The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The Braves were founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1871, as the Boston Red Stockings. The club was known by various names until the franchise settled on the Boston Braves in 1912. The Braves are the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in North America.[6][b]
After 81 seasons and one World Series title in Boston, the club moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1953. With a roster of star players such as Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Warren Spahn, the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series in 1957. Despite the team's success, fan attendance declined. The club's owners moved the team to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966.
The Braves did not find much success in Atlanta until 1991. From 1991 to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful teams in baseball, winning an unprecedented 14 consecutive division titles,[7][8][9] making an MLB record eight consecutive National League Championship Series appearances, and producing one of the greatest pitching rotations in the history of baseball including Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine.[10]
The Braves are one of the two remaining National League charter franchises that debuted in 1876.[11] The club has won an MLB record 23 divisional titles, 18 National League pennants, and four World Series championships. The Braves are the only Major League Baseball franchise to have won the World Series in three different home cities.[12] At the end of the 2024 season, the Braves' overall win–loss record is 11,114–10,949–154 (.504). Since moving to Atlanta in 1966, the Braves have an overall win–loss record of 4,850–4,461–8 (.521) through the end of 2024.[13]
The Cincinnati Red Stockings, formed in 1869, were the first openly all-professional baseball team but disbanded after the 1870 season.[14] Manager Harry Wright and players moved to Boston, forming the Boston Red Stockings, a charter team in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP).[15] Led by the Wright brothers, Ross Barnes, and Al Spalding, they dominated the National Association, winning four of five championships.[11] The original Boston Red Stockings team and its successors can lay claim to being the oldest continuously playing franchise in American professional sports.[6][14]
The club was known as the Boston Red Caps when they played the first National League game in 1876, winning against the Philadelphia Athletics.[16][17][18] Despite a weaker roster in the league's first year, they rebounded to secure the 1877 and 1878 pennants.[19] Managed by Frank Selee, they were a dominant force in the 19th century, winning eight pennants.[15] By 1898 the team was known as the Beaneaters and they won 102 games, with stars like Hugh Duffy, Tommy McCarthy, and "Slidin'" Billy Hamilton.[20][15]
In 1901, the American League was introduced, causing many Beaneaters players including stars Duffy and Jimmy Collins to leave for clubs of the rival league.[21] The team struggled, having only one winning season from 1900 to 1913 and losing 100 games five times. In 1907, they temporarily dropped the red color from their stockings due to infection concerns.[22] The club underwent various nickname changes until becoming the Braves before the 1912 season.[22] The president of the club, John M. Ward named the club after the owner, James Gaffney.[22] Gaffney was called one of the "braves" of New York City's political machine, Tammany Hall, which used a Native American chief as their symbol.[22][23]
In 1914, the Boston Braves experienced a remarkable turnaround in what would become one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history.[24][25] Starting with a dismal 4–18 record, the Braves found themselves in last place, trailing the league-leading New York Giants by 15 games after losing a doubleheader to the Brooklyn Robins on July 4.[26] However, the team rebounded with an incredible hot streak, going 41–12 from July 6 to September 5.[27] On August 3, Joseph Lannin the president of the Red Sox, offered Fenway Park to the Braves free of charge for the remainder of the season since their usual home, the South End Grounds, was too small.[28] On Sept