Atlanta Braves: A Brief History

The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Atlanta, Georgia. For long years, they are well-known as under the Eastern Division of the National League, and most recently, the Atlanta Braves are acclaimed for their ongoing record of 14 consecutive division championships, from 1991 to 2005, except for the strike-shortened 1994 season. This record is actually the most stunning in any professional North American sport. The Atlanta Braves team even garnered one World Series championship in 1995.

The Boston Years

Originally, the Braves team was founded in 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts as the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association. The club became a charter member of the National League in 1876 and has remained there without a break since then. As maintained, the Braves are by far the oldest continuously operating sports franchise in North American Sports. They can arguably trace their ancestry to the original Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869-1870, which is the first openly professional baseball team. When the N.A formed, Harry Wright, red Stockings' founder, along with the best players from that team reformed in Boston and took the nickname with them.

In Boston, the Braves took part in some of baseball's most memorable moments, achievements, and pennant races. They have dominated in a number of game series in every phase, and they even swept away the favored Athletics. Because of their achievements, they became well-known throughout Boston and the world as the World Champions. It was in 1948 when the team won the pennant, behind the pitching of Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain who won 39 games between them.

The Milwaukee Years

The two pennants of the Braves team, now known as Atlanta Braves, in Boston was not a successful time though. Attendances steadily declined until on March 13, 1953 when the then owner, Lou Perini, announced that he was moving the team to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was at that place where the Atlanta Braves' performance progressed, becoming increasingly competitive. They won the National League pennant in 1958 and jumped out to a three games to one lead in the World Series against New York. However, the nest six years were the up and down years for the Atlanta Braves. It was in 1961 when a drop was seen in the standings for the team. However, as many records have revealed, the Braves in Milwaukee still have the distinction of being the only Major League club to never suffer a losing season.

The Atlanta Years

The Atlanta Braves finally moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1966. It was only in the 1969 when the team won the 1969 NL West pennant, before being swept by the "Miracle Mets" in the NLCS.

In 1976 the Atlanta Braves was purchased by media magnate Ted Turner. He appointed himself manager, but ordered to relinquish that position after one game. And, after three straight losing seasons, Bobby Cox was hired for his first stint as manager of the franchise for the 1978 season. It was Cox who promoted a 22-year old slugger into the starting lineup. Cox was fired after the 1981 season and he was replaced by Joe Torre, under whose leadership the Atlanta Braves achieved their first divisional title since 1969.

Since then, the Atlanta Braves attained several wins, and their excellent standing in the history of baseball has remained even until 2005 when the Atlanta Braves won their 14th consecutive division title.