1986 Atlanta Braves season
Encyclopedia
The 1986 season
was the 116th in franchise history and their 21st in Atlanta.
, 6-0 in their season opener but were 7-12 at the end of April, 6 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won 17 of their first 25 games in the month of May, improving their record to 24-20 May 27. They were tied for second and were 1 1/2 games out of first.
On June 24 the Braves dropped into fourth place with a 34-36 record. They were in fourth place, 4 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won seven of their next eight games to surge back into contention on July 3. Atlanta was 41-37 and in third place, 1 1/2 games out of first. The Braves promptly lost 20 of their next 25 games and fell into the cellar, 46-57, 12 1/2 games out of first. After a 12-5 run put them within 10 1/2 games of the lead, the Braves fizzled and faded down the stretch, losing their last five games to finish in last place with a 72-89 record, 23 1/2 games out of first.
1986 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Mets over Boston Red Sox ; Ray Knight, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marty Barrett*National League Championship Series MVP: Mike Scott...
was the 116th in franchise history and their 21st in Atlanta.
Offseason
- November 13, 1985: Randy JohnsonRandy Johnson (third baseman)Randall Glenn Johnson is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Atlanta Braves. He also played two seasons in Japan, and , for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp...
was released by the Braves. - December 6, 1985: Miguel Sosa (minors) was traded by the Braves to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Billy SampleBilly SampleWilliam Amos Sample , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1978-1986. Sample played for the Texas Rangers , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves ....
. - March 5, 1986: Rick CeroneRick CeroneRichard Aldo Cerone from Seton Hall University is a former Major League Baseball player from 1975 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos...
, David Clay (minors), and Flavio Alfaro (minors) were traded by the Braves to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Ted SimmonsTed SimmonsTed Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
.
Regular season
The Braves shutout Montreal ExposWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, 6-0 in their season opener but were 7-12 at the end of April, 6 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won 17 of their first 25 games in the month of May, improving their record to 24-20 May 27. They were tied for second and were 1 1/2 games out of first.
On June 24 the Braves dropped into fourth place with a 34-36 record. They were in fourth place, 4 1/2 games out of first. Atlanta won seven of their next eight games to surge back into contention on July 3. Atlanta was 41-37 and in third place, 1 1/2 games out of first. The Braves promptly lost 20 of their next 25 games and fell into the cellar, 46-57, 12 1/2 games out of first. After a 12-5 run put them within 10 1/2 games of the lead, the Braves fizzled and faded down the stretch, losing their last five games to finish in last place with a 72-89 record, 23 1/2 games out of first.
- July 6, 1986: In an 11-8 loss to the Montreal ExposWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Bob Horner hit four home runs in one game. Horner became the second player in the 20th Century (Gil HodgesGil HodgesGilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
was the first in 1950) to hit four home runs in one game in his home park. He became the first player since Ed Delahanty to hit four home runs in a losing game.
Notable transactions
- April 1, 1986: Pascual PérezPascual Pérez (baseball)Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees....
was released by the Braves. - June 2, 1986: Ben McDonaldBen McDonaldLarry Benard McDonald is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:McDonald prepped at Denham Springs High School, which is about 10 minutes east of Baton Rouge, and was both a basketball and baseball standout.-College:A collegiate star at Louisiana State University in both basketball...
was drafted by the Braves in the 27th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft1986 Major League Baseball DraftThe 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
, but did not sign. - June 30, 1986: Claudell WashingtonClaudell WashingtonClaudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...
and Paul ZuvellaPaul ZuvellaPaul Zuvella is a former Major League Baseball player and minor league baseball manager. Primarily a shortstop and second baseman, he stood 6'0" tall, weighed 178 pounds, and batted and threw right-handed.-Atlanta Braves:...
were traded by the Braves to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Ken Griffey, Sr.Ken Griffey, Sr.George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He currently serves as Manager for the Bakersfield Blaze, the Reds' Single A minor league affiliate. He is the father of former professional outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. and former minor leaguer Craig Griffey. He and his...
and Andre RobertsonAndre RobertsonAndre Levett Robertson is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. He played during five seasons at the major league level for the New York Yankees. He was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 4th round of the amateur draft...
. - July 6, 1986: Duane WardDuane WardRoy Duane Ward was a Major League Baseball reliever during the late 1980s and early 1990s.Ward went to school and made his early athletic mark in Farmington, New Mexico, a small oil and gas city, and one known for its amateur baseball programs...
was traded by the Braves to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for Doyle AlexanderDoyle AlexanderDoyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...
.
Roster
| 1986 Atlanta Braves | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 114 | 359 | 80 | .223 | 15 | 48 | |
| 1B | 141 | 517 | 141 | .273 | 27 | 87 | |
| 2B | 143 | 408 | 94 | .230 | 4 | 36 | |
| 3B | 151 | 503 | 136 | .270 | 5 | 48 | |
| SS | 102 | 323 | 81 | .251 | 6 | 32 | |
| LF | 80 | 292 | 90 | .308 | 12 | 32 | |
| CF | 160 | 614 | 163 | .265 | 29 | 83 | |
| RF | 118 | 359 | 84 | .234 | 4 | 27 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 200 | 57 | .285 | 6 | 14 | |
| 40 | 137 | 37 | .270 | 5 | 14 | |
| 76 | 127 | 32 | .252 | 4 | 25 | |
| 7 | 8 | 2 | .250 | 0 | 0 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 209.2 | 11 | 10 | 3.65 | 170 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|