A Braves Fan’s Guide to the 1997 Atlanta Braves Roster

If you follow baseball in Atlanta, Georgia, the 1997 Atlanta Braves roster is one of those lineups that still gets talked about at Truist Park, in bars around The Battery Atlanta, and in living rooms all over metro Atlanta. That season sits right in the heart of the Braves’ 1990s dominance, when the team was a regular presence in October and packed out Turner Field.

This guide walks through the key players on the 1997 roster, what made that team special, and how fans in Atlanta today can connect with that era—whether you’re reliving memories or just now digging into Braves history.

Why the 1997 Atlanta Braves Matter to Atlanta Fans

For Atlanta residents, the 1997 Braves represent:

• A classic Bobby Cox–managed team
• A rotation led by Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz
• A lineup featuring Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, and Fred McGriff

If you grew up in Atlanta in the ’90s, this is probably the team you remember watching on TV after school or at Turner Field on summer nights. Today, those memories are part of the city’s sports identity, right alongside the move from Turner Field to Truist Park in Cumberland.

Snapshot of the 1997 Atlanta Braves Roster

The Braves’ 1997 roster changed a bit throughout the season, but the core group is well known to local fans. Below is a simplified look at the main contributors that most Atlantans remember.

Key Position Players (Everyday Starters)

These are the names you’ll see on throwback jerseys around Truist Park and at Braves-themed events across Atlanta.

The Legendary 1997 Braves Starting Rotation

For Atlantans, the pitching rotation is often what people remember first. The 1997 Braves had one of the most respected staffs in baseball.

Main Starting Pitchers

• Greg Maddux – Known for incredible control and efficiency; a regular topic in Atlanta sports bars when “all-time Braves” debates come up.
• Tom Glavine – Left-handed ace, calm presence on the mound; later inducted into the Hall of Fame with Maddux.
• John Smoltz – Power pitcher and postseason standout; also a big part of Atlanta’s sports media conversation after retirement.
• Denny Neagle – Important contributor to round out the rotation.
• Kevin Millwood / Mike Bielecki (partial roles) – Provided depth as needed over the season.

For Atlanta fans who love pitching, this era still sets the standard for what a Braves rotation can be.

The 1997 Braves Bullpen and Key Relievers

While the rotation got most of the headlines, the 1997 bullpen quietly helped secure a lot of wins for Atlanta.

Notable Relievers

• Mark Wohlers – Primary closer, known for big velocity.
• Greg McMichael – Reliever who bridged the gap to the late innings.
• Rudy Seánez, Alan Embree, and Mike Cather – Middle-relief and setup roles.
• Pedro Borbón Jr. – Left-handed option out of the pen.

If you go to Braves alumni events around Atlanta, you’ll sometimes see relief pitchers from this era turning up alongside the bigger names, especially at weekend series with a retro theme.

Full 1997 Atlanta Braves Roster: Core Players Fans Remember

Below is a more complete list of the main players associated with the 1997 Braves season. Exact day-by-day rosters changed, but these are the names most Atlanta fans recall:

Position Players

Catchers

• Javy López
• Eddie Pérez
• Tony Peña (early-season role)

Infielders

• Fred McGriff (1B)
• Ryan Klesko (1B/LF)
• Mark Lemke (2B)
• Jeff Blauser (SS)
• Chipper Jones (3B)
• Keith Lockhart (INF)
• Luis Polonia (OF/utility)
• Mike Mordecai (INF – limited role)

Outfielders

• Andruw Jones (CF)
• Michael Tucker (RF)
• Ryan Klesko (LF/1B, noted above)
• Kenny Lofton (CF – spent part of the year with Atlanta)
• Danny Bautista (OF – depth)

(Roster details can vary slightly depending on the exact point in the season, but these are the main contributors Atlanta fans usually include when talking about 1997.)

Pitchers

Starters

• Greg Maddux
• Tom Glavine
• John Smoltz
• Denny Neagle
• Kevin Millwood (emerging role)

Relievers

• Mark Wohlers (CL)
• Greg McMichael
• Rudy Seánez
• Alan Embree
• Pedro Borbón Jr.
• Mike Cather
• Terrell Wade (limited role)

When long-time Atlanta fans swap stories—whether you’re in Midtown, Decatur, or up in Cobb County—these are the names that come up again and again.

How the 1997 Roster Fits into Atlanta Braves History

For someone living in or visiting Atlanta, understanding the 1997 roster helps put the modern Braves into context.

Part of the 1990s Dominance

From an Atlanta perspective, 1997 sits in a long run where:

• The Braves regularly won their division
• The team was a big source of civic pride during a period of major growth for the city
• Turner Field, built for the 1996 Olympics, had just become the Braves’ home, and the 1997 team helped break it in as a baseball stadium

When you hear fans at Truist Park talk about “the old days,” they’re often thinking about this exact mix of strong pitching and balanced offense.

Icons Still Connected to Atlanta

Many 1997 Braves are still closely tied to the city:

• Chipper Jones – Shows up for Braves events, number retired by the team, a huge presence in Atlanta sports culture.
• Tom Glavine and John Smoltz – Frequently referenced during broadcasts and pregame coverage, and sometimes appear at local events.
• Greg Maddux – Not based in Atlanta now, but remains a central figure in the franchise’s history and in displays at the ballpark.

If you visit Truist Park and the surrounding Battery Atlanta development, you’ll find reminders of this era in statues, displays, and team history features.

Experiencing 1997 Braves History in Atlanta Today

If learning about the 1997 Atlanta Braves roster has you feeling nostalgic or curious, there are a few ways to connect that history to Atlanta right now.

1. Visit Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta

While the 1997 Braves played at Turner Field, the franchise’s history is actively celebrated at:

Truist Park
755 Battery Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

What you can do:

• Walk around the park to see retired numbers and historical displays.
• Check out team stores for throwback jerseys and hats featuring players like Chipper Jones, Maddux, and Glavine.
• Look for weekend or special series that highlight Braves legends; these sometimes feature alumni from the 1990s.

2. Explore Braves History Exhibits and Displays

Around the stadium and inside team-operated spaces, you’ll often find:

• Photo walls and exhibits that highlight the 1990s playoff teams
• Info boards or displays featuring 1997 standouts like Andruw Jones and Javy López
• Occasional giveaway nights tied to classic-era players

If you’re planning a visit from elsewhere in metro Atlanta, MARTA connections plus shuttles and rideshare options make it relatively straightforward to reach the ballpark area.

3. Watch Classic Games and Recaps

Many Atlanta fans rewatch classic games featuring the 1997 roster to:

• Show younger fans what Braves baseball looked like at Turner Field
• Compare the old rotation with today’s starters
• Relive playoff runs and big performances from that year

Local sports bars—from Buckhead to Smyrna—will sometimes show old Braves clips on screen, especially during rain delays or on special themed nights.

Tips for Atlanta Fans Researching the 1997 Roster

If you’re in Atlanta and want to go deeper into the 1997 Braves:

• 🧢 Start with player lists: Note down the main starters and pitchers above, then look up their individual careers.
• ⚾ Connect it to locations: Remember that Turner Field (now repurposed as a college football stadium near downtown) was their home; some long-time locals still call modern teams “post-Turner Field Braves.”
• 📚 Use local libraries and archives: Branches of the Fulton County Library System and nearby county libraries sometimes carry yearbooks, media guides, or local coverage from the 1997 season.
• 🎟️ Ask at Truist Park guest services: On a game day, staff can often point you toward historical displays or let you know about upcoming Braves alumni appearances.

The 1997 Atlanta Braves roster represents a peak era of baseball in Atlanta—an all-time rotation, a lineup filled with beloved names, and a team that helped cement the Braves as a central part of the city’s identity. Whether you’re attending a game at Truist Park, digging into Braves history from your home in metro Atlanta, or visiting town and wanting to understand why locals still talk about the ’90s teams, knowing the 1997 roster is a great place to start.