If you live in Atlanta, visit regularly, or are just getting into local sports history, understanding when the Atlanta Braves were founded can be a little confusing. The team has deep roots that go back long before it ever played a game in Georgia.
Here’s the key answer up front:
Both dates are important, especially if you’re trying to put the team in context as part of Atlanta’s identity and history.
The Braves are often described as one of the oldest continuously operating franchises in professional baseball.
Over the decades, the team went through several name changes and relocations:
This long history is why, when you hear broadcasters or historians talk about the Braves’ legacy, they reach all the way back to the 19th century, even though Atlanta didn’t get the team until much later.
For Atlanta residents and visitors, the more practical question is: When did the Braves actually come to Atlanta?
In 1966, the franchise moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta, making it the first Major League Baseball team to play in the Deep South. This move is a major milestone not only for local sports but for the wider history of professional baseball in the region.
From that point on, the team has been known as the Atlanta Braves, and has become one of the city’s most recognizable institutions.
Here’s a simple summary to keep the key dates straight:
| Year | City | Team Identity | Why It Matters to Atlanta Fans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1871 | Boston | Boston Red Stockings (franchise start) | Official founding of the franchise that became the Braves |
| 1912 | Boston | Boston Braves | “Braves” name takes hold |
| 1953 | Milwaukee | Milwaukee Braves | Franchise relocates for the first time |
| 1966 | Atlanta | Atlanta Braves | Team arrives in Atlanta and begins playing here |
If you’re talking about MLB franchise history, 1871 is the founding year.
If you’re talking about Atlanta sports history, 1966 is the key date.
For people in Atlanta, the Braves are tied closely to the city’s identity:
Understanding that the franchise predates Atlanta by nearly a century helps explain why:
If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect this history to something you can actually visit, the home of the Braves is:
Truist Park
755 Battery Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
The ballpark is in the Cumberland area, just outside the city limits but very much part of the greater Atlanta experience. The surrounding development, The Battery Atlanta, has restaurants, shops, and entertainment that stay busy even when there’s no game.
While Truist Park is a modern stadium, the team’s branding and in-park displays often highlight the long franchise history, including:
If you go to a game, these references help you see how the 1871 founding connects to the team you’re cheering for today.
If you’re trying to sound accurate and informed in a local conversation or with out-of-town visitors, here’s how to phrase it clearly:
For general history buffs:
“The Braves franchise was founded in 1871 in Boston, but they’ve been the Atlanta Braves since 1966.”
For an Atlanta-focused answer:
“Atlanta has had the Braves since 1966—that’s when the team moved here and became the Atlanta Braves.”
Both statements are correct; the best choice depends on whether you’re focusing on baseball history overall or Atlanta’s sports history specifically.
The Braves are often described as one of the oldest continuously active franchises in MLB because their history goes back to 1871. Some other teams also trace their roots far back, but the Braves are consistently mentioned among the earliest.
For an Atlanta fan, this simply means your local team carries more than 150 years of baseball tradition, even though only part of that time has been in Georgia.
If you compare the franchise’s time in each city:
At this point, Atlanta has been the team’s home longer than Milwaukee but shorter than Boston, though the Atlanta era now includes many of the team’s most memorable playoff runs and championships.
Yes. Since the team arrived in Atlanta in 1966, it has been known as the Atlanta Braves. Earlier versions of the franchise used different names, but the “Braves” identity has been in place for more than a century overall.
Knowing when the Braves were founded can deepen how you experience the team in Atlanta:
So if you’re in Atlanta, you can think of the founding in two layers:
