From Milwaukee to Atlanta
The Braves arrived in Atlanta for the 1966 season, bringing major-league baseball to a growing Southern city. The early Atlanta years featured one of baseball's defining stars in Hank Aaron, whose home-run chase reached its historic peak in 1974.
For much of the 1970s and 1980s, sustained contention was harder to find. There were bright spots, including the 1982 division-winning club, but the franchise's modern identity was transformed by what happened at the start of the next decade.
The 1991 turning point
Atlanta lost 97 games in 1990. One year later, the Braves won the National League West and reached the World Series. The 1991 team established a template that would define the club for years: elite starting pitching, strong player development, a deep everyday lineup and a relentless ability to survive a long season.
The Braves returned to the World Series in 1992, won it in 1995, and kept collecting division titles through 2005. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz became the most recognizable pitching trio of the era, while Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and a long list of homegrown or expertly acquired players extended the run.
A second championship era
Atlanta returned to the postseason as a division winner in 2018 and soon developed another recognizable core. The breakthrough came in 2021, when the Braves overcame major injuries and an uneven first half, rebuilt the outfield at the trade deadline, and went on to win the World Series.
Where to go next
For the defining dynasty, read the 1991–2005 division-title run. For October, continue to Atlanta's World Series history. If you want the records and finishes themselves, the season results guide points to a detailed year-by-year standings archive.