Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

1996 Atlanta Braves season

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Record
  
96–66 (.593)

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, Joe Simpson) SportSouth (Tim Brando, Ernie Johnson, Ernie Johnson, Jr.)

The 1996 Atlanta Braves baseball team secured a regular season record of 96-66 and reached the World Series, where it lost to the New York Yankees in six games, failing to defend its championship in 1995. Despite taking a 2-0 lead the Braves unexpectedly lost the next 4 games. This World Series appearance was their fourth appearance in the last 5 years as a franchise. Atlanta won its seventh division title (second in the National League East, the other five in the NL West) and its fifth in six years. In the previous round, Atlanta completed a miraculous comeback. After trailing in the NLCS to St. Louis three games to one, Atlanta outscored St. Louis 32-1 in games five through seven to complete the comeback. The collapse was remembered as one of the largest in North American sports history.

Contents

Offseason

  • January 3, 1996: Jerome Walton was signed as a Free Agent by the Braves.
  • January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded by the Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox. The Reds sent Ray King (June 11, 1996) to the Braves to complete the trade.
  • March 31, 1996: Mike Bielecki was signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.

    • Opening Day starters

  • Jeff Blauser
  • Marquis Grissom
  • David Justice
  • Ryan Klesko
  • Mark Lemke
  • Javy Lopez
  • Greg Maddux
  • Fred McGriff
  • Mike Mordecai

    • Notable transactions

  • June 4, 1996: Marcus Giles was drafted by the Braves in the 53rd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed May 26, 1997.
  • June 24, 1996: Mark Whiten signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.
  • August 13, 1996: Terry Pendleton was traded by the Florida Marlins to the Braves for Roosevelt Brown.
  • August 14, 1996: Mark Whiten was traded by the Braves to the Seattle Mariners for Roger Blanco (minors).
  • August 17, 1996: Luis Polonia was signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.
  • August 30, 1996: Jason Schmidt was sent by the Braves to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete an earlier deal made on August 28, 1996. The Braves sent a player to be named later, Ron Wright, and Corey Pointer (minors) to the Pirates for Denny Neagle. The Braves sent Jason Schmidt (August 30, 1996) to the Pirates to complete the trade.

    • 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

    Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

    Atlanta wins the series, 3-0

    Game 1

    October 9: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 2

    October 10: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 3

    October 12: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

    Game 4

    October 13: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

    Game 5

    October 14: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

    Game 6

    October 16: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 7

    October 17: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 1

    October 20, 1996, at Yankee Stadium in New York City

    Game 2

    October 21, 1996, at Yankee Stadium in New York City

    Game 3

    October 22, 1996, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 4

    October 23, 1996, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 5

    October 24, 1996, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

    Game 6

    October 26, 1996, at Yankee Stadium in New York City

    Award winners

  • Tom Glavine, P, Silver Slugger Award
  • Marquis Grissom, OF, Gold Glove Award
  • Javy López, C, NLCS MVP
  • Greg Maddux, P, Gold Glove Award
  • John Smoltz, P, Pitcher of the Month Award, April
  • John Smoltz, P, Pitcher of the Month Award, May
  • John Smoltz, P, National League Cy Young Award
  • John Smoltz, Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award

    • 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

  • Fred McGriff, 1B, Starter
  • Chipper Jones, 3B, Starter
  • John Smoltz, Pitcher, Starter
  • Tom Glavine, Pitcher, Reserve
  • Greg Maddux, Pitcher, Reserve
  • Mark Wohlers, Pitcher, Reserve

    • References

    1996 Atlanta Braves season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA