Building an all-Atlanta lineup
There is no single correct all-time lineup. Longevity, peak value, postseason moments and personal memory all lead to different answers. A useful way to start is by narrowing the question to the Atlanta era and then comparing players at the positions they actually played.
Greg Maddux / Tom Glavine / John Smoltz
Choosing one starter almost misses the point. The rotation trio defined the franchise's 1990s identity.
Brian McCann
A homegrown, middle-of-the-order catcher whose first Atlanta stint covered much of the late division-title era.
Freddie Freeman
A franchise cornerstone and 2020 NL MVP who spent more than a decade at first base in Atlanta.
Ozzie Albies
A key member of the modern core and a central figure in the 2021 championship team.
Chipper Jones
The switch-hitting Hall of Famer is one of the easiest selections on an Atlanta-only ballot.
Rafael Furcal / Jeff Blauser
Two very different cases: Furcal's dynamic peak versus Blauser's role across the early dynasty.
Hank Aaron
A franchise legend whose Atlanta years included the culmination of his historic home-run chase.
Andruw Jones
Elite center-field defense and major power made Jones one of the most distinctive players of the run.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
His combination of power and speed created one of the highest offensive peaks of the modern Atlanta era.
Go position by position
For longer candidate lists and fan voting, see these independent position histories: Braves catchers, Braves first basemen, and Braves shortstops.
The fun is in defining your criteria first. Peak performance may produce one lineup; total Atlanta career value may produce another.