The Best of the Atlanta Braves since 1966 in every category
The comparison of stats between baseball eras is a funny thing. Let’s look at the best production of players in the Atlanta Braves era – since 1966 – and compare players to today.
The Atlanta Braves have now played 54 seasons in the state of Georgia. We’ve moved from the days of Eddie Mathews to Hank Aaron to Dale Murphy to Chipper Jones, and now – the Freddie Freeman generation.
Baseball has changed since 1966 when the Milwaukee Braves relocated for the second time within 15 years – this time to become the first MLB team in the deep South.
Parks are smaller, pitchers are no longer in 4-man rotations, the bullpens have become a priority for teams, homers are rampant, but the strikeout is no longer taboo.
Here’s some of those stats and how they compare to today’s game… these are the best of the Braves at everything since they’ve been in Atlanta.
All stats from fangraphs.com and encompass players with 250+ plate appearances in a season unless otherwise noted. There has been 517 such players for Atlanta between 1966 and 2019.
Hitters
Oldest season as a Brave: Julio Franco (age 46, 2005). Also was second (2004) and third (2002) on the list.
Players appearing in 162 games: there have been 11 such seasons…
- Dale Murphy (4 times)
- Freddie Freeman (twice; 2014 and 2018)
- Jeff Francoeur (twice; 2006 and 2007)
- Andruw Jones (1999)
- Nick Markakis (2018)
- Felix Millan (1969)
Plate Appearances: Ronald Acuna Jr in 2019… 715
- Rafael Furcal (734 in 2003)
- Darrell Evans (733 in 1973)
- Andruw Jones (729 in 2000)
Most Home Runs: Ronald Acuna Jr in 2019… 41
- Andruw Jones (51 in 2005)
- Hank Aaron (47 in 1971)
- Chipper Jones (45 in 1999)
- 4 tied at 44 (Aaron twice, Galarraga, Murphy)
Most Runs scored: Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2019: 127 (third overall)
- Murphy (131 in 1983 (MVP))
- Furcal (130 in 2003)
Most RBI: Freddie Freeman in 2019… 121 (7th overall)
- Gary Sheffield (132 in 2003)
- Andruw Jones (129 in 2006, 128 in 2005)
- Aaron (127 in 1966)
Stolen Bases: Ronald Acuna Jr… 37 in 2019
- Otis Nixon (72 in 1991; also 2nd best with 47 in 1993)
- Furcal (46 in 2005)
- Michael Bourn and Gerald Perry (42 in 2012, 1987)
Walks: Josh Donaldson 100 in 2019 (11th overall)
- Jimmy Wynn (127 in 1976)
- Chipper Jones (126 in 1999)
- Darrell Evans (126 and 124 in 1974, 1973)
- J.D. Drew (118 in 2004)
Strikeouts (highest):
- Ronald Acuna Jr (188 in 2019)
- BJ Upton (173 in 2014)
- Freddie Freeman (171 in 2016)
- Justin Upton (171 in 2014)
- Dan Uggla (171, 168 in 2013, 2012)
Strikeouts (fewest; 500 plate appearances minimum): Ozzie Albies 112
- Felix Millan (22 in 1971… that’s over 635 plate appearances!)
- Millan (23 in 1970… 642 PA)
- Felipe Alou (23 in 1969)
- Millan again twice more (1968, 1972… 26 and 28K)
Batting average: Ozzie Albies in 2019… .295
- Rico Carty (.366 in 1970)
- Chipper Jones (.264 in 2008)
- Ralph Garr (.353 in 1974; also 4th with .343 in 1971)
On-base percentage: in 2019, Freeman at .389
- Chipper (.470 in 2008)
- Carty (.454 in 1970)
- Chipper (.441 in 1999)
- J.D. Drew (.436 in 2004)
Slugging percentage: Freeman .549 in 2019
- Javy Lopez (.687 in 2003)
- Aaron (1971/1973: .669 and .643)
- Chipper (.633 in 1999)
Runs Created score (wRC+): Freeman 138 in 2019
- Aaron (191 in 1971; 177 in 1973)
- Chipper (174 in 2008)
- Carty (173 in 1970)
- Aaron; Lopez (170 in 1969; 2003)
OPS (OBP plus Slugging): Freeman .938 in 2019
- Aaron (1.079 in 1971)
- Chipper (1.074 in 1999)
- Lopez (1.065 in 2003)
- Aaron (1.045 in 1973)
fangraphs Wins Above Replacement: Ronald Acuna Jr, 5.6 in 2019
- Darrell Evans (9.7 in 1973)
- J.D. Drew (8.6 in 2004)
- Brian McCann (8.6 in 2008)
- Lonnie Smith (8.1 in 1989)
Pitching
Pitcher Wins: Max Fried 17 in 2019
- John Smoltz (24 in 1996)
- Phil Niekro (23 in 1969)
- Tom Glavine (22 in 1993; also 21 in 2000)
- Niekro and Russ Ortiz (21 in 1979, 2003)
Pitcher losses: Julio Teheran 11 in 2019
- Niekro (20 twice… 1977 and 1979)
- Niekro (18 three times… 1978, 1980, 1970)
- Rick Mahler (18 in 1986)
Relief Pitcher Saves: 18 by Luke Jackson in 2019
- Smoltz (55 in 2002)
- Craig Kimbrel (50 in 2013, 47 in 2014, 46 in 2011)
- Smoltz (45 and 44 in 2003, 2004)
- Kimbrel (42 in 2012)
Appearances: Jackson 70 in 2019
- Peter Moylan (87 in 2009)
- Jonny Venters (85 in 2011)
- Moylan (85 in 2010)
- Chris Reitsma (84 in 2004)
Innings Pitched: 174.2 by both Mike Soroka and Julio Teheran in 2019
- Phil Niekro occupies the 1st 6 positions in Atlanta Braves history, and 10 of the first 12 slots:
- 342 innings in 1979 leads the way
- Carl Morton (7th and 10th with 277.2 and 274.2 innings; 1975 and 1974)
Most Walks: Teheran 83 in 2019 (by a mile)
- Niekro (164 in 1977)
- Tony Cloninger (116 in 1966)
- Niekro: (113 in 1979)
- Ortiz (112 in 2004)
- Steve Bedrosian (111 in 1985)
Fewest Walks (minimum 150 innings): Soroka 41 in 2019
- Greg Maddux holds 6 of the top 7 seasons, ranging from 20 in 1997 to 33 in 2003)
- Gaylord Perry (24 in 1981… barely qualified at 150.2 innings)
Most Strikeouts: Fried with 173 in 2019
- Smoltz (276 in 1996)
- Niekro (262 in 1977; 248 in 1978)
- Smoltz (241 in 1997)
- Javier Vazquez (238 in 1979)
- (more Smoltz and Niekro)
Lowest ERA (minimum 150 innings): Soroka 2.68
- Maddux (1.56 in 1994)
- Maddux (1.63 in 1995)
- Niekro (1.87 in 1967)
- Maddux twice more (2.20, 2.22 in 1997, 1998)
- Buzz Capra (2.28 in 1974)
Pitcher fWAR: Soroka 4.0 in 2019
- Niekro (8.6 in 1978)
- Smoltz (8.4 in 1996)
- Maddux… next 7 slots (7.9 down to 7.2 between 1993 and 2000)
In general, the pitching records belong to Smoltz, Maddux, and Niekro; the hitting records belong to Aaron, Evans, and both Joneses with a smattering of entries from prior to 1980.
Many of these pitching records will never be touched… it’s a different game now. Many of these hitting records will be difficult to reach, though it’s an offensive game and MLB itself may insure that such records are at least threatened.
Next. Here's the Pitch. dark
Overall observation: production seems to be down, but that’s as much due to specialization as for any other reason. Runs per game across MLB have generally been steady.