Atlanta Braves - The Reagan Years (1980-1989)
 
   
 

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        Yr P W L   Yr P W L   Yr P W L               1980  
        1980 4 81 80   1983 2 88 74   1987 5 69 92               Decade  
        1981 x 50 56   1984 3 80 82   1988 6 54 106               Click  
        1982 1 89 73   1985 5 66 96   1989 6 63 97               on Logo  
                  1986 6 72 89                            
                                                       
   
  Titles:  Top Braves Players of the Eighties  
  1982 - NL West Champs (Lost to St. Louis in NLCS)  
    Pitchers:  
  BallPark: Rick Mahler (17.16) -   55  
  Atlanta Fulton County Stadium  Phil Niekro (10.69) -   34  
    Rick Camp (11.94) -   31  
  Team Name: Gene Garber (7.43) -   25  
  Braves    Zane Smith (7.21) -   23  
    Pascual Perez (6.35) -   19  
  Owner:  Steve Bedrosian (10.51) -   18  
  Ted Turner Tom Glavine (1.3) -   16  
    Craig McMurtry (4.96) -   15  
  General Managers: Doyle Alexander (4.58) -   13  
  John Mullen (1980-1985)    
  Bobby Cox (1986-1989) Catchers:  
    Bruce Benedict (7.69) -   38  
  Managers: Ozzie Virgil (4.96) -   22  
  Bobby Cox (1980-1981)    
  Joe Torre (1982-1984) First Basemen:  
  Eddie Haas (1985) Chris Chambliss (8.1) -   37  
  Bobby Wine (1985) Gerald Perry (1.31) -   21  
  Chuck Tanner (1986-1988)    
  Russ Nixon (1989) Second Basemen:  
    Glenn Hubbard (18.49) -   45  
  Hall of Famers:    
  Tom Glavine ShortStop:  
  Phil Niekro   Rafael Ramirez (7.17) -   36  
    Andres Thomas (3.9) -   13  
    MVP:     
  Dale Murphy (1982-1983) Third Base:  
    Bob Horner (17.03) -   51  
  Rookie of the Year:  Ken Oberkfell (5.5) -   15  
  None Graig Nettles (0.09) -   0  
       
  Cy Young Outfield:  
  None Dale Murphy (47.12) -   115  
    Claudell Washington (4.69) -   37  
  No Hitters: Lonnie Smith (9.37) -   15  
  None Dion James (3.15) -   12  
    Brett Butler (2.54) -   11  
  Notable Events:    
  Notable Events:  
  1980 - Atlanta comes into the Eighties floundering. However, they've got     
  two big stars on the horizon. Twenty two year old third baseman Bob Horner 1986 - Bobby Cox takes over as GM and begins the  Braves on  
    and twenty four year old centerfielder Dale Murphy both of whom are  the road to their dynasty in the Nineties and beyond. Cox is not   
    power hitting studs. Things are looking up initially in the Eighties. given enough credit for the role he played in acquiring the talent  
  Some other keepers on the '80 roster moving forward:  that laid the foundation for the dynasty when he was Braves GM.  
  □  C - Bruce Benedict, 24 - 5th round pick '76 draft  
  □  2B - Glenn Hubbard, 22 - 20th round pick '75 draft 1986 - The man Cox replaced, John Mullen, should also be given   
  □  SS - Rafael Ramirez, 22 - IFA '76 a little credit in the building of the 90's dynasty as he got the   
  □  RHP - Rick Camp, 27 - 7th round pick '74 draft ball rolling with some nice drafting just before departing,   
  □  RHP - Gene Garber, 32 - acquired from Phillies for Dick Ruthven '78 picking up Jeff Blauser, Ron Gant and Tom Glavine  
  □  RHP - Rick Mahler, 26 -  amateur FA '75  
  1987 - Bob Horner leaves the club as a free agent. He winds up in   
  1981 - The strike mercifully ends a season where Atlanta is going nowhere. Japan as major league owners illegally collude in an attempt to drive  
  down salaries. Horner followed the money for one year, disappointed  
  1982 - Joe Torre takes over as manager. The Braves win their  the Japanese when he only hit thirty one home runs there, returned to  
  first twelve games on their way to winning the Division title. They get the US with the Cardinals, hurt his shoulder, and retired at the age of 30.  
  swept by the Cardinals in the NLCS. Dale Murphy is MVP  
  1987 - GM Cox trades Doyle Alexander to the Tigers for youngster and   
  1983 - Atlanta has their only other competitive season of the future Hall of Famer RHP John Smoltz in a monumental steal of a deal  
  decade, finishing a close second to LA. Dale Murphy is again MVP.  
  1987 - SS Jeff Blauser. 21, is a rookie he was a 1st round pick (5th overall) in '84   
  1983 - A negative note to the season is that Bob Horner breaks his wrist  
  after a typically massive start. He misses the rest of the season. The Braves 1987 - OF Ron Gant, 22,  is a rookie. He was a 3rd round pick in '83  
  only finished three games out of first and you would think that Horner's  
  presence would have made up the difference plus some 1987 - LHP Tom Glavine, 21, is a rookie. He was a 2nd round pick in '84 draft  
   
  1984 - Bob Horner breaks the same wrist early in the season and misses 1987 - Catcher Javier Lopez is signed as a 17 year old amateur FA  
  the remainder of the year With a decline in Atlanta's starting pitching   
  exacerbating Horner's loss, the Braves drop to under .500 where they  1988 - LHP Steve Avery is selected in first round (3rd overall) of the amateur draft  
  stay for the rest of the decade. Meanwhile Horner, while still an     
  excellent player, is no longer the mega-stud he was prior to his injuries. 1988 - Reliever Mark Wohlers is selected in eighth round of amateur draft  
       
  1986 - Bob Horner slugs four homers in a game  1989 -OF  David Justice, 23,  is a rookie. He was a 4th round pick in the '85 draft  
     
    1989 - OF Ryan Klesko is selected in fifth round of amateur draft  
     
    1989 - As the decade ends, the Braves are a doormat, but they have  
    a stable of bright young prospects in the wings.