1996 Atlanta Braves season

1996 Atlanta Braves
1996 NL East Champions 1996 NL Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1876)
Eastern Division (since 1994)
Location
Fulton County Stadium (since 1966)
Atlanta (since 1966)
Results
Record	96–66 (.593)
Divisional place	1st
Other information
Owner(s)	Ted Turner
General manager(s)	John Schuerholz
Manager(s)	Bobby Cox
Local television	WTBS TBS Superstation (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson) SportSouth (Tim Brando, Ernie Johnson, Ernie Johnson, Jr.)
Local radio	WSB (AM) (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson)
< Previous season     Next season  >

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. The Braves' World Series appearance was their fourth appearance in 31 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.

Offseason

• January 3, 1996: Jerome Walton was signed as a Free Agent by the Braves.^[1]
• 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.^[2]
• March 31, 1996: Mike Bielecki was signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.^[3]

Regular season

Season standings

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Atlanta Braves	96	66	0.593	—	56–25	40–41
Montreal Expos	88	74	0.543	8	50–31	38–43
Florida Marlins	80	82	0.494	16	52–29	28–53
New York Mets	71	91	0.438	25	42–39	29–52
Philadelphia Phillies	67	95	0.414	29	35–46	32–49

Record vs. opponents

1996 National League Records Sources:
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	7–5	7–5	5–7	6–7	6–6	5–7	10–3	7–6	9–4	9–3	9–4	7–5	9–4
Chicago	5–7	—	5–8	5–7	6–6	5–8	8–5	6–6	7–5	7–6	4–9	6–6	7–5	5–8
Cincinnati	5–7	8–5	—	7–6	3–9	7–6	4–8	3–9	6–6	10–2	5–8	9–3	9–4	5–8
Colorado	7–5	7–5	6–7	—	5–8	8–5	6–7	3–9	7–5	6–6	7–5	8–5	5–8	8–4
Florida	7–6	6–6	9–3	8–5	—	7–5	6–7	5–8	7–6	6–7	5–7	3–9	5–7	6–6
Houston	6–6	8–5	6–7	5–8	5–7	—	6–6	4–9	8–4	10–2	8–5	6–6	8–4	2–11
Los Angeles	7–5	5–8	8–4	7–6	7–6	6–6	—	9–3	8–4	7–6	6–6	5–8	7–6	8–4
Montreal	3–10	6–6	9–3	9–3	8–5	9–4	3–9	—	7–6	6–7	7–5	4–8	9–4	8–4
New York	6–7	5–7	6–6	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–8	6–7	—	7–6	8–5	3–10	6–6	5–7
Philadelphia	4-9	6–7	2–10	6–6	7–6	2–10	6–7	7–6	6–7	—	7–5	4–8	6–6	4–8
Pittsburgh	3–9	9–4	8–5	5–7	7–5	5–8	6–6	5–7	5–8	5–7	—	4–9	8–4	3–10
San Diego	4–9	6–6	3–9	5–8	9–3	6–6	8–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	9–4	—	11–2	4–8
San Francisco	5–7	5–7	4–9	8–5	7–5	4–8	6–7	4–9	6–6	6–6	4–8	2–11	—	7–6
St. Louis	4–9	8–5	8–5	4–8	6–6	11-2	4–8	4–8	7–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	6–7	—

Opening Day starters

• Jeff Blauser
• Marquis Grissom
• David Justice
• Ryan Klesko
• Mark Lemke
• Javy Lopez
• Greg Maddux
• Fred McGriff
• Mike Mordecai^[4]

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.^[5]
• June 24, 1996: Mark Whiten signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.^[6]
• August 13, 1996: Terry Pendleton was traded by the Florida Marlins to the Braves for Roosevelt Brown.^[7]
• August 14, 1996: Mark Whiten was traded by the Braves to the Seattle Mariners for Roger Blanco (minors).^[6]
• August 17, 1996: Luis Polonia was signed as a Free Agent with the Braves.^[8]
• 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.^[9]

Roster

1996 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers 33 Steve Avery 26 Mike Bielecki 51 Pedro Borbón, Jr. 50 Joe Borowski 52 Brad Clontz 47 Tom Glavine 34 Dean Hartgraves 32 Kevin Lomon 31 Greg Maddux 38 Greg McMichael 15 Denny Neagle 46 Jason Schmidt 49 Carl Schutz 29 John Smoltz 49 Tom Thobe 36 Terrell Wade 43 Mark Wohlers 48 Brad Woodall		Catchers 30 Joe Ayrault  8 Javy López  5 Pablo Martínez 12 Eddie Pérez Infielders  2 Rafael Belliard  4 Jeff Blauser 11,17,30 Ed Giovanola 14 Tony Graffanino  5 Tyler Houston 10 Chipper Jones 20 Mark Lemke 27 Fred McGriff 16 Mike Mordecai  5 Terry Pendleton		Outfielders 15 Danny Bautista 24 Jermaine Dye  9 Marquis Grissom 25 Andruw Jones 23 David Justice 18 Ryan Klesko 17 Luis Polonia  7 Dwight Smith 19 Jerome Walton 25 Mark Whiten		Manager  6 Bobby Cox Coaches 37 Jim Beauchamp (bench) 39 Pat Corrales (first base) 28 Clarence Jones (hitting) 54 Leo Mazzone (pitching) 22 Jimy Williams (third base) 42 Ned Yost (bullpen)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Ayrault, JoeJoe Ayrault	7	5	1	.200	0	0
Martínez, PabloPablo Martínez	4	2	1	.500	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO

National League Divisional Playoffs

Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Atlanta wins the series, 3-0

Game	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Date	Series
1	Los Angeles	1	Atlanta	2	October 2	1-0 (ATL)
2	Los Angeles	2	Atlanta	3	October 3	2-0 (ATL)
3	Atlanta	5	Los Angeles	2	October 5	3-0 (ATL)

National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 9: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	X	4	9	0
WP: John Smoltz (1-0)   LP: Mark Petkovsek (0-1) SV: Mark Wohlers (1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 2

October 10: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	1	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	0	8	11	2
Atlanta	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	2
WP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-0)   LP: Greg Maddux (0-1) Home runs: STL: Gary Gaetti (1) ATL: Marquis Grissom (1)

Game 3

October 12: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	1
St. Louis	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	3	7	0
WP: Donovan Osborne (1-0)   LP: Tom Glavine (0-1) SV: Dennis Eckersley (1) Home runs: ATL: None STL: Ron Gant 2 (2)

Game 4

October 13: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	9	1
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	X	4	5	0
WP: Dennis Eckersley (1-0)   LP: Greg McMichael (0-1) Home runs: ATL: Mark Lemke (1), Ryan Klesko (1) STL: Brian Jordan (1)

Game 5

October 14: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	5	2	0	3	1	0	0	1	2	14	22	0
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
WP: John Smoltz (2-0)   LP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-1) Home runs: ATL: Fred McGriff (1), Javy López (1) STL: None

Game 6

October 16: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	1
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	3	7	0
WP: Greg Maddux (1-1)   LP: Alan Benes (0-1) SV: Mark Wohlers (2) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 7

October 17: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Atlanta	6	0	0	4	0	3	2	0	X	15	17	0
WP: Tom Glavine (1-1)   LP: Donovan Osborne (1-1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: Javy López (2), Andruw Jones (1), Fred McGriff (2)

World Series

Game 1

October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	2	6	0	1	3	0	0	0	12	13	0
New York	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
WP: John Smoltz (1-0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0-1) Home runs: ATL: Andruw Jones 2 (2), Fred McGriff (1) NYY: None

Game 2

October 21, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	4	10	0
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
WP: Greg Maddux (1-0)   LP: Jimmy Key (0-1)

Game 3

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	5	8	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	6	1
WP: David Cone (1-0)   LP: Tom Glavine (0-1)   Sv: John Wetteland (1) Home runs: NYY: Bernie Williams (1) ATL: None

Game 4

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	2	8	12	0
Atlanta	0	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	9	2
WP: Graeme Lloyd (1-0)   LP: Steve Avery (0-1)   Sv: John Wetteland (2) Home runs: NYY: Jim Leyritz (1) ATL: Fred McGriff (2)

Game 5

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

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
WP: Andy Pettitte (1-1)   LP: John Smoltz (1-1)   Sv: John Wetteland (3)

Game 6

October 26, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	0
New York	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	X	3	8	1
WP: Jimmy Key (1-1)   LP: Greg Maddux (1-1)   Sv: John Wetteland (4)

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

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Richmond Braves	International League	Bill Dancy
AA	Greenville Braves	Southern League	Jeff Cox
A	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	Randy Ingle
A	Macon Braves	South Atlantic League	Paul Runge
A-Short Season	Eugene Emeralds	Northwest League	Jim Saul
Rookie	Danville Braves	Appalachian League	Brian Snitker
Rookie	GCL Braves	Gulf Coast League	Robert Lucas and Chino Cadahia

^[10]

Notes

1. http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/waltoje01.shtml
2. http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kellymi02.shtml
3. http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bielemi01.shtml
4. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1996&t=ATL
5. http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gilesma01.shtml
6. Mark Whiten Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
7. Terry Pendleton Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
8. Luis Polonia Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
9. Jason Schmidt Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
10. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997

References

• 1996 Atlanta Braves at Baseball Reference