Which Braves Team Is Best?: A Project

[SamtheBravesFan]

Which Braves Team Is Best?: A Project
By Sam Switzer| Braves-Nation.com

Which Braves team is the best? That's a question that seems easy, but it's particularly hard to answer. Is the best Braves team one that won the World Series? How about just a pennant or division? Should more emphasis be put on how many players perform on a team during a particular season, even if they didn't win any pennants?

What's the best way to figure it out? I have devised a project designed to do this very thing, or at least come up with an answer.

It takes 64 Braves teams from history and seeds them according to winning percentages, pennants and how deep they got into the playoffs. I've only made one exception, which I'll note later.

The tourney is designed like March Madness, with 16 teams in each bracket. Using Whatifsports.com, seven-game series will be simulated for each team. I have devised the lineups and rotations myself for every team. With the rotations, I use four-man rotations because some teams, like the early Boston Beaneater teams, have just four pitchers to choose from.

I've done this project before, and with the 2007 Braves in the What If Sports Database, I'd be proud to do another one.

Stay tuned!

(Note: Results will be posted in the General Chit Chat until the Sweet 16. I want to do this project and I'll post when I can and I'm up to it. I hope you all enjoy it. :) )

[McCarroll21]

Sounds interesting. I'll be looking forward to seeing which team is actually the "best."

Just for reference, the GCC thread will be done upon my request. I asked Sam to do that so that we wouldn't have A LOT of articles dedicated to just this. Limiting it to just the round of 16 and below in the articles section will accomplish that.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Sounds interesting. I'll be looking forward to seeing which team is actually the "best."

Just for reference, the GCC thread will be done upon my request. I asked Sam to do that so that we wouldn't have A LOT of articles dedicated to just this. Limiting it to just the round of 16 and below in the articles section will accomplish that.

Oh yes. The first time I did this, the 2005 Braves beat the 1969 Braves in the final. ;) The Baby Braves were great after all! :D

[JCStone7]

Why not just post the results in here?

[SamtheBravesFan]

Why not just post the results in here?

I'm not sure, really.

[McCarroll21]

I guess you could post the results in here. I just didn't want 65 threads opened up about it and placed on the homepage. Yeah, just go ahead and post them in here and then when we get to the Sweet 16 open up a new thread for each series or round, whichever you most prefer. It's your project, I'm just trying to make it work best on the forums.

[SamtheBravesFan]

Then I'll post the results here. :)

[SamtheBravesFan]

Division One
#1 1995 Atlanta Braves vs. #16 1932 Boston Braves
#8 1956 Milwaukee Braves vs. #9 1896 Boston Beaneaters


#5 1997 Atlanta Braves vs. #12 1902 Boston Beaneaters
#4 1893 Boston Braves vs. #13 1966 Atlanta Braves

#6 2002 Atlanta Braves vs. #11 1895 Boston Beaneaters
#3 1948 Boston Braves vs. #14 2007 Atlanta Braves

#7 2005 Atlanta Braves vs. #10 1915 Boston Braves
#2 1999 Atlanta Braves vs. #15 1971 Atlanta Braves



Division Two
#1 1957 Milwaukee Braves vs. 1968 Boston Braves
#8 1953 Milwaukee Braves vs. 1890 Boston Beaneaters

#5 2001 Atlanta Braves vs. 1933 Boston Braves
#4 1891 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1946 Boston Braves

#6 2003 Atlanta Braves vs. 1964 Milwaukee Braves
#3 1897 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1963 Milwaukee Braves

#7 1894 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1959 Milwaukee Braves
#2 1992 Atlanta Braves vs. 1938 Boston Bees



Division Three
#1 1914 Boston Braves vs. 1980 Atlanta Braves
#8 1994 Atlanta Braves vs. 1960 Milwaukee Braves

#5 1969 Atlanta Braves vs. 1950 Boston Braves
#4 1998 Atlanta Braves vs. 1962 Milwaukee Braves

#6 2004 Atlanta Braves vs. 1974 Atlanta Braves
#3 1898 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1937 Boston Bees

#7 1889 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1955 Milwaukee Braves
#2 1991 Atlanta Braves vs. 1921 Boston Braves



Division Four
#1 1996 Atlanta Braves vs. 1887 Boston Beaneaters
#8 1916 Boston Braves vs. 1954 Milwaukee Braves

#5 1982 Atlanta Braves vs. 1961 Milwaukee Braves
#4 1993 Atlanta Braves vs. 1965 Milwaukee Braves

#6 2000 Atlanta Braves vs. 1983 Atlanta Braves
#3 1892 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1888 Boston Beaneaters

#7 1899 Boston Beaneaters vs. 1947 Boston Braves
#2 1958 Milwaukee Braves vs. 1934 Boston Braves

DIVISION ONE, SERIES ONE: #1 1995 Atlanta Braves vs. #16 1932 Boston Braves

(AVG, HR, RBI for batters, W-L, ERA, K, for pitchers. It was my decision to use these stats.)

1995 Atlanta Braves (90-54)


CF Marquis Grissom (.258, 12, 42)
2B Mark Lemke (.253, 5, 38)
3B Chipper Jones (.265, 23, 86)
1B Fred McGriff (.280, 27, 90)
RF David Justice (.253, 24, 78)
LF Ryan Klesko (.310, 23, 70)
C Javy Lopez (.315, 14, 51)
SS Jeff Blauser (.211, 12, 31)


Greg Maddux (19-2, 1.63, 181)
Tom Glavine (16-7, 3.08, 127)
John Smoltz (12-7, 3.18, 193)
Kent Mercker (7-8, 4.15, 102)



Arguably, this team is the most successful Braves team in history. They ran away with their division, winning the NL East by 21 games over both the Mets and Phillies, who finished 69-75.

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, all future Hall of Famers, led the pitching staff and the bullpen was anchored by Mark Wohlers (2.09, 25 SV) and Greg McMichael (2.79 ERA). The Braves bench included veterans Luis Polonia and Mike Devereaux, who were acquired at the trading deadline, rookie Mike Mordecai, and veteran catcher Charlie O’Brien.


They defeated Colorado in the Division Series 3 games to 1, with Grissom hitting three home runs. Jones and McGriff had two homers. Alejandro Pena won two games in relief and Mark Wohlers had two saves, despite losing Game 3 in the tenth inning.

In the NLCS, the Braves faced the NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds. The Reds were formidable foes in that series; very formidable foes, indeed. Pete Schourek nearly outpitched Glavine in Game 1, going into the ninth inning up 1-0, but he gave up a run and the Reds eventually lost in 11 innings, 2-1. Ultimately, the Braves swept Cincinnati, with Mike Devereaux getting the NLCS MVP with a scoreless tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 4. Chipper Jones and Fred McGriff led the team with seven hits each. The Braves’ pitching staff allowed just five runs the entire series.



In the World Series, Series MVP Tom Glavine won two games, including allowing just one hit through eight innings in Game 6, and Greg Maddux had a Game 1 shutout, as the Braves won the series in six games, giving the Braves their first World Series in 38 years and the first professional championship for the city of Atlanta. Ryan Klesko had three home runs and David Justice drove in five, including the eventual Series winner in Game 6, with a solo homer off of Jim Poole. Funny how a World Series-clinching home run can turn jeers into cheers.

1932 Boston Braves (77-77)


LF Red Worthington (.303, 8, 61)
SS Billy Urbanski (.272, 8, 46)
RF Wes Schulmerich (.260, 11, 57)
CF Wally Berger (.307, 17, 73)
1B Buck Jordan (.321, 2, 29)
C Pinky Hargrave (.263, 4, 33)
3B Fritz Knothe (.238, 1, 36)
2B Rabbit Maranville (.235, 0, 37)


Huck Betts (13-11, 2.80, 32)
Tom Zachary (12-11, 3.10, 67)
Bob Brown (14-7, 3.30, 110)
Ed Brandt (16-16, 3.97, 79)

The Braves had the second-best pitching staff in the league, but their offense was next to last in runs scored, so it was only fitting that they finished with a .500 record, 13 games behind the Chicago Cubs. Wally Berger led the team in home runs for a third year in a row. Bob Brown and Huck Betts had career years for the Braves up to that point.

GAME 1: 1995 Atlanta 8, 1932 Boston 1

W - Greg Maddux (1-0)
L - Huck Betts (0-1)
HR - Fred McGriff (1)
Ryan Klesko (1)
POG - Greg Maddux (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO)

Maddux and Betts pretty much dominated this whole game until the sixth inning, when Atlanta scored three runs. Boston didn't score on him until the eighth. Atlanta piled on all their runs in the sixth and eighth innings, so it was a real pitcher's duel for a while. In fact, Atlanta only had one hit through five innings.


GAME 2: 1932 Boston 4, 1995 Atlanta 0

W - Tom Zachary (1-0)
L - Tom Glavine (0-1)
HR - Wally Berger (1)
POG - Tom Zachary (CG, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO)

Berger's three-run shot was all Boston needed as Zachary held Atlanta to just six singles. Glavine allowed five hits, including the home run, and six walks, but managed to alow just three runs.

GAME 3: 1995 Atlanta 15, 1932 Boston 3

W - John Smoltz (1-0)
L - Bob Brown (0-1)
HR - Jeff Blauser (1)
POG - Javy Lopez (2-5, 3B, 2 R, BB, 4 RBI)

Atlanta struck back with a vengenace when the series moved to Braves Field. They were up 5-0 after 5 1/2 innings, 8-3 after 8 frames and then just tacked on seven in the ninth for good measure. Every starting Braves player except Lemke drove in a run. Justice had two of the Braves' five doubles and Javy Lopez smacked a bases-loaded triple in the ninth off of Bruce Cunningham. Smoltz had a quality start with just the three runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings. Greg McMichael finished the game.

GAME 4: 1995 Atlanta 7, 1932 Boston 6

W - Pedro Borbon, Jr. (1-0)
L - Ben Cantwell (0-1)
S - Mark Wohlers (1)
HR - Fred McGriff (2)
Ryan Klesko (2)
POG - Ryan Klesko (1-2, HR, R, 3 BB, 3 RBI)

This one was racked with drama. Boston struck first, going up 4-0 on Kent Mercker, highlighted by a two-run single by pitcher Ed Brandt. Mercker was then inexplicably pulled for a pinch-hitter in the third inning. Nothing came of that, so it was up to the Atlanta bullpen to try to hold off Boston. They did just that. Brad Clontz (1 2/3), Jason Schmidt (1 1/3), Greg McMichael (2) and Borbon, Jr. (1) provided six innings of shutout ball for Atlanta.

In the meantime, the 1995 Braves chipped away at the lead. McGriff smacked a home run that barely cleared the left field fence in the fourth. Blauser singled home Justice in the sixth and pinch-hitter Dwight Smith drove in Justice with a Texas Leaguer to right center.

The Braves still trailed 4-3 as they entered the ninth. Ben Cantwell was still on the mound for Boston. Lemke led off with a single, and Chipper Jones singled as well. McGriff then blooped a single to right to load the bases with no one out. With a great opportunity. Justice blasted a shot to the warning track in right that Wes Schulmerich tracked down. Lemke scored and Chipper advanced to third. Any doubts that Justice should have had a homer on that ball were all dashed as Klesko clobbered the very next pitch over the wall in right-center, giving Atlanta a 7-4 lead.

Easy enough to hold for Mark Wohlers, right? Well...

Billy Urbanski flied out to Grissom in left-center, then Schulmerich doubled down the right field line. Berger then grounded to shortstop, so Schulmerich couldn't advance. Buck Jordan then pulled a Texas Leaguer of his own, scoring Schulmerich and then Pinky Hargrave lined a double to right-center, scoring Jordan. Thankfully, for Atlanta, Wohlers was able to get Maranville to go down swinging.

GAME 5: 1932 Boston 4, 1995 Atlanta 2

W - Huck Betts (1-1)
L - Greg Maddux (1-1)
S - Ben Cantwell (1)
POG - Huck Betts (8 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO)

It was once again a pitching duel, only this time it was Betts who came out on top. Atlanta struck first with a two-run double by Javy Lopez in the third, but Boston tied it with a single and a sac fly. Red Worthington broke the tie with a run-scoring single in the fourth and Wes Schulmerich added one of his own in the seventh. Cantwell had to weather two scores in deep flies by Jones and McGriff, but he closed the game out with a three up, three down save.

GAME 6: 1995 Atlanta 3, 1932 Boston 1

W - Tom Glavine (1-1)
L - Tom Zachary (1-1)
S - Mark Wohlers (2)
POG - Tom Glavine (7 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO)

The second time around was much better for Glavine. Pitching in front of the home crowd for the second time, he managed to hold Boston off the scored long enough for Atlanta to scrape up some runs.

Leaving runners on in scoring position was a theme. Boston had Worthington on third with one out in the first and he didn't score. Atlanta struck first with Fred McGriff's single to center in the second, but the Braves had Lemke on third with one out then and didn't score. Pitcher Tom Zachary had a run-scoring single in the bottom of the inning, but Boston left him on third base with Urbanski striking out.

Grissom was robbed of a single by Worthington in left that Lopez at second base in the third. Maranville was left on third in the fourth. Billy Urbanski was on third with one out and Boston didn't score in the fifth. David Justice just missed a homer in the bottom of the fifth, leaving Chipper on third.

The trend finally broke in the seventh. After Mike Mordecai pinch-hit for Glavine and grounded out, Grissom singled to right and stole second and third with ease. Lemke then smoked a line drive single to right, breaking the tie and sending Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium into a frenzy.

Javy Lopez had a sac fly in the eighth for insurance and as Wohlers closed it out by getting Wally Berger on a short fly ball to Klesko, the Atlanta boys breathed a collective sigh of relief. They dodged a bullet on this one.

1995 Atlanta Braves win 4 games to 2.

[vnodnarb]

I'm gonna pick the 1998 team to win it, cool idea though, it'll be fun to see how the 15 straight division champs fare against each other.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm gonna pick the 1998 team to win it, cool idea though, it'll be fun to see how the 15 straight division champs fare against each other.

That is, if they even get to. :) Those 1890s Beaneater teams can surprise. I've seen it happen.

[GrandMasterB]

I'm gonna pick the 1998 team to win it, cool idea though, it'll be fun to see how the 15 straight division champs fare against each other.

My money's on the 1997 team.

Hmm... perhaps a vBookie once we get down to 16 teams?

[SamtheBravesFan]

My money's on the 1997 team.

Hmm... perhaps a vBookie once we get down to 16 teams?

Hee hee hee, this is going to be fun.

[Jsh1284]

I say it's a draw between 1998 and 2003. That 98 team was fierce, though. 106 wins if I'm not mistaken. Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Neagle all in their primes .. the Big Cat, Chipper, Klesko, Javy, and uh Tony Graffinino .. all pounding the ball .. that was a really good team. We just happened to run into the San Diego performance-enhanced-druggies .. err Padres.

[JCStone7]

I think 57 Braves will win it.

Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Hank Aaron

[Jsh1284]

How could you forget Eddie Matthews? :) He's got to be included fo' sho!

I had forgotten that this includes old teams as well. In that case, you might be right. I was just speaking of the best team during our consecutive title run.

Edit: Hey, our old friend Ernie Johnson was on that team as well. He was 33 already back then. Wow .. I didnt know he was THAT old.

[JCStone7]

Oops I did forget Mathews. Good call Jsh!

[SamtheBravesFan]

How could you forget Eddie Matthews? :) He's got to be included fo' sho!

I had forgotten that this includes old teams as well. In that case, you might be right. I was just speaking of the best team during our consecutive title run.

Edit: Hey, our old friend Ernie Johnson was on that team as well. He was 33 already back then. Wow .. I didnt know he was THAT old.

We may think these teams might win, but look what just happened with the 1995 Braves here. Greg Maddux almost got beat by Huck Betts twice.

[SamtheBravesFan]

SERIES TWO: #8 1956 Milwaukee Braves vs. #9 1896 Boston Beaneaters

1956 Milwaukee Braves (92-62)

CF Bill Bruton (.272, 8, 56)
SS Johnny Logan (.286, 15, 46)
1B Joe Adcock (.291, 38, 103)
RF Hank Aaron (.328, 26, 92)
3B Eddie Mathews (.272, 37, 95)
LF Bobby Thomson (.235, 20, 74)
2B Danny O’Connell (.239, 2, 42)
C Del Crandall (.238, 16, 48)

Lew Burdette (19-10, 2.70, 110)
Warren Spahn (20-11, 2.78, 128)
Gene Conley (8-9, 3.13, 68)
Bob Buhl (18-8, 3.32, 86)

The Braves just missed the pennant this season, losing it on the next-to-last day of the season to the Dodgers, thanks to a loss to the Cardinals. Hank Aaron improved on his breakout 1955, leading the league in batting average, hits, doubles and total bases.<O:p</O:p

The Braves' pitching staff was the best in the league. Lew Burdette led the league in ERA and with Warren Spahn, Gene Conley and Bob Buhl, topped the Senior Curcuit in pitching.<O:p</O:p

1896 Boston Beaneaters (74-57)

CF Billy Hamilton (.365, 3, 52)
2B Bobby Lowe (.321, 2, 48)
SS Herman Long (.343, 6, 100)
LF Hugh Duffy (.300, 5, 113)
1B Tommy Tucker (.304, 2, 72)
3B Jimmy Collins (.296, 1, 46)
C Fred Tenney (.336, 2, 49)
RF Jimmy Bannon (.251, 0, 50)

Kid Nichols (30-14, 2.83, 102)
Jim Sullivan (11-12, 4.03, 33)
Jack Stivetts (22-14, 4.10, 71)

Despite the decent season from the offense and pitching, the Beaneaters were no match for the Baltimore Orioles, just like the rest of the league. Boston finished 17 games behind the league leader. Billy Hamilton led the league in on-base percentage and walks.

Kid Nichols tied for the league lead with Frank Killen in wins with 30. Jack Stivetts unfortunately led the league in home runs allowed with 20. Considering the time, that's not exactly the greatest thing on your resume.

GAME 1: 1956 Braves 10, 1896 Boston 5

W - Lew Burdette (1-0)
L - Kid Nichols (0-1)
HR - Eddie Mathews (1)
POG - Hank Aaron (4-5, 3 2B, 2 R, RBI)

The Braves led throughout the game, scoring their first run in the first with a Joe Adcock single. Adcock and Hank Aaron had RBI doubles in the third, aided by a Del Crandall single.

The Beaneaters then struck, getting three runs on a Tommy Tucker single, Jimmy Collins sac fly and a Fred Tenney single. It stayed that way until the fifth, when Eddie Mathews clobbered a Nichols offering and deposited it deep into the right-field stands to the delight of the County Stadium crowd.

Nichols was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning, but Boston didn't get any runs there either. Burdette wasn't pitching particularly well, but he was still in there and keeping Boston off the board.

Milwaukee's five-spot in the seventh off of relievers Fred Klobedanz and Ted Lewis sealed the deal. Burdette got the complete game victory.

GAME 2: 1956 Braves 6, 1896 Beaneaters 4

W - Warren Spahn (1-0)
L - Jim Sullivan (0-1)
HR - Johnny Logan 2 (2)
Joe Adcock (1)
POG - Johnny Logan (2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI)

Once again, the Braves struck first, with Joe Adcock launching a solo shot to center. Johnny Logan handled the rest of the day's scoring for the Braves, smacking a two-run shot in the third and just CRUSHING a three-run homer in the fourth, spotting the Braves a 6-0 lead.

Spahn, being the gamer that he is, held the Beaneaters to two hits entering the ninth. However a quick single by Billy Hamilton, a double by Bobby Lowe and a single by Hugh Duffy scored two runs and chased Spahn from the game and Dave Jolly entered to try to put the lid on things. Tommy Tucker drew a walk. Jimmy Collins chopped a bouncer to third that Mathews couldn't make a play on and then Fred Tenney clobbered a single to left to make the score 6-4. Luckilly for Jolly, Jimmy Bannon flew out to Thomson in left and pinch-hitter Charlie Ganzel was retired with a soft pop-up to Mathews. The Braves were up 2 games to 0, but by the skin of their teeth this time.

GAME 3: 1896 Boston 3, 1956 Milwaukee 2

W - Cozy Dolan (1-0)
L - Taylor Phillips (0-1)
POG - Bobby Lowe (2-5, game-winning 2B, 2 RBI)

Yet another squeaker, only this time, the Beaneaters came out on top in dramatic fashion. Gene Conley and Jack Stivetts locked horns for six innings, neither allowing a single run. Stivetts didn't allow a single hit until Logan got single in the sixth.

Danny O'Connell broke the scorless tie with a single in the seventh. Hoping to get more, Gene Conley was pinch-hit for by Wes Covington, but he flied out to left. However, Stivetts was out of the game in favor of Fred Klobedanz.

Dave Jolly then came in. It seemed as if it was a questionable decision, because of what happened in Game 2, and those fears were realized by Milwaukee faithful when there was two on with one out. Pinch-hitter Dan McGann broke the tie with a pinch-hit single and put the Beaneaters ahead. Ernie Johnson finished the inning.

Hank Aaron gave the Braves the lead again in the top of the next inning and Lou Sleater held the Beaneaters off the board. The bottom of the ninth wasn't so kind for Milwaukee. With two on and two out, Bobby Lowe ripped a double to center that scored Joe Harrington easily. Bill Bruton tried to throw Billy Hamilton out at the plate, but it was off the mark, and Hamilton scored the game-winner.

GAME 4: 1956 Milwaukee 9, 1896 Boston 2

W - Bob Buhl (1-0)
L - Kid Nichols (0-2)
HR - Eddie Mathews (2)
POG - Bob Buhl (CG, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO)

With three run-scoring singles in the second by O'Connell, Buhl and Logan, the Braves built up a quick lead on the Beaneaters. Boston got a run in the fifth with a Jimmy Bannon single. Eddie Mathews got an RBI single of his own in the eighth. That was enough for Buhl, but the Braves added a five-spot in the ninth, highlited by Eddie Mathews' two-run homer, his second of the series. Jimmy Collins got an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but with pinch-hitter Charlie Ganzel's fly ball to Thomson in left, the Braves left the field on the verge of taking the series.

GAME 5: 1956 Braves 3, 1896 Beaneaters 1

<O:p</O:pW – Lew Burdette (2-0)<O:p</O:p
L – Fred Klobedanz (0-1)<O:p</O:p
HR – Joe Adcock (2)<O:p</O:p
POG – Lew Burdette (CG, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO)

<O:p</O:pThis turned into another pitchers’ duel, which was quite indicative of South End Grounds III. The Beaneaters struck first when Bobby Lowe hit a two-out single that dropped right in front of Thomson, scoring Jimmy Bannon.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

Jim Sullivan then did a masterful job of holding off the Braves until the sixth. With two out, Hank Aaron smacked a high fly ball that bounced at the wall for a double. Eddie Mathews was intentionally walked to bring up Bobby Thomson. The Beaneaters must not have known about Thomson’s penchant for a big hit. He lined a ball right between Jimmy Collins and Herman Long. Aaron scampered around to home plate to tie the game. Fred Klobedanz came in to the pitch and got Danny O’Connell to fly out.
<O:p</O:p
Klobedanz and Burdette tossed zeroes until the eighth. Collins booted a grounder by Logan which he should have gotten and Adcock made the Beaneaters pay extra for that by launching a BOMB to center that measured 460 feet. That got him a huge hand from the crowd and a look of pure amazement from Klobedanz.

<O:p</O:pThat was all Burdette needed. He finished the game himself. With Jimmy Collins’s fly ball to Thomson, the Milwaukee Braves won the series.

[cjones1999]

I have an idea of who the top 3 will be.

[JCStone7]

Who would've thunk it? Burdette coming up big!

[SamtheBravesFan]

No idea when the next update will be. Maybe I'll do another one tonight if I have time. I'm packing up to go to Wisconsin for the holidays. I leave tomorrow. Maybe I'll update some more up there.

The next series features a familiar team: 1997 Braves vs. 1902 Beaneaters.

[SamtheBravesFan]

SERIES THREE: #5 1997 Atlanta Braves vs. #12 1902 Boston Beaneaters

1997 Atlanta Braves (101-61)

CF Kenny Lofton (.333, 5, 48)
SS Jeff Blauser (.308, 17, 70)
3B Chipper Jones (.295, 21, 111)
1B Fred McGriff (.277, 22, 97)
LF Ryan Klesko (.264, 24, 84)
C Javy Lopez (.295, 23, 68)
RF Michael Tucker (.283, 14, 56)
2B Keith Lockhart (.279, 6, 32)

Greg Maddux (19-4, 2.20, 177)
Tom Glavine (14-7, 2.96, 152)
Denny Neagle (20-5, 2.97, 172)
John Smoltz (15-12, 3.02, 241)
<O:p</O:p
The Braves won their sixth straight division crown, finishing nine games ahead of the Florida Marlins. The strength was, of course, in the pitching.
<O:p
The Braves’ pitching staff, lead by Greg Maddux and his 2.20 ERA, .946 WHIP and 8.85 K/BB, finished nearly a half-run in ERA lower than the LA Dodgers. Denny Neagle led the league in wins with 20 and tossed four shutouts in the best season of his career, and reigning NL Cy Young winner John Smoltz pitched an astounding 256 innings, which led the league. Arguably, this staff was the best out of all the Atlanta staffs.

Strangely, Javy Lopez led the team in slugging and home runs. After being acquired from the Indians, Kenny Lofton, put up a great season as the leadoff hitter with a .333 average and .409 on-base percentage. However, he uncharacteristically set a career low in stolen bases (27) and a career high in caught stealings (20). Jeff Blauser did have his best season as a pro, though.

1902 Boston Beaneaters (73-64)
<O:p
LF Duff Cooley (.296, 0, 58)
RF Pat Carney (.270, 2, 65)
1B Fred Tenney (.315, 2, 30)
3B Ed Gremminger (.314, 1, 65)
2B Gene DeMontreville (.260, 0, 53)
C Pat Moran (.239, 1, 24)
SS Herman Long (.230, 2, 44)
CF Billy Lush (.223, 2, 19)
<O:p
Vic Willis (27-20, 2.20, 225)
Togie Pittinger (27-16, 2.52, 174)
John Malarkey (8-10, 2.59, 39)
Mel Eason (9-11, 2.75, 50)

In 1902, there was Pittsburgh, and then there was everyone else. The Pirates steamrolled through the league thanks to their top-notch offense (it was nearly a full run a game better than the Reds). The Beaneaters finished 29 games behind the Pirates.

Vic Willis was one of the top pitchers in the league, finishing atop in strikeouts and pitching 410 innings. Togie Pittinger allowed the most walks in the league, though.

GAME 1: 1997 Braves 5, 1902 Beaneaters 0

W - Greg Maddux (1-0)
L - Vic Willis (0-1)
HR - Ryan Klesko (1)
Javy Lopez (1)
POG: Greg Maddux (CG, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO)

Ryan Klesko hit a solo shot in the second inning and the Braves never looked back. A Kenny Lofton single that scored Keith Lockhart and a Jeff Blauser double scored two in the fifth. Javy Lopez added a two-run shot in the sixth padded the lead for Maddux. Greg was perfect through four and the Beaneaters had just two men go past first (an Ed Gremminger double leading off the fifth and Fred Tenney singling and advancing to second on another single and going to third on a groundout). The Beaneaters really didn't mount much more of a challenge than that. Maddux needed just 87 pitches for the complete game.

GAME 2: 1902 Beaneaters 4, 1997 Braves 2, 16 inn.

W - Mel Eason (1-0)
L - Chris Brock (0-1)
POG - Ed Gremminger (1-7, GA single in 16th)

Truly a bizzare game. Almost entirely devoid of slugging. Keith Lockhart put the Braves up 1-0 with a single in the fourth off of Togie Pittinger. In the top of the fifth, Billy Lush put the Beaneaters up 2-1 with a two-run single off of Tom Glavine. Pittinger kept the lead until the bottom of the eighth, when Ryan Klesko hit a two-out single to tie the game.

Then there was no score.

For a long time.

Both sides blew opportunities. Keith Lockhart was on second with one out in the ninth. Chipper Jones led off the 10th with a double and didn't score. Fred Tenney was on second with one out and didn't score. Chipper Jones was stranded on third in the 12th. Fred Tenney reached second on a Chad Fox wild pitch in the 14th with none out... and didn't score.

The tie was broken in the 16th, when Ed Gremminger hit a single. Gene DeMontreville added another run-scoring single, and that was enough for Mel Eason to finish the game.

GAME 3: 1997 Braves 9, 1902 Beaneaters 1

W - Denny Neagle (1-0)
L - John Malarkey (0-1)
POG - Denny Neagle (8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO)

The Braves' pitching took over again after getting a little support. Neagle allowed just two hits through seven innings, while getting three runs through eight innings of work. He even drove in a run while grounding into a bases-loaded double play. After Neagle left the game for pinch hitter Tony Graffanino in the ninth, the Braves second six runs for good measure.

The Beaneaters got their lone run in the eighth inning.

GAME 4: 1997 Braves 8, 1902 Beaneaters 5

W - John Smoltz (1-0)
L - Mel Eason (1-1)
S - Mark Wohlers (1)
POG - John Smoltz (6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, )

The Braves offense took center stage this time, scoring seven runs in the second inning, leaving plenty of wiggle room for John Smoltz. He even helped himself with a two-run single. in that big inning. Five of Mel Eason's runs that he allowed were unearned. Mark Wohlers earned a 1-2-3 save, his first of the series.

GAME 5: 1997 Braves 4, 1902 Beaneaters 3, 15 inn.

W - Chris Brock (1-0)
L - Togie Pittinger (0-1)
POG - Mark Lemke (PH two-out bases loaded walk in 15th)

Weird Game #2. The Beaneaters built a 3-0 lead going into the seventh; Vic Willis the Beaneaters finally got the upper hand on Maddux. In the bottom of the seventh, Keith Lockhart's two-run double brought the Braves back in the game, but the Beaneaters were still ahead. John Malarkey came into the game in the ninth and promptly came on and loaded the bases in the ninth and eventually allowed a sac fly to Kenny Lofton to tie the game.

The stalemate then began. Mel Eason and Paul Byrd both pitched two scoreless innings each to head up each team's pen effort.

In the bottom of the 15th, after Chris Brock had a 1-2-3 inning, Togie Pittinger was going into his second inning of work. Fred McGriff led off with a single, Ryan Klesko got hit by a pitch and Javy Lopez walked. Game over? Well... Michael Tucker grounded to Tenney, who threw home to get the out and then Lockhart popped out to left field. That sent up pinch-hitter Mark Lemke. With the crowd cheering, Lemke waited for his pitch. And he kept waiting. With a 3-1 count, Lemke was only glad to watch a pitch go in front of his face to win the game and the series.

[Chief Knockahoma]

i'm enjoying this, it's a fun read.

[SamtheBravesFan]

i'm enjoying this, it's a fun read.

Thank you. :) I kind of run out of gas in the middle of writing the thing, but it's okay. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

[MPH]

Thank you. :) I kind of run out of gas in the middle of writing the thing, but it's okay. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
I like it too - keep it up! :bow:

[Los Bravos]

I'm digging it, too :cool:

[SamtheBravesFan]

SERIES #4: #4 1893 Boston Beaneaters vs. #13 1966 Atlanta Braves

1893 Boston Beaneaters (86-43)

SS Herman Long (.288, 6, 58)
C Bill Merritt (.348, 3, 26)
CF Hugh Duffy (.362, 6, 118)
LF Tommy McCarthy (.346, 5, 111)
3B Billy Nash (.291, 10, 123)
2B Bobby Lowe (.298, 14, 89)
1B Tommy Tucker (.284, 7, 91)
RF Cliff Carroll (.224, 2, 54)
<O:p</O:p
Kid Nichols (34-14, 3.52, 94)
Jack Stivetts (20-12, 4.41, 61)
Harry Staley (18-10, 5.13, 61)
Hank Gastright (12-4, 5.13, 27)

The Beaneaters beat out the Pirates by five games for the National League pennant. Herman Long led the league with 149 runs scored and Hugh Duffy also had 147 runs, along with 203 hits, and 258 total bases; he also led the league with 167 singles. Bobby Lowe was among the league leaders in home runs with 14.

Kid Nichols was one of the top hurlers in the league. He had 34 wins, pitched 425 innings and led the league in WHIP with 1.280. The pitching was serviceable as well, and it worked.
<O:p</O:p
1966 Atlanta Braves (85-77)
<O:p</O:p
SS Denis Menke (.251, 15, 60)
LF Rico Carty (.326, 15, 76)
1B Felipe Alou (.327, 31, 74)
RF Hank Aaron (.279, 44, 127)
C Joe Torre (.315, 36, 101)
CF Mack Jones (.264, 23, 66)
3B Eddie Mathews (.250, 16, 53)
2B Woody Woodward (.264, 0, 43)

Ken Johnson (14-8, 3.30, 105)
Denny Lemaster (11-8, 3.74, 139)
Tony Cloninger (14-11, 4.12, 178)

The Braves, in their first year in Atlanta, finished in the first divison with a break-even record, 10 games behind the Dodgers.

Believe it or not, the Braves actually had the second-best offense in the league, next to the Pirates. The team led the league with 207 home runs. Feliipe Alou led the league in runs and total bases but lost out on the batting title to his Pirate brother, Matty. Hank Aaron led the NL in home runs and RBI.

The only significant categories Braves pitchers led in were appearances by Clay Carroll (73), and Tony Cloninger led the league in walks (116) and wild pitches (27).

GAME 1: 1893 Beaneaters 7, 1996 Braves 5

W - Kid Nichols (1-0)
L - Clay Carroll (0-1)
HR - ATL - Hank Aaron (1)
BOS - Hugh Duffy (1)
Cliff Carroll (1)
POG - Kid Nichols (CG, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO)

The Beaneaters went up 3-0 on a Hugh Duffy solo home run and then in the second, with Billy Nash on third, Cliff Carroll hit a blooper that bounced right over Rico Carty's head and ricocheted around at the base of the wall. By the time Carty got it back in, Carroll was on his way to the plate, scoring on an inside-the-park homer.

In the top of the third, Ken Johnson hit a double and moved over to third on a groundout and scored on another one. Felipe Alou reached on an error by Tommy McCarthy and Hank Aaron then smacked a two-run shot to tie the game. In the top of the next inning, Mack Jones walked and scored on Eddie Mathews' deep double to center. Nichols got the next two players out, but Denis Menke smacked a triple to score Mathews.

Unfortuantely for the Braves, Clay Carroll and Chi-Chi Olivo surrendered four runs in the seventh and Kid Nichols held them off the rest of the way.

GAME 2: 1893 Beaneaters 5, 1966 Braves 4

W - Jack Stivetts (1-0)
L - Clay Carroll (0-2)
S - Bill Quarles (1)
HR - Joe Torre (1)
POG - Jack Stivetts (8 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO)

The Braves and Beaneatres traded three-spots in the second inning. Lemaster lasted just four innings, giving up those three runs. Wade Blasingame pitched two scoreless and kept the game a tie while Stivetts was holding off the Braves.

Clay Carroll entered the game in the seventh and promptly gave up a single, walk and another single to give the Beaneaters a 4-3 lead. Stivetts walked to load the bases and Herman Long grounded into a force out to Alou, who threw home to get the out. However, Bill Merritt drove in a run with a groundout to Menke at short.

With one out in the eighth, Joe Torre smacked a home run to make it 5-4. It stayed that way into the ninth. Stivetts got the first two outs, but Denis Menke hit a ground-rule double to left and Rico Carty drew a walk. Bill Quarles came in and Felipe Alou bounced a ball to deep second that Bobby Lowe knocked down, but he couldn't throw anyone out.

The bases were loaded and Hank Aaron was at the plate.

The end of the Beaneaters' lead was surely at hand.

Well, it was... but it resulted in Aaron smacking a liner that Long snared. It turned into a Beaneaters win.

GAME 3: 1966 Braves 15, 1893 Beaneaters 4

W - Tony Cloninger (1-0)
L - Harry Staley (0-1)
HR - BOS - Tommy Tucker (1)
ATL - Denis Menke (1)
Mack Jones 2 (2)
POG - Mack Jones (3-4, 2 HR, 4 R, BB, 3 RBI)

KA-BOOM! The Braves returned to the Launching Pad and promptly told the Beaneaters that they weren't going to go away. The Braves rode an eight-run fourth and five-run sixth for the victory. Rookie Pat Jarvis also pitched two innings of scoreless relief.

GAME 4: 1966 Braves 7, 1893 Beaneaters 3

W - Clay Carroll (1-2)
L - Harry Staley (0-2)
"POG" - Harry Staley (2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO)

Tommy McCarthy's run-scoring single got Boston on the board in the first inning. Hank Gastright didn't run into trouble until the fifth. Woody Woodward grounded to first, but Herman Long blew a routine grounded that allowed Wade Blasingame, who came into the game in the fifth, to reach base. Denis Menke drew a walk and Rico Carty singled to drive in a run. Felipe Alou then grounded to Billy Nash. He got the force at second, but Alou beat out the relay, scoring Menke and giving the Braves the lead.

The Beaneaters tied it again when Tommy McCarthy singled, stole second, advanced to third on a fly ball to Carty with two out and scored on a single by Tommy Tucker.

The Braves then got the decisive five-run inning highlighted by Joe Torre's two-run single and Eddie Mathews's double. Tommy Tucker drove in another run with a single for the Beaneaters in the eighth, but it wasn't enough.

GAME 5: 1966 Braves 12, 1893 Beaneaters 8

W - Clay Carroll (2-2)
L - Kid Nichols (1-1)
S - Ted Abernathy (1)
HR - Hank Aaron (2)
BOS - Bobby Lowe (1)
POG - Eddie Mathews (3-4, 2 2B, 2 R, BB, 5 RBI)

The game saw a great see-saw battle at the South End Grounds III. Hank Aaron struck first with a two-run shot. The Beaneaters then scored one in the second with a Bobby Lowe leadoff home run that just squeaked over the left field wall. Boston added two in the fourth to make it 3-1.

Atlanta then struck with a five-spot in the fifth, highlighed by Eddie Mathews's three-run bases loaded double. Bobby Lowe then countered with a three-run bases loaded double of his own in the bottom half. Bill Merritt gave the Beaneaters an 8-7 lead with a ground-rule double to left that scored Kid Nichols and Herman Long.

In the eighth, Eddie Mathews struck again with a two-run double. Denis Menke scored him later with a single. The Braves added one more in the ninth to make the final score 12-8. Ted Abernathy finished the game with two scoreless innings for the save. Just like that, Atlanta was one win away from a huge upset.

GAME 6: 1966 Braves 10, 1893 Beaneaters 9, 13 inn.

W - Pat Jarvis (1-0)
L - Hank Gastright (0-1)
HR - Mack Jones (3)
POG - Felipe Alou (5-7, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBI)

Seesaws are fun. Seesaw games are gut-wrenching. The Beaneaters had a 6-3 lead going into the bottom fo the sixth inning. Wade Blasingame, coming in relief for Tony Cloninger in the fifth after Bobby Lowe's two-run double, scored on an error by Tommy McCarthy and Alou smacked a two-run triple to tie the game. Aaron gave the Braves a one-run lead with a single.

Tommy Tucker got the lead back for the Beaneaters with a two-run double off of Clay Carroll. Mack Jones smacked a two-run shot off of reliever Bill Quarles in the seventh to give the Braves a 9-8 lead. Clay Carroll was still in the game in the ninth, trying to seal the victory. But Tommy McCarthy led off the ninth with a double. After a liner to Alou, Lowe stuck a single in front of Carty to score McCarthy. Tommy Tucker smacked a single to center and Mack Jones came up firing. Eddie Mathews grabbed it on the fly and with one swift swipe, tagged out McCarthy. Cliff Carroll gave the next pitch a ride, but Jones corralled it at the warning track.

The Braves had a lot more opportunities to score after that, but Kid Nichols and Hank Gastright had a lot of luck in holding the Braves off the board, putting up 5 2/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball.

Then there was the 13th. After Pat Jarvis's 1-2-3 inning, Gastright went into the game for his second inning. Alou poked a single into left field. Aaron smacked another single and the crowd's hearts stopped as they saw Alou go for third. After the Braves had left five men on base in extras, this was really a bold risk. Tommy McCarthy threw back quickly to Billy Nash at third, but Alou just beat the tag! With Atlanta Stadium in a frenzy, Joe Torre came to the plate. And he prompted lofted a shallow fly ball to left. Tommy McCarthy
came in, but then he looked confused. The ball came down and hit off of his glove and dropped to the ground! Alou scampered home and the 1966 Atlanta Braves had pulled off the upset!!

[SamtheBravesFan]

SERIES #5: #5 2002 Atlanta Braves vs. #12 1895 Boston Beaneaters

2002 Atlanta Braves (101-59)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

SS Rafael Furcal (.275, 8, 47)<O:p</O:p
1B Matt Franco (.317, 6, 30)<O:p</O:p
LF Chipper Jones (.326, 27, 100)
RF Gary Sheffield (.307, 25, 84)<O:p</O:p
CF Andruw Jones (.264, 35, 94)<O:p</O:p
C Javy Lopez (.233, 11, 52)<O:p</O:p
3B Mark DeRosa (.297, 5, 23)<O:p</O:p
2B Marcus Giles (.280, 8, 23)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

Greg Maddux (16-6, 2.62, 118)<O:p</O:p
Tom Glavine (18-11, 2.96, 127)<O:p</O:p
Kevin Millwood (18-8, 3.24, 178)<O:p</O:p
Damian Moss (12-6, 3.42, 111)<O:p</O:p

The Braves' pitching carried the team this year. Only the outfield, Matt Franco and Mark DeRosa posted OPS+ over 100.

Maddux and Glavine finished 2-3 in the NL ERA race, while Kevin Millwood led the team in WHIP. John Smoltz, in his first full season as closer, won the Rolaids Relief Award and set an NL record with 55 saves.

The Braves lost the NLDS for the second time in three years to the San Francisco Giants. Russ Ortiz won two games while Tom Glavine lost twice.
<O:p</O:p
1895 Boston Beaneaters (71-60)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

LF Tommy McCarthy (.290, 2, 73)<O:p</O:p
SS Herman Long (.316, 9, 75)<O:p</O:p
3B Billy Nash (.289, 10, 108)<O:p</O:p
CF Hugh Duffy (.352, 9, 100)<O:p</O:p
RF Jimmy Bannon (.350, 6, 74)<O:p</O:p
2B Bobby Lowe (.296, 7, 62)<O:p</O:p
1B Tommy Tucker (.249, 3, 73)<O:p</O:p
C Charlie Ganzel (.264, 1, 52)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

Kid Nichols (26-16, 3.41, 140)<O:p</O:p
Cozy Dolan (11-7, 4.27, 47)<O:p</O:p
Jack Stivetts (17-17, 4.64, 111)<O:p</O:p
Jim Sullivan (11-9, 4.82, 46)<O:p</O:p

The Braves finished tied in fifth with the Brooklyn Grooms, 16 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. The Braves had one of the better offenses and pitching staffs, but that didn't translate to more wins.

GAME 1: 2002 Braves 12, 1895 Beaneaters 7

W - Greg Maddux (1-0)
L - Kid Nichols (0-1)
HR - Joe Harrington (1)
POG - Andruw Jones (3-5, 2B, R, 4 RBI)

The Beaneaters scored first, going up 2-0, but then the Braves pounded away at Kid Nichols in the bottom of the frame with a lot of singles and the help of three Beaneater errors. Amazingly, Nichols kept on pitching, but all 12 runs the Braves scored were off him. Joe Harrington hit a two-run shot off of Chris Hammond in the ninth, but Hammond did finish the game and the win for Atlanta. Andruw Jones earned Player Of The Game with all three of his hits scoring runs.

GAME 2: 2002 Braves 4, 1895 Beaneaters 3, 10 inn.

W - Darren Holmes (1-0)
L - Kid Nichols (0-2)
POG - Darren Holmes (W, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO)

Andruw Jones got the Braves on the board with a single that scored Chipper Jones in the first. Hugh Duffy answered in the third with a bloop single that landed between Furcal and Chipper Jones that scored two Beaneaters. Cozy Dolan made that lead hold up with 7 innings of three-hit ball. Tom Glavine answered with 7 innings of four-hit ball of his own, but the Braves still trailed. Bobby Lowe added a run-scoring double in the eighth off of Hammond to make it 3-1. Frank Sexton then came on to pitch in the eighth. Matt Franco greeted him rudely with a double, and Chipper's grounder moved him to third. Gary Sheffield walked and Andruw Jones smacked the next pitch to the warning track that got the fans out of their seats, thinking that it was a home run. But Hugh Duffy corraled it at the track, and Franco raced home to score. Zeke Wilson come on to pitch and Javy Lopez sent a 1-2 pitch bouncing off the wall in left-center. Sheffield came around to score and the Braves had tied the game!

Charlie Ganzel was stranded at third with two out in the top of the inning and Rafael Furcal was stranded at third with one out in the bottom of the inning, sending the game to extras.

Darren Holmes' only blemish was just a Jimmy Bannon single in the tenth. In the bottom of the inning, after Kid Nichols came on to pitch, Andruw Jones led off with a single and managed to get to second after Javy Lopez grounded to Lowe in the outfield grass. Mark DeRosa got ahold of the next pitch, and Hugh Duffy appeared to lose it in the sun and the ball dropped behind him. Andruw raced home and the Braves were up 2 games to 0.

GAME 3: 1895 Beaneaters 7, 2002 Braves 6

W - Jack Stivetts (1-0)
L - Kevin Millwood (0-1)
S - Jim Sullivan (1)
HR - ATL - Gary Sheffield (1)
BOS - Joe Harrington (2)
POG - Jack Stivetts (6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO)

Boston took command in this game with two three-run innings. Billy Nash had a sac fly and a run-scoring single. Bobby Lowe had a two-run double and Jimmy Bannon had a two-run single. Joe Harrington's solo shot to center in the sixth that provided the eventual winning run. Kevin Millwood pitched the entire game for the Braves.

Gary Sheffiled aided the cause with a solo shot, and the Braves made it interesting in the ninth, wtih Matt Franco's two-run triple and Chipper's groundout making it 7-6. Gary Sheffield took a pitch off of the arm, and Andruw gave the next pitch a ride, but Hugh Duffy got the ball near the warning track, securing the win for the Beaneaters.

GAME 4: 2002 Braves 24, 1895 Beaneaters 13

W - Damian Moss (1-0)
L - Jim Sullivan (0-1)
HR - ATL - Chipper Jones (1)
Andruw Jones 2 (2)
BOS - Tommy McCarthy (1)
Herman Long (1)
POG - Andruw Jones (2-6, 2 HR, BB, 3 R, 5 RBI)

It wasn't even a full inning in the game and the Braves were up 12-0. Only the full description can do it justice:

<TABLE class=pbp_interior id=_ctl0_mainContentPlaceHolder__ctl0_tblPBP cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="pbp_play first"></TD><TD class="pbp_item first">J.Sullivan enters the game to pitch. </TD><TD class="pbp_runners first"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>R.Furcal walks. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DP</TD><TD class=pbp_item>M.Franco hits a shallow flyout to LCF. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DPSB</TD><TD class=pbp_item>R.Furcal steals 2B. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>C.Jones draws the walk. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DP</TD><TD class=pbp_item>T.Tucker fields the groundball but makes a bad throw to 1B. G.Sheffield reaches on the throwing error. R.Furcal scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DP</TD><TD class=pbp_item>A.Jones draws the walk. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DP</TD><TD class=pbp_item>J.Lopez bloops a single to LF. C.Jones scores. G.Sheffield scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>DP</TD><TD class=pbp_item>M.DeRosa rips a liner to LCF for a double. A.Jones scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play>II</TD><TD class=pbp_item>M.Giles flies out to LF. T.McCarthy's throw goes home, but J.Lopez avoids the tag and scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>D.Moss hits a Texas League single to CF. M.DeRosa scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>R.Furcal hits a groundball single to RF. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>M.Franco hits a bloop double down the rightfield line. D.Moss scores. R.Furcal scores. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>C.Jones hits an infield single to SS. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>G.Sheffield draws the walk. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>A.Jones crushes a grand slam to RF. </TD><TD class=pbp_runners></TD></TR><TR><TD class=pbp_play></TD><TD class=pbp_item>J.Lopez strikes out looking. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The Beaneaters and Braves then traded lots of runs the rest of the game. Andruw drove in five, Franco drove in four runs with two doubles. Moss drove in three runs with two singles. Mark DeRosa went 4-7 with two doubles and a triple and drove in two. Chipper Jones drove in a run with a solo shot and had two singles and scored three runs.

Tommy McCarthy had a home run and walked four times. Herman Long also had a homer and drove in four runs. Billy Nash, Hugh Duffy and Jimmy Bannon had doubles. Duffy drove in three runs.

To show how even crazier the game was, here were the starters' stat lines:

Moss (ATL) - 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 1 SO

Kerry Ligtenberg, Albie Lopez and Chris Hammond allowed the rest of the runs.

Sullivan (BOS) - 3 IP, 9 H, 14 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 4 SO

Jack Stivetts allowed 8 runs in 3 2/3 innings, finishing the game for the Beaneaters.

With Hugh Duffy's groundout to Furcal off of Darren Holmes's pitch, the Braves ended the marathon and went up 3 games to 1.

GAME 5: 2002 Braves 5, 1895 Beaneaters 4

W - Mike Remlinger (1-0)
L - Zeke Wilson (0-1)
POG - Mark DeRosa (3-5, GW single, R, RBI)

Not many people get the jump on Greg Maddux, but the Beaneaters did, getting four runs off of the pitcher in the first three innings. Bannon, Ganzel, McCarthy and Duffy all had RBI singles, to put the Beaneaters up 4-0 after three. The Braves cut the lead to 4-2 with a Furcal groundout that scored Giles and Herman Long's boot at short.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kid Nichols was nursing a 4-2 lead, but the Braves turned the tables again. With two out, Furcal singled and stole second. Matt Franco then singled him home. Chipper Jones drew a walk and then Gary Sheffield smacked the next pitch in front of Duffy in center, scoring Franco.

The bullpens kept the score knotted. In the ninth, Mike Remlinger had a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the frame, Sheffield singled with one out and then Zeke Wilson got wild, walking Andruw and Lopez, loading the bases. Knowing he needed to throw a strike, Wilson did so, but DeRosa knew it and smacked it to center. The Braves had pulled out the series!

[CB1]

This. Is. Awesome. Fun to read. I've done this before, but with the 14 division series.

[vnodnarb]

Do you have an updated bracket, how many teams are left?

[SamtheBravesFan]

I'm going through the dvisions from the top. I'm still in Division One. We're not going to be out of the first round for a while. So there really isn't that much to update. But here are Division One's Second Round matchups we know:

1995 Atlanta Braves vs. 1956 Milwaukee Braves
1997 Atlanta Braves vs. 1966 Atlanta Braves

The 2002 Atlanta Braves will be awaiting the winner of the next matchup: 1948 Boston Braves vs. 2007 Atlanta Braves.

Wowee, that one will be fun.

[SamtheBravesFan]

SERIES #6: #3 1948 Boston Braves vs. #14 2007 Atlanta Braves

1948 Boston Braves (91-62)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

2B Eddie Stanky (.320, 2, 29)<O:p</O:p
RF Tommy Holmes (.325, 6, 61)<O:p</O:p
1B Earl Torgeson (.253, 10, 67)<O:p</O:p
3B Bob Elliott (.283, 23, 100)<O:p</O:p
LF Jeff Heath (.319, 20, 76)<O:p</O:p
SS Alvin Dark (.322, 3, 48)<O:p</O:p
CF Jim Russell (.264, 9, 54)<O:p</O:p
C Bill Salkeld (.242, 8, 28)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

Johnny Sain (24-15, 2.60, 137)<O:p</O:p
Vern Bickford (11-5, 3.27, 60)<O:p</O:p
Bill Voiselle (13-13, 3.63, 89)<O:p</O:p
Warren Spahn (15-12, 3.71, 114)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

The Braves won their first pennant in 34 years this season. The famous poem defines this team:<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

First we'll use Spahn
then we'll use Sain
Then an off day
followed by rain
Back will come Spahn
followed by Sain
And followed
we hope
by two days of rain.
<O:p</O:p

That doesn’t mean that Bickford and Voiselle were bad, it’s just that Sain and Spahn were the most talented hurlers of the team. Bob Elliott and Jeff Heath powered the Braves offense with 43 homers and 176 RBIs. Elliott led the league with 131 walks. Sain led the league with 24 wins, 314 2/3 innings, 39 games started and 23 complete games.
<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
The Braves lost to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series 4 games to 2, the most lasting moment involving Bob Feller’s pickoff of Phil Masi that wasn’t, and that led to a deciding Braves win in one of their two victories.<O:p</O:p

2007 Atlanta Braves
<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
2B Kelly Johnson (.276, 16, 68)<O:p</O:p
SS Edgar Renteria (.332, 12, 57)<O:p</O:p
3B Chipper Jones (.337, 29, 102)<O:p</O:p
1B Mark Teixeira (.317, 17, 56)<O:p</O:p
RF Jeff Francoeur (.294, 19, 105)<O:p</O:p
C Brian McCann (.270, 18, 92)<O:p</O:p
LF Matt Diaz (.338, 12, 45)<O:p</O:p
CF Andruw Jones (.222, 26, 94)<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p

John Smoltz (14-8, 3.11, 197)<O:p</O:p
Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.33, 132)<O:p</O:p
Chuck James (11-10, 4.24, 116)<O:p</O:p
Buddy Carlyle (8-7, 5.21, 74)<O:p</O:p

The Braves wanted to wash the disappointing taste of 2006 out of their mouths. They didn't completely get it out. Thanks to a myriad of inconsistences and underperformances from key positions, the Braves finished five games behind the Phillies, who sneaked into the playoffs thanks to a colossal and historic Mets collapse. Andruw Jones, in a contract year, had his worst sesaon since his rookie year in 1997. The Braves had to endure sub-par production from the first base position for the majority of the year. The fourth and fifth spots in the rotation were in constant flux due to ineffectiveness and injuries. Willie Harris was ineffective for two months after his 6-6 game.

Despite all this, there were still several positives on the team. Kelly Johnson emerged as one of the NL's better second basemen. Edger Renteria continued his bounce-back from an awful 2005, being compared to the NL's version of Derek Jeter. Chipper Jones had one of the best seasons in his career. He led the NL in OPS and was in the batting average title race up until the last day of the season. Mark Teixeira was imported at the trade deadline and did not disappoint. Matt Diaz turned in an excellent season despite having to share time with Harris. John Smoltz and Tim Hudson held up the rotation and the team with two exemplary seasons of their own.

(Results will come later.)

[CB1]

What is with all the emoticons?

[McCarroll21]

What is with all the emoticons?
Copying from Word...

[SamtheBravesFan]

Copying from Word...

You got it. I have to edit those out every time.

[GrandMasterB]

Sam, when you make a post, if you scroll down to the "Additional Options", there should be a line that says, "Disable smilies in text". Click that box and it should take care of that.

[McCarroll21]

You got it. I have to edit those out every time.
Here's what to do...

When you're getting ready to post it, hit the http://www.braves-nation.com/forums/braves_style/editor/switchmode.gif button in the upper right corner, then paste it from Word. You'll have to go back through and bold what you want bold, but that's the best way I've found to do it.

[MPH]

If all else fails, just hit the "Preview Post" then look at it and see if anything looks out of place. If you see odd code and stuff, go through and delete it. It's time-consuming to do it that way, but it's worth it because more people will read your posts if they look nice.

[Sting129]

My money's on the 96 Braves. What a stacked team...

[MPH]

My money's on the 96 Braves. What a stacked team...
Maybe so, but the '57 Braves were pretty damn awesome too.

[SamtheBravesFan]

And I'm telling you that probably won't be the case. ;)

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. :)

[SamtheBravesFan]

Game 1: 2007 Atlanta 9, 1948 Boston 5

W - John Smoltz (1-0)
L - Johnny Sain (0-1)
HR - ATL - Mark Teixeira (1)
POG - Brian McCann (4-5, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI)

Atlanta put a six-spot on the board in the top of the first, highlighted by Mark Teixeira's two-run homer, and Brian McCann's and John Smoltz's RBI doubles. Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones also drove in runs with singles. Smoltz's double knocked Johnny Sain out the game, amazingly. Nels Potter

Boston answered back with three in the bottom of the inning with Bob Elliott's RBI double. Boston struck again with three in the fourth with Elliott's single and Jeff Heath's two-run double.

The sixth inning saw the teams trade RBI singles. McCann drove in another run with a single and Matt Diaz grounded to short and that allowed Francoeur to score. Peter Moylan finished off the pitching for Atlanta. After a 1-2-3 inning, Moylan was able to hold off Boston in the ninth. Nels Potter, Red Barrett and Clyde Shoun headed the bullpen effort for Boston.

Game 2: 2007 Atlanta 6, 1948 Boston 5

W - Oscar Villarreal (1-0)
L - Vern Bickford (0-1)
S - Rafael Soriano (1)
HR - Mark Teixeira (2)
Andruw Jones (1)
POG: Jeff Francoeur (3-4, 2B, R, RBI)

Boston rocked Hudson in the first for two runs with Tommy Holmes smacking a ball that bounced over the wall in left to score Eddie Stanky from second and after Earl Torgeson's ground out, Bob Elliott singled Holmes home. Jeff Heath smacked a sinker from Hudson right to Johnson, who started a double play to end the inning.

Atlanta answered with the most unexpected thing. Mark Teixeira smacked a ball down the right field line and Holmes lobbed it back into the infield. Teixeira slid into third well ahead of the throw. Jeff Francoeur then smacked the next pitch in front of Holmes in right to score Teixeira. McCann and Diaz both put on a display of hustling in their groundouts to beat both throws to first. Andruw rewarded them with a serious bomb to center that easily cleared the wall and put Atlanta in the lead.

Atlanta added more to their lead when Mark Teixeira crushed a ball far over the right-center field wall, driving in Chipper and increasing Atlanta's lead to 5-2. McCann clobbered a double to score Francoeur and made it 6-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Boston chased Hudson with three consecutive RBI singles by Elliott, Heath and Dark. Oscar Villarreal came in and not only did he put out the fire, he held off Boston for three innings, striking out three.

Bobby Hogue, Red Barrett and Clyde Shoun held Atlanta scoreless and Soriano got three groundouts for the save.

Game 3: 1948 Boston 3, 2007 Atlanta 2

W - Bill Voiselle (1-0)
L - Chuck James (0-1)
S - Clyde Shoun (1)
POG - Bill Voiselle (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO)

A true pitcher's duel. A sac fly from Earl Torgeson in the first inning held up. James and Voiselle pitched six innings each and allowed just 1 and 5 hits each. Bobby Hogue and Clyde Shoun completed the shutout and Moylan, Tyler Yates and Chad Paronto did their part. Boston had eight hits.

Game 4: 2007 Atlanta 8, 1948 Boston 2

W - Oscar Villarreal (2-0)
L - Warren Spahn (0-1)
WPOG - Warren Spahn (4 2/3 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO)

Spahn may be a Hall of Famer in 2007. He may have his number on the wall in Turner Field. But the Atlanta team gave one of their own a thrashing. Edgar Renteria had two doubles and Jeff Francoeur had two RBI singles, and Matt Diaz had a two-run single and Andruw Jones had a two-run double to lead Atlanta.

Game 5: 2007 Atlanta 11, 1948 Boston 5

W - John Smoltz (2-0)
L - Johnny Sain (0-2)
POG - Brian McCann (4-4, 2B, HR, R, 5 RBI)

Chipper Jones and Mark Teixeira pounced on Sain with back to back RBI singles in the first. Chipper made a gutsy move to third on Jeff Francoeur's flyout to Heath; he just slid in under the tag, and made another gutsy run to home with Holmes's throw on the mark. He got in udner the tag and Atlanta led 3-0.

Boston tied the game with a double play groundout in the third by Alvin Dark that scored Bob Elliott and in the fourth Elliott just spanked a two-run shot to right center that ended up six rows back to tie the game.

Smoltz led off the next inning with a bloop that landed in front of Russell in center and was erased on Johnson's groundout to third. Renteria flied out to center, but Chipper Jones made sure that the next fly woudn't be caught as he deposited it beyond the center field wall for a two-run shot.

Boston wouldn't go away, though. Sain led off with a double the next inning. Stanky hit a single and Tommy Holmes grounded to third and that allowed Sain to score. Torgeson grounded out to Teixeira and Elliott flied to Diaz to end the threat.

In the eighth, Brian McCann CRUSHED a shot to left, driving in Teixeira and Fancoeur to make the score 8-4. He gave one of those runs back when he attempted to pick off Heath at third and Jones couldn't handle the throw and it bounced into left field, making the score 8-5. Chipper Jones had a two-run double in the top of the ninth and Brian McCann drove him in with a single off of Nels Potter.

But it wasn't over just yet. In the bottom of the inning, Ron Mahay came in to try to seal the game. Bill Salkeld swung and missed for strike three, but pinch-hitter Mike McCormick and Eddie Stanky drew consecutive walks. Lance Cormier then came in to pitch, but HE walked Tommy Holmes to load the bases with one out. Cormier versus Torgeson was a matchup that the Boston faithful wanted. What they didn't want to see was Kelly Johnson calmly catching a pop-up. The Boston fans still cheered for Bob Elliott, but Cormier, in all his slop, got Elliott to chase one out of the zone and the Atlanta Braves had demolished the NL champions!

[CB1]

UPSET!

[BravesFan819]

im going with 1991
WORST TO FIRST BABY!!!!!!!!

[BGarrett7]

im going with 1991
WORST TO FIRST BABY!!!!!!!!But, in all honesty, a team that really wasn't that good.