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 to get the first place in 1991, clinching the division on the penultimate day of the regular season. 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.Terry Pendleton at Baseball Reference December 5, 1990: Sid Bream was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Sid Bream at Baseball Reference December 7, 1990: Juan Berenguer was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Juan Berenguer at Baseball Reference January 19, 1991: Jerry Willard was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Jerry Willard at Baseball Reference January 30, 1991: Deion Sanders was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Deion Sanders at Baseball Reference February 8, 1991: Jim Vatcher was selected off waivers from the Braves by the San Diego Padres.Jim Vatcher at Baseball Reference March 9, 1991: Randy St. Claire was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Randy St. Claire at Baseball Reference
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.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
Opening Day starters Rafael Belliard Sid Bream Ron Gant Mike Heath David Justice Terry Pendleton Deion Sanders John Smoltz Jeff Treadway
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
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.Otis Nixon at Baseball Reference May 6, 1991: Kevin Castleberry (minors) was traded by the Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Danny Heep.Danny Heep at Baseball Reference June 14, 1991: Rick Mahler was signed as a free agent by the Braves.Rick Mahler at Baseball Reference June 17, 1991: Danny Heep was released by the Braves. August 8, 1991: Rick Mahler was released by the Braves. 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.Alejandro Peña at Baseball Reference September 29, 1991: Turk Wendell and Yorkis Pérez were traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Damon Berryhill and Mike Bielecki.Damon Berryhill at Baseball Reference
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.Mike Kelly at Baseball Reference Jason Schmidt was drafted by the Braves in the 8th round. Player signed June 14, 1991.Jason Schmidt at Baseball Reference
Roster 1991 Atlanta Braves Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Player stats = Indicates team leader = Indicates league leader Batting
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
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 20 112.55 192 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 13765 14 48.0 1 3 5.06 29 22 6 23.1 2 1 6.17 10 10
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 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 49 64.1 0 3 17 2.24 5320 74 78.0 5 5 7 2.88 5421 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
Avery's successful 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 Team123456789RHEAtlanta000000001151Pittsburgh10200101X581W: 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 Team123456789RHEAtlanta000001000180Pittsburgh000000000060W: Steve Avery (1-0) L: Zane Smith (0-1) S: Alejandro Peña (1)HR: ATL – None PIT – NonePitchers: 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 Team123456789RHEPittsburgh1001001003102Atlanta41100013X10110W: 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 Team12345678910RHEPittsburgh01001000013111Atlanta2000000000271W: Stan Belinda (1-0) L: Kent Mercker (0-1) S: NoneHR: PIT – None ATL – NonePitchers: 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 Team123456789RHEPittsburgh000010000162Atlanta000000000091W: Zane Smith (1-1) L: Tom Glavine (0-2) S: Roger Mason (1)HR: PIT – None ATL – NonePitchers: 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 Team123456789RHEAtlanta000000001170Pittsburgh000000000040W: Steve Avery (2-0) L: Doug Drabek (1-1) S: Alejandro Peña (3)HR: ATL – None PIT – NonePitchers: ATL – Avery (8), Pena (1) PIT – Drabek (9)Attendance: 54,508 Time: 3:09
Game 7 October 17: Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Team123456789RHEAtlanta300010000461Pittsburgh000000000060W: John Smoltz (2-0) L: John Smiley (0-2) S: NoneHR: ATL – Brian Hunter (1) PIT – NonePitchers: ATL – Smoltz (9) PIT – Smiley (2/3), Walk (4), 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
Team123456789RHEAtlanta000001010261Minnesota00103100X591W: 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
Team123456789RHEAtlanta010010000281Minnesota20000001X341W: 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
Team123456789101112RHEMinnesota1000001200004101Atlanta010120000001582W: 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
Team123456789RHEMinnesota010000100270Atlanta001000101380W: 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
Team123456789RHEMinnesota000003011571Atlanta00041063X14171W: 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
Team1234567891011RHEAtlanta00002010000391Minnesota20001000001490W: 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
Team12345678910RHEAtlanta0000000000070Minnesota00000000011100W: 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.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.367, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, 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