Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves trace their roots to 1871 in Boston, making them the oldest continuously operating franchise in North American professional sports. The club moved to Milwaukee in 1953 and then to Atlanta in 1966, where it became “America’s Team” on national TV and one of the most consistent winners in baseball.

World Series history

The franchise has won four World Series titles: 1914 as the Boston Braves, 1957 as the Milwaukee Braves behind Hank Aaron and Warren Spahn, and twice in Atlanta, in 1995 and 2021. From 1991 to 2005 the Braves won 14 straight division titles (not counting the strike-shortened 1994 season), one of the greatest runs in sports history.

Best players in Braves history

• Hank Aaron – Broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in Atlanta on April 8, 1974, and finished with 755.
• Chipper Jones – Hall of Fame switch-hitter who spent his entire career with the Braves.
• Greg Maddux – Won three straight Cy Young Awards in Atlanta from 1993 to 1995.
• Tom Glavine – Two-time Cy Young winner and MVP of the 1995 World Series.
• John Smoltz – Hall of Famer who starred as both an ace starter and an elite closer.
• Warren Spahn – The winningest left-handed pitcher in MLB history.
• Eddie Mathews – Hall of Fame third baseman and one of the great power hitters of his era.
• Dale Murphy – Back-to-back NL MVP in 1982 and 1983.
• Phil Niekro – Knuckleball legend and Hall of Famer.

Biggest rivalries

The New York Mets have been the Braves’ most bitter NL East rival since the late 1990s, highlighted by their 1999 NLCS clash. The Philadelphia Phillies have become a fierce modern rival after meeting Atlanta in back-to-back postseasons in 2022 and 2023.