanta History)
Total RBI: 1,143 (4th in Atlanta History)

If Dale Murphy would have had an opportunity to play in his prime with the Jones boys and the trio of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux, I bet they would have won, at least, three more World Series titles. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but that would have made for one of the best runs in baseball history.

Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images /

3. Eddie Mathews (1952-1966)

If you’ve heard of Eddie Mathews‘ importance to the rich history of the Braves organization, then you definitely are one of the most educated Atlanta baseball fans out there. This 12-time All-Star and Hall of Fame inductee played for the Braves when they were in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. That’s some serious MLB trivia knowledge right there for you.

In all seriousness, Eddie Mathews is one of the best hitters that has ever been privileged to wear a Braves uniform. His 15 years with the team have gone down as one of the best careers ever in this organization’s history, and his numbers will stand for a long, long time.

Take a look at where he ranks on the Braves’ all-time list in some major hitting categories, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Total Hits: 2,201 (3rd in Atlanta History)
Total Home Runs: 493 (2nd in Atlanta History)
Total Bases: 4,158 (3rd in Atlanta History)
Total RBI: 1,388 (3rd in Atlanta History)

The battle for the second spot on this list was extremely close, especially since the two players considered are shoe-in Hall of Famers. However, even though the decision was very close, there was one player who couldn’t be overlooked as the best Atlanta Braves hitter since he entered the league in 1993.

I think you definitely know who I’m talking about.

2. Chipper Jones (1993-2012)

There are very few baseball players in the game today who play for the same organization for their entire careers. That being said, Chipper Jones is one of the most well-known and recognized Atlanta athletes that there may ever be.

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Not only is Jones in the argument for being the best Braves player of all-time, but there is talk about him being a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee as well. Needless to say, Jones was one of the best third basemen the game has ever seen.

With the Braves’ current team struggling to get back to NL pennant contention, they look for another player of Jones’ stature. His nearly two decades in a Braves uniform will always be the standard for every Atlanta baseball player moving forward, as he could be the best Atlanta Braves hitter ever.

Take a look at where he ranks on the Braves’ all-time list in some major hitting categories, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Total Hits: 2,726 (2nd in Atlanta History)
Total Home Runs: 486 (3rd in Atlanta History)
Total Bases: 475 (2nd in Atlanta History)
Total RBI: 1,623 (2nd in Atlanta History)

While Chipper Jones is in the discussion of being the Braves’ best hitter of all time, the player who came in first dwarfs Jones’ batting stats. This player we will look at next is truly the best Braves hitter ever and is also one of the best hitters we have ever seen play the game of baseball.

1. Hank Aaron (1954-1976)

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think Hank Aaron gets the amount of respect he deserves from baseball fans around the country. Not only is he the true home run king, but this guy is one of the best baseball players this earth has ever seen. Aaron made the MLB All-Star Game 25 times, won the Gold Glove Award three times, won an MVP Award and is a Hall of Famer.

Needless to say, there are not many of us who could achieve those accolades in a video game, much less in real life. That being said, there’s no argument that Hank Aaron is an Atlanta baseball legend.

I’ll save us all the time of looking at where Aaron ranks among the Braves’ all-time hitters; he leads in pretty much every batting statistic imaginable. However, what is worth looking at is how much of a lead he currently has in each major category.

Take a look at where he ranks on the Braves’ all-time list in some major hitting categories, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

Total Hits: 3,600 (874 more than Chipper Jones)
Total Home Runs: 733 (240 more than Eddie Mathews)
Total Bases: 6,591 (1,836 more than Chipper Jones)
Total RBI: 2,202 (579 more than Chipper Jones)

Honestly, I don’t know what more there is to say about Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. He is so far above fellow Atlanta great Chipper Jones that it isn’t even funny.

Next: 5 Braves Who Have Exceeded Expectations In 2017

While Jones has been the most popular Braves player of the last two decades, Aaron is easily the best baseball player in Atlanta history. If you ever have a chance to meet him, recognize that you are in the presence of a legend.

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