1990 Atlanta Braves Roster: The Team That Set Up a New Era of Baseball in Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta, you probably hear a lot about the 1991 Worst-to-First Braves and the glory years at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and later at Turner Field. But the 1990 Atlanta Braves roster is where that transformation really started.

For Braves fans in Metro Atlanta today—whether you’re watching games at Truist Park, visiting the Atlanta Braves Museum & Hall of Fame at The Battery, or just reliving memories—the 1990 roster is a great snapshot of the team right before it became a dynasty.

Below is a clear guide to who played for the Braves in 1990, how the roster was built, and how you can connect with that era today in Atlanta.

Overview of the 1990 Atlanta Braves

The 1990 season was the final year before the Braves’ breakout in 1991. The team still struggled in the standings, but several core pieces of the future powerhouse were already on the roster or coming through the system.

If you’re in Atlanta and want to understand how the Braves turned into the dominant team of the 1990s, this roster is a key starting point. You’ll see:

• Veterans who soon moved on
• Young players who became Atlanta icons
• A pitching staff that started laying the foundation for the future

All home games in 1990 were played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, just south of downtown, where the old parking lots and plaques still mark the area near what is now Center Parc Stadium.

1990 Atlanta Braves Roster: Key Names at a Glance

Below is a helpful quick-look table of some of the most notable players from the 1990 Braves, grouped by role. This isn’t every single player who appeared that season, but it covers the main contributors and names most Atlanta fans recognize.

The full roster included more pitchers, bench bats, and midseason call-ups, but these names form the core memory of 1990 baseball in Atlanta.

Full 1990 Atlanta Braves Roster Breakdown

Pitchers

Primary starting pitchers who logged significant innings for Atlanta in 1990 included:

• Tom Glavine – Left-handed starter and future Hall of Famer; by 1990 he was becoming the ace Atlanta fans still talk about today.
• John Smoltz – Hard-throwing right-hander, another future Hall of Famer; in 1990 he was still refining his command.
• Charlie Leibrandt – Veteran lefty brought in to stabilize the rotation.
• Derek Lilliquist – Young pitcher who spent time both starting and relieving.
• Pete Smith – Right-hander who moved between starting and bullpen work.

Key relievers and bullpen arms often seen late in games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in 1990:

• Joe Boever – Sidearming right-hander who served as closer for much of the year.
• Juan Berenguer – Power arm with late-inning experience.
• Paul Assenmacher – Left-handed reliever, important matchup pitcher.
• Kent Mercker – Young lefty who would become a bigger piece of later Braves teams.
• Marvin Freeman – Right-handed reliever with a notable presence on the mound.
• Cecil Upshaw did not pitch for the 1990 Braves (often confused with earlier-era Braves relievers), so he’s not part of this roster.

There were also other spot starters and relievers who moved between Atlanta and the minors, reflecting a team still trying to find consistency on the mound.

Catchers

The Braves’ catching group in 1990 helped guide a very young pitching staff:

• Greg Olson – The primary catcher and an All-Star in 1990. If you look at early-90s Braves memorabilia shops around Atlanta, you’ll still see his name pop up.
• Ozzie Virgil, Jr. – Veteran backup catcher with experience at multiple positions.
• Jody Davis – Spent limited time with the Braves as a backup catcher during the season.

Infielders

For Atlanta fans rewatching old broadcasts, the infield from 1990 looks like a mix of transition players and up-and-coming fixtures.

First Base

• Gerald Perry – Veteran first baseman and main starter for much of the season.
• Francisco Cabrera – Reserve first baseman and catcher; he later delivered one of the most famous hits in Braves history in 1992, making his 1990 presence notable to long-time fans.

Second Base

• Jeff Treadway – Everyday second baseman, scrappy player beloved by many local fans at the time.

Shortstop

• Jeff Blauser – Emerging shortstop who would become a central piece of the Braves’ playoff teams later in the decade.

Third Base
The Braves cycled through several options at third base in 1990:

• Jim Presley – Veteran corner infielder who handled third for a significant portion of the year.
• Ozzie Virgil, Jr. – Occasionally filled in at third as part of his utility role.
• Other infielders moved through as the team experimented with the lineup.

Utility / Infield Depth

• Mark Lemke – Early in his Braves career, used mainly as a utility infielder in 1990. Later, he became famous in Atlanta for his clutch postseason performances.
• Additional depth pieces moved between the Braves and their minor league affiliates in Richmond and Greenville.

Outfielders

The 1990 outfield is especially meaningful in Atlanta, because it includes both the end of one era and the beginning of another.

• Dale Murphy – The face of the Braves throughout the 1980s. 1990 was his final season with Atlanta before being traded. Many long-time Atlanta residents remember seeing Murphy in center field at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and still consider him one of the city’s iconic sports figures.
• Ron Gant – Power-speed outfielder who became one of the Braves’ big offensive weapons. In 1990 he was already showing the tools that made him a star.
• David Justice – Young slugger who played a big role in 1990 and blossomed into one of the team’s main power hitters in the early 1990s.
• Otis Nixon (late 1990 and into 1991) is often associated with this time period for his speed and defense, though his most notable seasons with Atlanta came shortly after.
• Lonnie Smith – Veteran outfielder whose impact is more strongly associated with the 1991–1992 teams, but he appears in the conversation when fans talk about this transition window.

How the 1990 Roster Set Up the Braves’ 1990s Success

If you live in Atlanta now and hear older fans talk about how “it all changed around 1991,” this 1990 team is the bridge.

What was happening in 1990 that matters today?

• Young arms were learning on the job. Tom Glavine and John Smoltz were still inconsistent, but they gained experience in front of Atlanta crowds that paid off in playoff runs later.
• The lineup began to add real power. David Justice and Ron Gant gave the Braves a middle-of-the-order punch that Atlanta fans hadn’t consistently seen in years.
• The infield core was forming. Players like Jeff Blauser and Mark Lemke were working into regular roles that later became vital in the postseason.
• The franchise identity was shifting. Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium crowds were smaller in 1990 than in the 1991–1992 playoff years, but fans who attended those games often describe it as watching the “before picture” of a team about to explode into relevance.

When you sit at Truist Park today and see retired numbers, Hall of Fame plaques, and throwback jersey nights, many of those stories trace back through this 1990 roster.

Connecting with the 1990 Braves Era in Atlanta Today

If you’re in Atlanta and want to dig deeper into the 1990 Braves roster and history, there are several local ways to do it:

1. Visit The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park

While Truist Park opened long after 1990, it’s now the central hub for Braves history and storytelling. You can:

• Explore the Monument Garden inside Truist Park, which includes displays honoring Braves legends such as Glavine, Smoltz, Murphy, and others who were active around 1990.
• Look for throwback merchandise from the late 1980s and early 1990s at shops in The Battery Atlanta. Jerseys and hats with those older designs often reference players from the 1990 roster.

Location:
Truist Park & The Battery Atlanta
755 Battery Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

2. Check Out the Site of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

The 1990 Braves played their home games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which no longer stands, but the site is still marked.

Near what is now Center Parc Stadium (former Turner Field), you can find:

• The infield outline and home-plate marker from Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
• Plaques and markers that reference historic moments, some of which involve players active in 1990

Area: Around
755 Hank Aaron Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30315

This is a good stop for fans who want a feel for what attending a 1990 Braves game in Atlanta was like—especially long-time residents who remember the old ballpark.

3. Local Libraries and Archives

If you want details like game-by-game box scores, old photos, or newspaper articles about the 1990 roster, Atlanta offers several helpful resources:

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System – Central Library
  1 Margaret Mitchell Square
  Atlanta, GA 30303

  Here you may find archived local newspapers that covered the Braves daily, including stories about roster moves, call-ups, and midseason trades.

• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (Macon, GA) – While not in Atlanta proper, it’s a reasonable drive for serious fans and often includes displays related to Braves legends from this era.

4. Local Memorabilia and Card Shops

Around Metro Atlanta, many sports card and memorabilia shops still carry:

• 1990 Braves baseball cards
• Team sets and media guides from that season
• Autographed items from players like Glavine, Smoltz, Gant, Justice, and Murphy

For a fan trying to build a “1990 Braves roster” card collection, these shops can be a practical starting point.

Tips for Atlanta Fans Researching the 1990 Roster

If you’re trying to piece together the 1990 Braves roster in detail—from every September call-up to every midseason move—these approaches work well from Atlanta:

• 📺 Revisit classic broadcasts: Some cable sports channels and specialty streaming services show old Braves games from the late 1980s and early 1990s, including 1990 matchups.
• 📚 Use local newspaper archives: Searching sports sections from 1990 in Atlanta-area papers gives a clear picture of the roster at any specific date.
• 🧢 Look for team yearbooks/media guides: These were often sold at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and occasionally surface in Atlanta thrift stores, card shows, and estate sales. They include full rosters, stats, and coaching staff details.

The 1990 Atlanta Braves roster captures a unique moment in Atlanta sports history: a team still losing more than it won, but quietly building the core that would soon turn the Braves into one of the defining franchises of the 1990s.

If you’re an Atlanta resident, a visitor exploring baseball history, or a fan rediscovering the team’s roots, knowing who suited up for the Braves in 1990 adds a lot of context to what you see today at Truist Park and around the city.