1991 Atlanta Braves season

The 1991 Atlanta Braves season was the 26th in Atlanta and the 121st overall. They became the first team in the National League to go from last place one year to first place the next, doing so after remaining 9.5 games out of first at the All Star break. Coincidentally, the Braves' last-to-first feat was also accomplished by the 1991 Minnesota Twins, the team they would face in the 1991 World Series. The last Major League Baseball team to accomplish this was the 1890 Louisville Colonels of the American Association. The 1991 World Series, which the Braves ultimately lost, has been called the greatest World Series in history by ESPN.

1991 Atlanta Braves
NL Champions
NL West Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record94–68 (.580)
Divisional place1st
Other information
OwnersTed Turner
General managersJohn Schuerholz
ManagersBobby Cox
Local televisionWTBS
TBS Superstation
(Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton)
SportSouth
(Ernie Johnson)
Local radioWSB
(Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Dave O'Brien)
< Previous season     Next season >

Despite finishing last in the National League West in 1990, the Braves managed to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in 1991, clinching the division on the penultimate day of the regular season.[1][2] This was the first of three consecutive division titles won by the Braves.

Offseason

Regular season
  • Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena combined for a no-hitter on September 11, 1991, in a 1–0 shutout win over the San Diego Padres. The 13th no-hitter in franchise history, attendance was 20,477 at Fulton-County Stadium.[10]

Opening Day starters

Season standings
NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Atlanta Braves 9468 0.580 — 48–33 46–35
Los Angeles Dodgers 9369 0.574 1 54–27 39–42
San Diego Padres 8478 0.519 10 42–39 42–39
San Francisco Giants 7587 0.463 19 43–38 32–49
Cincinnati Reds 7488 0.457 20 39–42 35–46
Houston Astros 6597 0.401 29 37–44 28–53

Record vs. opponents
1991 National League record

Sources:
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta —6–611–713–57–115–79–35–79–311–79–99–3
Chicago 6–6—4–89–32–1010–711–68–107–114–86–610–8
Cincinnati 7–118–4—9–96–126–65–79–32–108–1010–84–8
Houston 5–133–99–9—8–102–107–57–54–86–129–95–7
Los Angeles 11–710–212–610–8—5–77–57–57–510–88–106–6
Montreal 7–57–106–610–27–5—4–144–146–126–67–57–11
New York 3–96–117–55–75–714–4—11–76–127–56–67–11
Philadelphia 7-510–83–95–75–714–47–11—6–129–36–66–12
Pittsburgh 3–911–710–28–45–712–612–612–6—7–57–511–7
San Diego 7–118–410–812–68–106–65–73–95–7—11–79–3
San Francisco 9–96–68–109–910–85–76–66–65–77–11—4–8
St. Louis 3–98–108–47–56–611–711–712–67–113–98–4—

Notable transactions

Notable events
  • July 31, 1991: Two-sport star Deion Sanders helps the Atlanta Braves overcome a 6–2 deficit with a three-run homer in the fifth inning in an 8–6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The next day, Sanders reports to the Atlanta Falcons for training camp, as his NFL contract stipulated.
  • September 11, 1991: Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers, and Alejandro Peña combine to no-hit the San Diego Padres, the seventh no-hitter of 1991. Controversy ensues when Tony Gwynn apparently ends the no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning but the official scorer rules it an error on Terry Pendleton.
  • September 16, 1991: Otis Nixon, the league's leading base stealer, fails a drug test and is suspended for 60 days, consisting of the rest of the 1991 baseball season and the first six weeks of the 1992 season. The Braves lose the first two games without Nixon but rebound to win the National League pennant.

Draft picks

Roster
1991 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

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
CGreg Olson1334114699.2416441
1BSid Bream912653267.25311450
2BJeff Treadway1063064198.3203322
3BTerry Pendleton15358694187.319228610
SSRafael Belliard1493533688.2490273
LFLonnie Smith1223535897.2757449
CFRon Gant154561101141.2513210534
RFDavid Justice10939667109.27521878

[18]

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
Otis Nixon12440181119.29702672
Jeff Blauser1293524991.25911545
Brian Hunter972713268.25112500
Mark Lemke1362693663.2342231
Mike Heath49139429.2091120
Deion Sanders541101621.19141311
Tommy Gregg721071320.187142
Francisco Cabrera4495723.2424231
Keith Mitchell48661121.318233
Mike Bell173044.133111
Jerry Willard171413.214140
Danny Heep141245.417030
Vinny Castilla12511.200000
Damon Berryhill1100.000000
Rico Rossy5100.000000

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
Tom Glavine34246.220112.5519269
Charlie Leibrandt36229.215133.4912856
John Smoltz36229.214133.8014877
Steve Avery35210.11883.3813765
Pete Smith1448.0135.062922
Armando Reynoso623.1216.171010

[18]

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
Rick Mahler1328.21105.651612

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
Juan Berenguer4964.103172.245320
Mike Stanton7478.05572.885421
Kent Mercker5073.15362.586235
Marvin Freeman3448.01013.003413
Jim Clancy2434.22335.711714
Randy St. Claire1928.20004.08309
Dan Petry1024.10005.55914
Jeff Parrett1821.11216.331412
Mark Wohlers1719.23123.201313
Alejandro Peña1519.120111.40133
Doug Sisk1414.12105.0258
Tony Castillo78.21107.2785
Mike Bielecki21.20000.0032

National League Championship Series
Main article: 1991 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 000 000 001 151
Pittsburgh 102 001 01X 581
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 000 001 000 180
Pittsburgh 000 000 000 060
W: Steve Avery (1-0)   L: Zane Smith (0-1)   S: Alejandro Peña (1)
HR: ATL – None   PIT – None
Pitchers: ATL – Avery (81⁄3), 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 100 100 100 3102
Atlanta 411 000 13X 10110
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 (61⁄3), Stanton (2/3), Wohlers (1/3), Pena (12⁄3)
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 010 010 0001 3111
Atlanta 200 000 0000 271
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 (62⁄3), 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 000 010 000 162
Atlanta 000 000 000 091
W: Zane Smith (1-1)   L: Tom Glavine (0-2)   S: Roger Mason (1)
HR: PIT – None  ATL – None
Pitchers: PIT – Z. Smith (72⁄3), Mason (11⁄3)  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 000 000 001 170
Pittsburgh 000 000 000 040
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 300 010 000 461
Pittsburgh 000 000 000 060
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 (41⁄3), Mason (2), Belinda (2)
Attendance: 46,932  Time: 3:04

World Series
Main article: 1991 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 000 001 010 261
Minnesota 001 031 00X 591
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 010 010 000 281
Minnesota 200 000 01X 341
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 100 000 120000 4101
Atlanta 010 120 000001 582
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 010 000 100 270
Atlanta 001 000 101 380
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 000 003 011 571
Atlanta 000 410 63X 14171
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 000 020 10000 391
Minnesota 200 010 00001 490
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 000 000 0000 070
Minnesota 000 000 0001 1100
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.[19] It was also the second time in five that the home team won all seven games of a World Series.

Award winners

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 – Tom Glavine (2.55)
  • Strikeouts – Tom Glavine (192)
  • Saves – Juan Berenguer (17)

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
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[20]

References
  1. Martinez, Michael (October 6, 1991). "For the Dodgers, 4 Days Gone Wrong". New York Times. p. S1.
  2. Chass, Murray (October 6, 1991). "Miracle Is Now Official: The Braves Win It!". New York Times. p. S1.
  3. Terry Pendleton at Baseball Reference
  4. Sid Bream at Baseball Reference
  5. Juan Berenguer at Baseball Reference
  6. Jerry Willard at Baseball Reference
  7. Deion Sanders at Baseball Reference
  8. Jim Vatcher at Baseball Reference
  9. Randy St. Claire at Baseball Reference
  10. 100 Things Braves Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die: Revised and Updated, Jack Wilkinson, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2019, ISBN 978-1-62937-694-3, p.172
  11. Otis Nixon at Baseball Reference
  12. Danny Heep at Baseball Reference
  13. Rick Mahler at Baseball Reference
  14. Alejandro Peña at Baseball Reference
  15. Damon Berryhill at Baseball Reference
  16. Mike Kelly at Baseball Reference
  17. Jason Schmidt at Baseball Reference
  18. "1991 Atlanta Braves Statistics".
  19. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.367, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
  20. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997

See also
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