Rahul Sharma (Editor)

1986 Atlanta Braves season

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Record
  
72–89 (.447)

Owner(s)
  
Ted Turner

Manager(s)
  
Chuck Tanner

Divisional place
  
6th

General manager(s)
  
Bobby Cox

Local television
  
WTBS Superstation WTBS

The 1986 season was the 116th in franchise history and their 21st in Atlanta.

Contents

Offseason

  • November 13, 1985: Randy Johnson was released by the Braves.
  • December 6, 1985: Miguel Sosa (minors) was traded by the Braves to the New York Yankees for Billy Sample.
  • March 5, 1986: Rick Cerone, David Clay (minors), and Flavio Alfaro (minors) were traded by the Braves to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ted Simmons.

    • Regular season

    The Braves shutout Montreal Expos, 6-0 in their season opener but were 7-12 at the end of April, 6 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won 17 of their first 25 games in the month of May, improving their record to 24–20 May 27. They were tied for second and were 1 1/2 games out of first.

    On June 24 the Braves dropped into fourth place with a 34-36 record. They were in fourth place, 4 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won seven of their next eight games to surge back into contention on July 3. Atlanta was 41-37 and in third place, 1 1/2 games out of first. The Braves promptly lost 20 of their next 25 games and fell into the cellar, 46-57, 12 1/2 games out of first. After a 12-5 run put them within 10 1/2 games of the lead, the Braves fizzled and faded down the stretch, losing their last five games to finish in last place with a 72-89 record, 23 1/2 games out of first.

  • July 6, 1986: In an 11-8 loss to the Montreal Expos, Bob Horner hit four home runs in one game. Horner became the second player in the 20th Century (Gil Hodges was the first in 1950) to hit four home runs in one game in his home park. He became the first player since Ed Delahanty to hit four home runs in a losing game.

    • Notable transactions

  • April 1, 1986: Pascual Pérez was released by the Braves.
  • June 2, 1986: Ben McDonald was drafted by the Braves in the 27th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.
  • June 30, 1986: Claudell Washington and Paul Zuvella were traded by the Braves to the New York Yankees for Ken Griffey, Sr. and Andre Robertson.
  • July 6, 1986: Duane Ward was traded by the Braves to the Toronto Blue Jays for Doyle Alexander.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Richmond, Pulaski

    References

    1986 Atlanta Braves season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA