1995 Atlanta Braves

1995 Atlanta Braves / Franchise: Atlanta Braves / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 90-54, Finished 1st in NL Eastern Division (1995 NL)

Clinched Division: September 13, 1995, At Colorado Rockies

World Series Champions

General Manager: John Schuerholz, Jr.

Managed by Bobby Cox

Coaches: Jim Beauchamp, Pat Corrales, Frank Fultz, Clarence Jones, Leo Mazzone, Jimy Williams and Ned Yost

Ballpark: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Season Review[edit]

The 1995 Atlanta Braves, like all the other Major League Baseball clubs, used replacement players for the March spring training. There was a tragic incident in which Braves replacement pitcher Dave Shotkoski was killed while taking an evening walk in West Palm Beach, FL.

During the late spring training on April 6, the Braves acquired two-time NL stolen base leader Marquis Grissom from the Montreal Expos for Tony Tarasco, Roberto Kelly and Esteban Yan. This was part of Montreal's infamous fire sale in which the front office dismantled the team that had achieved the best record in Major League Baseball in 1994. Now, the Braves had the speedy leadoff hitter and outfielder they had lacked since the departure of Otis Nixon. Six days later, on April 12, the Braves signed outfielder Dwight Smith, who would be a pinch-hitter and spot outfielder for the team. The team also re-signed shortstop Jeff Blauser and pitcher Mike Stanton.

After a loss to Montreal on June 13, the Braves were in third, laboring with a 24-20 record, four and a half games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. By June 25, the Braves were in second, but still four and a half behind Philadelphia. That is when they took charge. On July 4, the Braves had a half-game lead on the Phillies. Atlanta was never out of first place the rest of the season.

On July 31, Stanton was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later. On August 11, minor league outfielder Troy Hughes was traded to the New York Yankees for outfielder Luis Polonia, and popular bullpen pitcher Steve Bedrosian retired. On August 25, minor league outfielder Andre King was traded to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Mike Devereaux. At the end of the month, the Braves obtained reliever Alejandro Pena from the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later.

The Braves finished the shortened 144-game season 21 games ahead of the New York Mets and Phillies. Pitcher Greg Maddux led the National League in wins, winning percentage, ERA, WHIP, innings, shutouts, and complete games. He was unanimously voted the Cy Young Award winner with all 28 first-place votes. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz anchored the rotation for Atlanta, but rotation staple Steve Avery struggled, as did Kent Mercker. Mark Wohlers led the Braves in saves, while Greg McMichael performed setup duties. Rookies Brad Clontz and Pedro Borbon, Jr. also worked out of the bullpen.

The Braves' offense had four players who hit more than 20 home runs apiece. Fred McGriff led the team in home runs and RBI while playing in all 144 games. Second-year catcher Javy Lopez shared catching duties with veteran Charlie O'Brien. Rookie third baseman Chipper Jones finished second in the Rookie of the Year Award voting. First baseman-turned-left fielder Ryan Klesko had a career year on offense. Grissom led the team in stolen bases; he was the only member of the Braves to top 10 steals. Veteran outfielder David Justice and infielders Blauser, Mark Lemke, and Rafael Belliard anchored the team's defense, alongside the Gold Glove-winning Grissom.

Awards and Honors[edit]

All-Stars: Greg Maddux and Fred McGriff
NL Cy Young Award: Greg Maddux
Topps All-Star Rookie Team: Chipper Jones (3B)
Gold Glove: Marquis Grissom (OF) and Greg Maddux (P)
Silver Slugger Award: Tom Glavine (P)

Postseason[edit]

NLDS[edit]

Game	Road	Home	Score	Date	Ballpark, City	Attendance
1	Braves	Rockies	5 - 4	October 3	Coors Field, Denver, CO	50,040
2	Braves	Rockies	7 - 4	October 4	Coors Field, Denver, CO	50,063
3	Rockies	Braves	7 - 5 (F/10)	October 6	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	51,300
4	Rockies	Braves	10 - 4	October 7	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	50,027

NLCS[edit]

Main article: 1995 NLCS

Game	Road	Home	Score	Date	Ballpark, City	Attendance
1	Braves	Reds	2 - 1 (F/11)	October 10	Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH	40,382
2	Braves	Reds	6 - 2 (F/10)	October 11	Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH	44,624
3	Reds	Braves	5 - 2	October 13	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	51,424
4	Reds	Braves	6 - 0	October 14	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	52,067

World Series[edit]

Main article: 1995 World Series

Game	Road	Home	Score	Date	Ballpark, City	Attendance
1	Indians	Braves	3 - 2	October 21	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	51,876
2	Indians	Braves	4 - 3	October 22	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	51,877
3	Braves	Indians	7 - 6 (F/11)	October 24	Jacobs Field, Cleveland, OH	43,584
4	Braves	Indians	5 - 2	October 25	Jacobs Field, Cleveland, OH	43,578
5	Braves	Indians	5 - 4	October 26	Jacobs Field, Cleveland, OH	43,59
6	Indians	Braves	1 - 0	October 28	Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA	51,875