1991 Atlanta Braves season explained

Atlanta Braves
Season:	1991
Misc:	National League Champions National League West Champions
League:	National League
Division:	West
Ballpark:	Fulton County Stadium
City:	Atlanta
Record:	94–68 (.580)
Divisional Place:	1st
Owners:	Ted Turner
General Managers:	John Schuerholz
Managers:	Bobby Cox
Television:	WTBS TBS Superstation (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton) SportSouth (Ernie Johnson)
Radio:	WSB (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Dave O'Brien)

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.

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

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

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

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

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.^[11]
• May 6, 1991: Kevin Castleberry (minors) was traded by the Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Danny Heep.^[12]
• June 14, 1991: Rick Mahler was signed as a free agent by the Braves.^[13]
• June 17, 1991: Danny Heep was released by the Braves.^[12]
• August 8, 1991: Rick Mahler was released by the Braves.^[13]
• August 28, 1991: Tony Castillo and a player to be named later was traded by the Braves to the New York Mets for Alejandro Peña. The Braves completed the deal by sending Joe Roa to the Mets on August 29.^[14]
• September 29, 1991: Turk Wendell and Yorkis Pérez were traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Damon Berryhill and Mike Bielecki.^[15]

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

• 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.^[16]
  • Jason Schmidt was drafted by the Braves in the 8th round. Player signed June 14, 1991.^[17]

Roster

1991 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers		CatchersInfielders		Outfielders		ManagerCoaches

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		133	411	46	99	.241	6	44	1
1B		91	265	32	67	.253	11	45	0
2B		106	306	41	98	.320	3	32	2
3B		153	586	94	187	.319	22	86	10
SS		149	353	36	88	.249	0	27	3
LF		122	353	58	97	.275	7	44	9
CF		154	561	101	141	.251	32	105	34
RF		109	396	67	109	.275	21	87	8

^[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
	124	401	81	119	.297	0	26	72
	129	352	49	91	.259	11	54	5
	97	271	32	68	.251	12	50	0
	136	269	36	63	.234	2	23	1
	49	139	4	29	.209	1	12	0
	54	110	16	21	.191	4	13	11
	72	107	13	20	.187	1	4	2
	44	95	7	23	.242	4	23	1
	48	66	11	21	.318	2	3	3
	17	30	4	4	.133	1	1	1
	17	14	1	3	.214	1	4	0
	14	12	4	5	.417	0	3	0
	12	5	1	1	.200	0	0	0
	1	1	0	0	.000	0	0	0
	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
	34	246.2	20	11	2.55	192	69
	36	229.2	15	13	3.49	128	56
	36	229.2	14	13	3.80	148	77
	35	210.1	18	8	3.38	137	65
	14	48.0	1	3	5.06	29	22
	6	23.1	2	1	6.17	10	10

^[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

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
	49	64.1	0	3	17	2.24	53	20
	74	78.0	5	5	7	2.88	54	21
	50	73.1	5	3	6	2.58	62	35
	34	48.0	1	0	1	3.00	34	13
	24	34.2	2	3	3	5.71	17	14
	19	28.2	0	0	0	4.08	30	9
	10	24.1	0	0	0	5.55	9	14
	18	21.1	1	2	1	6.33	14	12
	17	19.2	3	1	2	3.20	13	13
	15	19.1	2	0	11	1.40	13	3
	14	14.1	2	1	0	5.02	5	8
	7	8.2	1	1	0	7.27	8	5
	2	1.2	0	0	0	0.00	3	2

National League Championship Series

See 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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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), 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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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), Stanton (2/3), Wohlers (1/3), Pena (1)
Attendance: 50,905  Time: 3:21

Game 4

October 13: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	10	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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), 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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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), Mason (1)  ATL  - Glavine (8), Pena (1)
Attendance: 51,109  Time: 2:51

Game 6

October 16: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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), Mason (2), Belinda (2)
Attendance: 46,932  Time: 3:04

World Series

See main article: 1991 World Series.

Game 1

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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	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

align=left width=25%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	10	width=5%	11	width=5%	12	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	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

align=left width=28%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	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

align=left width=30%	Team	width=5%	1	width=5%	2	width=5%	3	width=5%	4	width=5%	5	width=5%	6	width=5%	7	width=5%	8	width=5%	9	width=5%	10	width=5%	11	width=5%	R	width=5%	H	width=5%	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

align=left width=22%	Team	width=6%	1	width=6%	2	width=6%	3	width=6%	4	width=6%	5	width=6%	6	width=6%	7	width=6%	8	width=6%	9	width=6%	10	width=6%	R	width=6%	H	width=6%	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.^[19] 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 – Tom Glavine (2.55)
• Strikeouts – Tom Glavine (192)
• Saves – Juan Berenguer (17)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Pulaski^[20]

References

• 1991 Atlanta Braves at Baseball Reference
• Atlanta Braves on Baseball Almanac

See also

• 1991 National League Championship Series
• 1991 World Series

Notes and References

1. News: For the Dodgers, 4 Days Gone Wrong. Michael. Martinez. New York Times. October 6, 1991. S1.
2. News: Miracle Is Now Official: The Braves Win It!. Murray. Chass. New York Times. October 6, 1991. S1. Murray Chass.
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pendlte01.shtml Terry Pendleton
4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/breamsi01.shtml Sid Bream
5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/berenju01.shtml Juan Berenguer
6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willaje01.shtml Jerry Willard
7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sandede02.shtml Deion Sanders
8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vatchji01.shtml Jim Vatcher
9. https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/st.clra01.shtml Randy St. Claire
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. https://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nixonot01.shtml Otis Nixon
12. https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/heepda01.shtml Danny Heep
13. https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mahleri01.shtml Rick Mahler
14. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/penaal01.shtml Alejandro Peña
15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/berryda01.shtml Damon Berryhill
16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kellymi02.shtml Mike Kelly
17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/schmija01.shtml Jason Schmidt
18. Web site: 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,
20. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997