1991 Atlanta Braves season

1991 Atlanta Braves
1991 NL West Champions 1991 NL Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1876)
Western Division (since 1969)
Location
Fulton County Stadium (since 1966)
Atlanta (since 1966)
Results
Record	94–68 (.580)
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) SportSouth (Ernie Johnson)
Local radio	WSB (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Dave O'Brien)
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In 1991, the Atlanta Braves became the first team in the National League to go from last place one year to first place the next. This feat was also accomplished by the 1991 Minnesota Twins. The last Major League Baseball team to accomplish this was the 1890 Louisville Colonels of the American Association.

The Braves had a last place finish in 1990 but managed to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West clinching the division on the next to the last day of the regular season.^[1][2]

Offseason

• December 3, 1990: Terry Pendleton was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[3]
• December 5, 1990: Sid Bream was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[4]
• January 19, 1991: Jerry Willard was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[5]
• January 30, 1991: Deion Sanders was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[6]
• February 8, 1991: Jim Vatcher was selected off waivers from the Braves by the San Diego Padres.^[7]
• March 9, 1991: Randy St. Claire was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[8]

Regular season

Opening Day starters

• Rafael Belliard
• Sid Bream
• Ron Gant
• Mike Heath
• David Justice
• Terry Pendleton
• Deion Sanders
• John Smoltz
• Jeff Treadway

Season standings

NL West	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Atlanta Braves	94	68	0.580	—	48–33	46–35
Los Angeles Dodgers	93	69	0.574	1	54–27	39–42
San Diego Padres	84	78	0.519	10	42–39	42–39
San Francisco Giants	75	87	0.463	19	43–38	32–49
Cincinnati Reds	74	88	0.457	20	39–42	35–46
Houston Astros	65	97	0.401	29	37–44	28–53

Record vs. opponents

1991 National League Records Sources:
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	6–6	11–7	13–5	7–11	5–7	9–3	5–7	9–3	11–7	9–9	9–3
Chicago	6–6	—	4–8	9–3	2–10	10–7	11–6	8–10	7–11	4–8	6–6	10–8
Cincinnati	7–11	8–4	—	9–9	6–12	6–6	5–7	9–3	2–10	8–10	10–8	4–8
Houston	5–13	3–9	9–9	—	8–10	2–10	7–5	7–5	4–8	6–12	9–9	5–7
Los Angeles	11–7	10–2	12–6	10–8	—	5–7	7–5	7–5	7–5	10–8	8–10	6–6
Montreal	7–5	7–10	6–6	10–2	7–5	—	4–14	4–14	6–12	6–6	7–5	7–11
New York	3–9	6–11	7–5	5–7	5–7	14–4	—	11–7	6–12	7–5	6–6	7–11
Philadelphia	7-5	10–8	3–9	5–7	5–7	14–4	7–11	—	6–12	9–3	6–6	6–12
Pittsburgh	3–9	11–7	10–2	8–4	5–7	12–6	12–6	12–6	—	7–5	7–5	11–7
San Diego	7–11	8–4	10–8	12–6	8–10	6–6	5–7	3–9	5–7	—	11–7	9–3
San Francisco	9–9	6–6	8–10	9–9	10–8	5–7	6–6	6–6	5–7	7–11	—	4–8
St. Louis	3–9	8–10	8–4	7–5	6–6	11–7	11–7	12–6	7–11	3–9	8–4	—

Notable transactions

• April 1, 1991: Jimmy Kremers and a player to be named later were traded by the Braves to the Montreal Expos for Otis Nixon and Boi Rodriguez (minors). The Braves completed the deal by sending Keith Morrison (minors) to the Expos on June 3, 1991.^[9]
• May 6, 1991: Kevin Castleberry (minors) was traded by the Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Danny Heep.^[10]
• June 14, 1991: Rick Mahler was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[11]
• June 17, 1991: Danny Heep was released by the Braves.^[10]
• August 8, 1991: Rick Mahler was released by the Braves.^[11]
• September 29, 1991: Turk Wendell and Yorkis Pérez were traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Damon Berryhill and Mike Bielecki.^[12]

Draft picks

• June 3, 1991: 1991 Major League Baseball draft
  • Mike Kelly was drafted by the Braves in the 1st round (2nd pick). Player signed July 22, 1991.^[13]
  • Jason Schmidt was drafted by the Braves in the 8th round. Player signed June 14, 1991.^[14]

Roster

1991 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers 33 Steve Avery 48 Juan Berenguer 36 Mike Bielecki 36 Tony Castillo 18 Jim Clancy 40 Marvin Freeman 47 Tom Glavine 32 Charlie Leibrandt 42 Rick Mahler 50 Kent Mercker 49 Jeff Parrett 26 Alejandro Peña 46 Dan Petry 42 Armando Reynoso 43 Doug Sisk 25 Pete Smith 29 John Smoltz 46 Randy St. Claire 30 Mike Stanton 43 Mark Wohlers		Catchers 49 Damon Berryhill 19 Francisco Cabrera  8 Mike Heath 10 Greg Olson 31 Jerry Willard Infielders 11 Mike Bell  2 Rafael Belliard  4 Jeff Blauser 12 Sid Bream 45 Vinny Castilla 17 Danny Heep 14 Brian Hunter 20 Mark Lemke  9 Terry Pendleton 34 Rico Rossy 15 Jeff Treadway		Outfielders  5 Ron Gant 16 Tommy Gregg 23 David Justice 17 Keith Mitchell  1 Otis Nixon 24 Deion Sanders 27 Lonnie Smith		Manager  6 Bobby Cox Coaches 26 Jim Beauchamp (bench) 39 Pat Corrales (first base) 38 Clarence Jones (hitting) 54 Leo Mazzone (pitching) 22 Jimy Williams (third base) 52 Ned Yost (bullpen)

Player stats

Batting

= Indicates team leader

Starters by position

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

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
C	Olson, GregGreg Olson	133	411	46	99	.241	6	44	1
1B	Bream, SidSid Bream	91	265	32	67	.253	11	45	0
2B	Treadway, JeffJeff Treadway	106	306	41	98	.320	3	32	2
3B	Terry Pendleton	153	586	94	187	.319	22	86	10
SS	Belliard, RafaelRafael Belliard	149	353	36	88	.249	0	27	3
LF	Lonnie Smith	122	353	58	97	.275	7	44	9
CF	Ron Gant	154	561	101	141	.251	32	105	34
RF	Justice, DavidDavid Justice	109	396	67	109	.275	21	87	8

^[15]

Other batters

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

Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
Nixon, OtisOtis Nixon	124	401	81	119	.297	0	26	72
Blauser, JeffJeff Blauser	129	352	49	91	.259	11	54	5
Brian Hunter	97	271	32	68	.251	12	50	0
Mark Lemke	136	269	36	63	.234	2	23	1
Mike Heath	49	139	4	29	.209	1	12	0
Sanders, DeionDeion Sanders	54	110	16	21	.191	4	13	11
Tommy Gregg	72	107	13	20	.187	1	4	2
Cabrera, FranciscoFrancisco Cabrera	44	95	7	23	.242	4	23	1
Mitchell, KeithKeith Mitchell	48	66	11	21	.318	2	3	3
Bell, MikeMike Bell	17	30	4	4	.133	1	1	1
Jerry Willard	17	14	1	3	.214	1	4	0
Danny Heep	14	12	4	5	.417	0	3	0
Vinny Castilla	12	5	1	1	.200	0	0	0
Damon Berryhill	1	1	0	0	.000	0	0	0
Rico Rossy	5	1	0	0	.000	0	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO	BB
Glavine, TomTom Glavine	34	246.2	20	11	2.55	192	69
Leibrandt, CharlieCharlie Leibrandt	36	229.2	15	13	3.49	128	56
Smoltz, JohnJohn Smoltz	36	229.2	14	13	3.80	148	77
Avery, SteveSteve Avery	35	210.1	18	8	3.38	137	65
Pete Smith	14	48	1	3	5.06	29	22
Armando Reynoso	6	23.1	2	1	6.17	10	10

^[15]

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	SO	BB
Mahler, RickRick Mahler	13	28.2	1	1	0	5.65	16	12

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	SO	BB
Berenguer, JuanJuan Berenguer	49	64.1	0	3	17	2.24	53	20
Stanton, MikeMike Stanton	74	78	5	5	7	2.88	54	21
Kent Mercker	50	73.1	5	3	6	2.58	62	35
Marvin Freeman	34	48	1	0	1	3.00	34	13
Jim Clancy	24	34.2	2	3	3	5.71	17	14
St. Claire, RandyRandy St. Claire	19	28.2	0	0	0	4.08	30	9
Dan Petry	10	24.1	0	0	5.55	9	14
Jeff Parrett	18	21.1	1	2	1	6.33	14	12
Mark Wohlers	17	19.2	3	1	2	3.20	13	13
Peña, AlejandroAlejandro Peña	15	19.1	2	0	11	1.40	13	3
Doug Sisk	14	14.1	2	1	0	5.02	5	8
Castillo, TonyTony Castillo	7	8.2	1	1	0	7.27	8	5
Mike Bielecki	2	1.2	0	0	0	0.00	3	2

National League Championship Series

Avery's amazing season continued with one of the greatest postseason performances of all-time. He shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates for 16.2 innings over two games and accumulated two 1-0 wins. His performance earned him MVP honors for the 1991 NLCS.

Game 1

October 9: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	1
Pittsburgh	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	1	X	5	8	1
W: Doug Drabek (1-0)   L: Tom Glavine (0-1)   S: Bob Walk (1)
HR: ATL – David Justice (1)  PIT – Andy Van Slyke (1)
Pitchers: ATL – Glavine (6), Wohlers (1), Stanton (1)  PIT – Drabek (6), Walk (3)
Attendance: 57,347  Time: 2:51

Game 2

October 10: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	8	0
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
W: Steve Avery (1-0)   L: Zane Smith (0-1)   S: Alejandro Peña (1)
HR: ATL – None   PIT – None
Pitchers: ATL – Avery (8 1⁄3), Pena (2/3)  PIT – Z. Smith (7), Mason (1), Belinda (1)
Attendance: 57,533  Time: 2:46

Game 3

October 12: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	10	2
Atlanta	4	1	1	0	0	0	1	3	X	10	11	0
W: John Smoltz (1-0)   L: John Smiley (0-1)   S: Alejandro Peña (2)
HR: PIT – None  ATL – Greg Olson (1), Ron Gant (1), Sid Bream (1)
Pitchers: PIT – Smiley (2), Landrum (1), Patterson (2), Kipper (2), Rodriguez (1)  ATL – Smoltz (6 1⁄3), Stanton (2/3), Wohlers (1/3), Pena (1 2⁄3)
Attendance: 50,905  Time: 3:21

Game 4

October 13: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	11	1
Atlanta	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	1
W: Stan Belinda (1-0)   L: Kent Mercker (0-1)   S: None
HR: PIT – None  ATL – None
Pitchers: PIT – Tomlin (6), Walk (2), Belinda (2)  ATL – Leibrant (6 2⁄3), Clancy (1/3), Stanton (2), Mercker (2/3), Wohlers (1/3)
Attendance: 51,109  Time: 3:43

Game 5

October 14: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
W: Zane Smith (1-1)   L: Tom Glavine (0-2)   S: Roger Mason (1)
HR: PIT – None  ATL – None
Pitchers: PIT – Z. Smith (7 2⁄3), Mason (1 1⁄3)  ATL – Glavine (8), Pena (1)
Attendance: 51,109  Time: 2:51

Game 6

October 16: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	0
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
W: Steve Avery (2-0)   L: Doug Drabek (1-1)   S: Alejandro Peña (3)
HR: ATL – None  PIT – None
Pitchers: ATL – Avery (8), Pena (1)  PIT – Drabek (9)
Attendance: 54,508  Time: 3:09

Game 7

October 17: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	6	1
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
W: John Smoltz (2-0)   L: John Smiley (0-2)   S: None
HR: ATL – Brian Hunter (1)  PIT – None
Pitchers: ATL – Smoltz (9)  PIT – Smiley (2/3), Walk (4 1⁄3), Mason (2), Belinda (2)
Attendance: 46,932  Time: 3:04

World Series

Game 1

October 19, 1991 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	6	1
Minnesota	0	0	1	0	3	1	0	0	X	5	9	1
W: Jack Morris (1-0)   L: Charlie Leibrandt (0-1)  S: Rick Aguilera (1)
HR: MIN – Greg Gagne (1), Kent Hrbek (1)

Game 2

October 20, 1991 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
Minnesota	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	X	3	4	1
W: Kevin Tapani (1-0)   L: Tom Glavine (0-1)  S: Rick Aguilera (2)
HR: MIN – Chili Davis (1), Scott Leius (1)

Game 3

October 22, 1991 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Minnesota	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	4	10	1
Atlanta	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	8	2
W: Jim Clancy (1-0)   L: Rick Aguilera (0-1)
HR: MIN – Chili Davis (2), Kirby Puckett (1)  ATL – David Justice (1), Lonnie Smith (1)

Game 4

October 23, 1991 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	7	0
Atlanta	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	8	0
W: Mike Stanton (1-0)   L: Mark Guthrie (0-1)
HR: MIN – Mike Pagliarulo (1)  ATL – Terry Pendleton (1), Lonnie Smith (2)

Game 5

October 24, 1991 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	1	1	5	7	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	4	1	0	6	3	X	14	17	1
W: Tom Glavine (1-1)   L: Kevin Tapani (1-1)
HR: ATL– David Justice (2), Lonnie Smith (3), Brian Hunter (1)

Game 6

October 26, 1991 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	9	1
Minnesota	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	9	0
W: Rick Aguilera (1-1)   L: Charlie Leibrandt (0-2)
HR: ATL– Terry Pendleton (2)  MIN– Kirby Puckett (2)

Game 7

October 27, 1991 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	10	0
W: Jack Morris (2-0)   L: Alejandro Peña (0-1)

For the first time since 1962, a seventh game of the World Series ended with a 1-0 verdict.^[16] It was also the second time in five that the home team won all seven games of a World Series.

Award winners

• Steve Avery, NLCS MVP
• Bobby Cox, Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
• Ron Gant, OF, Silver Slugger
• Tom Glavine, National League Pitcher of the Month, May
• Tom Glavine, National League Cy Young Award
• Tom Glavine, Silver Slugger
• Tom Glavine, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
• David Justice, National League Player of the Month, May
• Terry Pendleton, National League Most Valuable Player

1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

• Tom Glavine, Pitcher, Starter

Team leaders

• Home runs – Ron Gant (32)
• Runs batted in – Ron Gant (105)
• Batting average – Terry Pendleton (.319)
• Hits – Terry Pendleton (187)
• Stolen bases – Otis Nixon (72)
• Walks – Otis Nixon (71)
• Wins – Tom Glavine (20)
• Earned run average – Juan Berenguer (2.24)
• Strikeouts – Tom Glavine (192)

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Richmond Braves	International League	Phil Niekro
AA	Greenville Braves	Southern League	Chris Chambliss
A	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	Grady Little
A	Macon Braves	South Atlantic League	Roy Majtyka
Rookie	Pulaski Braves	Appalachian League	Randy Ingle
Rookie	GCL Braves	Gulf Coast League	Jim Saul
Rookie	Idaho Falls Braves	Pioneer League	Steve Curry

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Pulaski^[17]

References

“ ”* 1991 Atlanta Braves at Baseball Reference

• Atlanta Braves on Baseball Almanac

See also

• 1991 National League Championship Series
• 1991 World Series