The 1995 Atlanta Braves Lineup: A Guide for Atlanta Fans and Visitors
If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or just love Braves baseball, the 1995 Atlanta Braves lineup is part of the city’s sports DNA. That team brought Atlanta its first modern World Series championship, and many locals still measure today’s lineups against those ’95 Braves.
This guide walks through the everyday lineup, the pitching rotation, and how you can still connect with that legendary team today at Truist Park and around metro Atlanta.
Why the 1995 Braves Lineup Still Matters in Atlanta
For Atlanta sports fans, 1995 is a milestone year:
- The Braves won the World Series over the Cleveland Indians.
- The team helped cement Atlanta’s identity as a baseball town, even as the city was preparing to host the 1996 Olympics.
- Many fans in Atlanta still wear Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, Chipper, and Justice jerseys to games at Truist Park.
If you’re new to Atlanta or just getting into Braves history, understanding the 1995 lineup gives you a quick shortcut into local sports culture. People in Atlanta still talk about where they were for Game 6 at old Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which once stood downtown where you now find parking lots and memorial markers near what is today Center Parc Stadium.
Everyday 1995 Braves Starting Lineup
Here is the typical starting lineup Braves fans in Atlanta saw during the 1995 regular season and postseason, especially against right-handed pitching.
Position Players: Who Started Where
Typical batting order and positions (1995 Braves):
| Batting Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marquis Grissom | CF – Center Field |
| 2 | Mark Lemke | 2B – Second Base |
| 3 | Chipper Jones | 3B – Third Base |
| 4 | Fred McGriff | 1B – First Base |
| 5 | David Justice | RF – Right Field |
| 6 | Ryan Klesko | LF – Left Field |
| 7 | Javier López | C – Catcher |
| 8 | Jeff Blauser | SS – Shortstop |
| 9 | Pitcher’s Spot | SP – Starting Pitcher |
This order shifted at times, but for many Atlanta fans, this is the lineup they remember from that championship run.
Key Position Players and Their Roles
If you’re at Truist Park today and see old jerseys or retired numbers, these are the names you’ll hear the most when people talk about 1995.
1. Marquis Grissom – Center Field, Leadoff
- Role in lineup: Classic leadoff hitter, bringing speed and defense.
- Why Atlanta remembers him: Grissom grew up not far from Atlanta (from Georgia), which made him a local favorite.
- Big moment: Caught the final out of the 1995 World Series in center field, a play replayed often on Atlanta broadcasts and in stadium videos.
2. Mark Lemke – Second Base
- Role: Contact hitter, solid defender, and a fan favorite for his scrappy style.
- Atlanta connection: Lemke’s postseason performances in the early ’90s made him a household name across metro Atlanta, long before 1995.
3. Chipper Jones – Third Base
- Role:Rookie third baseman in 1995 but already a core middle-of-the-order bat.
- Why he’s huge in Atlanta: Chipper went on to become a franchise icon, and his number 10 is retired by the Braves.
- At Truist Park in Cumberland, you’ll see Chipper’s name highlighted in the Monument Garden area along the concourse.
4. Fred McGriff – First Base
- Role: Power-hitting first baseman, the cleanup hitter.
- Known as the “Crime Dog,” he gave the lineup stability and power in the middle. Atlanta fans still talk about his smooth swing and clutch hits.
5. David Justice – Right Field
- Role: Left-handed power bat and run producer.
- Local memory: Justice hit the only run in the 1–0 Game 6 clincher of the World Series, a home run that Braves fans in Atlanta still talk about almost 30 years later.
6. Ryan Klesko – Left Field
- Role: Another strong left-handed power hitter.
- Frequently part of the heart of the order; his homers were a common feature at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium.
7. Javier López – Catcher
- Role: Starting catcher with power at the plate.
- Why he mattered: He handled the legendary Braves pitching staff while also providing extra offense from the catcher position.
8. Jeff Blauser – Shortstop
- Role: Starting shortstop with on-base skills and decent pop.
- Long-time Brave who bridged multiple playoff runs for Atlanta.
The 1995 Braves Pitching Rotation: Atlanta’s Big Advantage
Around Atlanta, when people talk about Braves history, they almost always start with pitching. In 1995, the Braves’ rotation was one of the most respected in baseball.
Core Starting Rotation
- Greg Maddux – Right-handed ace, known for command and efficiency.
- Tom Glavine – Left-handed ace, winning pitcher in Game 6 of the World Series.
- John Smoltz – Power right-hander, big-game performer.
- Steve Avery – Left-handed starter who had been a star in earlier playoff runs.
- Kent Mercker – Worked as both starter and reliever.
On any given homestand in Atlanta in 1995, fans could watch at least one future Hall of Famer on the mound—Maddux, Glavine, or Smoltz.
Bullpen and Key Relievers
- Mark Wohlers – Closer, bringing upper-90s heat in that era.
- Greg McMichael – Reliable reliever and setup man.
- Other relievers rotated through, but Wohlers slamming the door at home in Atlanta was a familiar sight to fans that season.
The 1995 Braves Lineup in the World Series
In the 1995 World Series vs. Cleveland, the Braves used a similar core lineup with some strategic adjustments.
Common World Series alignment in Atlanta and Cleveland:
- CF: Marquis Grissom
- 2B: Mark Lemke
- 3B: Chipper Jones
- 1B: Fred McGriff
- RF: David Justice
- LF: Ryan Klesko or Mike Devereaux (occasional starts)
- C: Javier López
- SS: Jeff Blauser or Rafael Belliard (defense-first option)
- DH (in Cleveland only): Used extra hitters like Klesko or others when the designated hitter was allowed.
In Atlanta games (National League rules at the time), the pitcher batted, keeping that traditional NL style many local fans still miss.
How to Experience 1995 Braves History in Today’s Atlanta
If the 1995 lineup interests you, there are several ways to connect with that era while you’re in or around Atlanta.
1. Visit Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta
Location: 755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 (Cumberland area, Cobb County)
At Truist Park, the Braves’ current home, you can:
- Walk through Monument Garden, where you’ll see:
- Displays featuring Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and other Braves legends.
- Historical artifacts, photos, and references to the 1995 World Series title.
- Look for retired numbers and plaques tied to players from the 1995 team.
- Visit the team store at the Battery Atlanta to find throwback jerseys and hats with names from the ’95 lineup.
Even on non-game days, the Battery area is usually open to walk around, and it often features Braves history visually on banners and murals.
2. Braves Hall of Fame and Team Displays
Inside Truist Park, the Braves maintain exhibits focused on the club’s history, frequently highlighting:
- The 1991–1995 playoff runs
- The 1995 World Series trophy and team photos
- Memorabilia from players like Justice, McGriff, López, and Grissom
If you’re planning a visit, you can look into ballpark tours (often offered most of the year) that walk you through sections dedicated to 1990s Braves teams.
3. Where the Old Stadium Stood
Before Truist Park, the Braves played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (through 1996) and then Turner Field.
- The site of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium is near 755 Hank Aaron Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30315, close to what is now Center Parc Stadium.
- In that area, there’s:
- A preserved portion of the outfield wall and markers, including where Hank Aaron’s 715th home run landed.
- Ground markings showing where the old stadium once stood, the same field where the 1995 Braves clinched the World Series at home.
For a fan of the 1995 lineup, walking that area gives a real sense of where the team actually played during that season.
Watching and Talking 1995 Braves Around Atlanta Today
If you want to deepen your knowledge of that lineup and blend in with local Braves conversations, a few simple steps can help:
- Rewatch classic games: When local sports channels replay the 1995 World Series, you’ll see the full lineup in action, including the Game 6 pitching gem by Tom Glavine and David Justice’s home run.
- Local sports radio: Atlanta sports radio stations often bring up the ’95 Braves during:
- Pre-game and post-game Braves shows
- Anniversary dates for key games
- Hall of Fame inductions and number retirements
- At the ballpark: During games at Truist Park, look for:
- Video montages between innings featuring Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper, and others from 1995.
- Fans in throwback jerseys with names like Justice, Grissom, McGriff, and Lemke.
Those references are common, so knowing who those players are—and where they hit in the lineup—helps you follow conversations in the stands or around the Battery.
Quick Reference: 1995 Atlanta Braves Lineup and Rotation
For fast recall, here’s a compact summary tailored for Atlanta-focused fans:
Everyday lineup (most common):
- CF: Marquis Grissom – leadoff, speed and defense
- 2B: Mark Lemke – scrappy, contact hitter
- 3B: Chipper Jones – rising star, middle-of-the-order bat
- 1B: Fred McGriff – power cleanup hitter
- RF: David Justice – left-handed power, key World Series homer
- LF: Ryan Klesko – power in the lower middle order
- C: Javier López – strong bat and key catcher
- SS: Jeff Blauser – steady shortstop with on-base ability
- P: Maddux / Glavine / Smoltz / Avery / Mercker (depending on day)
Main starting pitchers:
- Greg Maddux
- Tom Glavine
- John Smoltz
- Steve Avery
- Kent Mercker
Closer:
- Mark Wohlers
Knowing this lineup gives you a clear picture of how the 1995 Braves played, how they won Atlanta’s long-awaited championship, and why that team still shapes how baseball is experienced and remembered across the city today.