Harman Patil (Editor)

1991 Atlanta Braves season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Record
  
94–68 (.580)

Owner(s)
  
Ted Turner

Manager(s)
  
Bobby Cox

Divisional place
  
1st

General manager(s)
  
John Schuerholz

Local television
  
WTBS TBS Superstation (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton) SportSouth (Ernie Johnson)

In 1991, the Atlanta Braves became the first team in the National League to go from last place one year to first place the next. This feat was also accomplished by the 1991 Minnesota Twins. The last Major League Baseball team to accomplish this was the 1890 Louisville Colonels of the American Association.

Contents

The Braves had a last place finish in 1990 but managed to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West clinching the division on the next to the last day of the regular season.

Offseason

  • December 3, 1990: Terry Pendleton was signed as a free agent by the Braves.
  • December 5, 1990: Sid Bream was signed as a free agent by the Braves.
  • January 19, 1991: Jerry Willard was signed as a free agent by the Braves.
  • January 30, 1991: Deion Sanders was signed as a free agent by the Braves.
  • February 8, 1991: Jim Vatcher was selected off waivers from the Braves by the San Diego Padres.
  • March 9, 1991: Randy St. Claire was signed as a free agent by the Braves.

    • Opening Day starters

  • Rafael Belliard
  • Sid Bream
  • Ron Gant
  • Mike Heath
  • David Justice
  • Terry Pendleton
  • Deion Sanders
  • John Smoltz
  • Jeff Treadway

    • Notable transactions

  • April 1, 1991: Jimmy Kremers and a player to be named later were traded by the Braves to the Montreal Expos for Otis Nixon and Boi Rodriguez (minors). The Braves completed the deal by sending Keith Morrison (minors) to the Expos on June 3, 1991.
  • May 6, 1991: Kevin Castleberry (minors) was traded by the Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Danny Heep.
  • June 14, 1991: Rick Mahler was signed as a free agent by the Braves.
  • June 17, 1991: Danny Heep was released by the Braves.
  • August 8, 1991: Rick Mahler was released by the Braves.
  • September 29, 1991: Turk Wendell and Yorkis Pérez were traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Damon Berryhill and Mike Bielecki.

    • Draft picks

  • June 3, 1991: 1991 Major League Baseball draft
  • Mike Kelly was drafted by the Braves in the 1st round (2nd pick). Player signed July 22, 1991.
  • Jason Schmidt was drafted by the Braves in the 8th round. Player signed June 14, 1991.

    • Starters by position

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

    Other batters

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

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

    National League Championship Series

    Avery's amazing season continued with one of the greatest postseason performances of all-time. He shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates for 16.2 innings over two games and accumulated two 1-0 wins. His performance earned him MVP honors for the 1991 NLCS.

    Game 1

    October 9: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Game 2

    October 10: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Game 3

    October 12: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 4

    October 13: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 5

    October 14: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 6

    October 16: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Game 7

    October 17: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Game 1

    October 19, 1991, at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Game 2

    October 20, 1991, at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Game 3

    October 22, 1991, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 4

    October 23, 1991, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 5

    October 24, 1991, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 6

    October 26, 1991, at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Game 7

    October 27, 1991, at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    For the first time since 1962, a seventh game of the World Series ended with a 1-0 verdict. It was also the second time in five that the home team won all seven games of a World Series.

    Award winners

  • Steve Avery, NLCS MVP
  • Bobby Cox, Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
  • Ron Gant, OF, Silver Slugger
  • Tom Glavine, National League Pitcher of the Month, May
  • Tom Glavine, National League Cy Young Award
  • Tom Glavine, Silver Slugger
  • Tom Glavine, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
  • David Justice, National League Player of the Month, May
  • Terry Pendleton, National League Most Valuable Player

    • 1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

  • Tom Glavine, Pitcher, Starter

    • Team leaders

  • Home runs – Ron Gant (32)
  • Runs batted in – Ron Gant (105)
  • Batting average – Terry Pendleton (.319)
  • Hits – Terry Pendleton (187)
  • Stolen bases – Otis Nixon (72)
  • Walks – Otis Nixon (71)
  • Wins – Tom Glavine (20)
  • Earned run average – Juan Berenguer (2.24)
  • Strikeouts – Tom Glavine (192)

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Pulaski

    References

    1991 Atlanta Braves season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics