Atlanta Braves Pitchers in 1990: The Staff That Set Up a Dynasty

If you follow baseball in Atlanta, Georgia, the phrase “Atlanta Braves pitchers 1990” isn’t just trivia—it’s the beginning of the story that led to the Braves’ incredible run in the 1990s. For locals, understanding who pitched in 1990 helps explain how the franchise transformed from a struggling club at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium into a powerhouse at what is now Truist Park.

This guide walks through the key Braves pitchers in 1990, what the staff looked like that year, and how fans in Atlanta today can reconnect with that era—whether you’re visiting, taking your kids to their first game, or deepening your knowledge of Braves history.

Why the 1990 Braves Pitching Staff Matters to Atlanta Fans

The 1990 Atlanta Braves weren’t yet the dominant team Atlanta remembers from the World Series years. They were still near the bottom of the standings, but their pitching staff was beginning to take shape.

For Atlanta-based fans, 1990 is important because:

• It was one of the first full glimpses of Tom Glavine as a true frontline starter.
• It featured the debut of Steve Avery, a young arm who became a big part of the early ‘90s success.
• It was the transition period just before the 1991 “worst-to-first” season that changed Braves history.

When you’re sitting in the Battery overlooking Truist Park today, the pitchers from 1990 are the “prequel” to the rotation banners, retired numbers, and former player appearances you see around the stadium.

Overview of the 1990 Atlanta Braves Pitching Staff

The 1990 staff had a mix of:

• Future stars (Tom Glavine, Steve Avery)
• Veteran starters (Charlie Leibrandt, John Smoltz still finding his form)
• Longtime Braves names from the transition era (Rick Mahler, Joe Hesketh briefly, etc.)
• Relievers and closers who handled late innings before the bullpen became a real strength

Below is a simple summary of some notable Braves pitchers from the 1990 season. This is not every pitcher who threw a pitch that year, but it highlights the names most Atlanta fans still recognize or ask about.

Key 1990 Atlanta Braves Pitchers – Snapshot

Again, several other pitchers appeared in 1990, but these are among the most significant names for an Atlanta-focused look at that season.

The Starting Rotation in 1990: Building Blocks in Atlanta

Tom Glavine: Future Ace Finding His Way

By 1990, Tom Glavine was still early in his career, but fans in Atlanta could already see:

• A durable left-handed starter taking the ball every fifth day.
• The calm, methodical style that later defined so many postseason starts.

If you visit Truist Park or the Monument Garden inside the stadium today, Glavine’s legacy is a major part of the historic displays. When you read his career numbers, remember that 1990 was one of the seasons where he was still learning at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, dealing with a developing defense and a team that hadn’t started winning yet.

John Smoltz: Ups and Downs Before Dominance

John Smoltz was still developing in 1990. For Atlanta fans, this is the version of Smoltz:

• Electric stuff, but not yet consistent.
• Learning to handle big-league hitters and long seasons.

Today, when you hear Smoltz on national broadcasts or see his name honored at the ballpark, it’s useful to know that the rougher early years—like 1990—were part of his growth into one of the franchise’s greatest pitchers.

Charlie Leibrandt and Rick Mahler: The Veteran Presence

In 1990, the Braves weren’t relying only on youth. Charlie Leibrandt, a crafty veteran lefty, and Rick Mahler, a familiar Braves name through the 1980s, provided:

• Innings and experience for a team trying to turn the corner.
• A steadying influence on a young staff that would soon break out.

Longtime Atlantans who watched games at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium often remember these pitchers as the ones who held things together while the new core was forming.

Steve Avery: The Arrival of a Young Star

Steve Avery was a major storyline in 1990:

• A highly regarded young left-handed pitcher.
• Called up during the season and shown off as part of the Braves’ future.

For fans in Atlanta at the time, Avery represented hope—proof that the organization had talent coming through the system. When you walk through team stores or historical displays today, you’ll sometimes still see his name on classic “throwback” lists and conversations about the early ‘90s.

The 1990 Braves Bullpen: Before the Big Closers

The bullpen in 1990 looked very different from the later years of Mark Wohlers, John Rocker, and more recent closers. Instead, it was a patchwork group of relievers trying to lock down games for a young and inconsistent club.

Key Relievers and Late-Inning Arms

Some names that mattered out of the bullpen in 1990 included:

• Juan Berenguer – A hard-throwing right-hander who handled pressure spots and late innings.
• Joe Boever – Known for his palmball, he was a notable reliever in the late 1980s and early 1990s Braves bullpens.
• Marvin Freeman – Worked both in relief and spot starts; his flexibility was valuable for a team still sorting out roles.
• Kent Mercker – A younger left-handed arm who would later be part of the famous 1991 combined no-hitter against the Padres.

From an Atlanta fan’s perspective, this bullpen wasn’t yet a finished product. It was more like the test version before the polished playoff-ready units that came later in the decade.

Watching Braves History in Atlanta Today

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect more deeply with the 1990 Braves pitchers, there are some very practical ways to do it.

1. Visit Truist Park and Monument Garden

Even though the 1990 team played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, the main place to see the history of that era today is:

Truist Park
755 Battery Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30339

Inside the ballpark, Monument Garden (located along the concourse) includes:

• Displays honoring Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and other Braves legends.
• Jerseys, photos, and artifacts from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

While not every 1990 pitcher will have an individual feature, understanding that year’s staff helps you appreciate how the Glavine/Smoltz-led rotation evolved.

2. Explore the Area Around the Former Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Site

The old stadium, where the 1990 Braves played, once stood near what is now Center Parc Stadium (formerly Turner Field). The Braves no longer play there, but the area still carries baseball history.

You can see:

• The preserved section of outfield wall marking where Hank Aaron’s 715th home run cleared the fence.
• Plaques and markers that recall the old stadium and its teams—including the era that included the 1990 pitching staff.

For Atlanta residents or visitors who like sports history, walking this area gives context to where pitchers like Glavine, Smoltz, Avery, and Mahler actually took the mound during that transitional season.

3. Use Local Libraries and Archives for Deeper Research

If you’re a serious Braves historian or just curious about box scores and game recaps from 1990, you can use:

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System – The central library and larger branches often have newspaper archives on microfilm or digital access, including coverage of the Braves’ 1990 season.
• University libraries in metro Atlanta (such as Georgia State University’s downtown campus) – Many maintain archival collections of Atlanta newspapers and sports sections that discuss pitching matchups, transactions, and season narratives.

These are good resources when you want to see how local writers talked about specific pitchers in 1990, such as reactions to Steve Avery’s debut or early opinions on John Smoltz’s inconsistency.

How 1990 Laid the Groundwork for the Braves’ ’90s Dominance

For people in Atlanta today, it’s easy to remember the glory years—division titles, packed stadiums, October baseball. The 1990 pitching staff sits just before that explosion of success, but it played a crucial role:

• Glavine was becoming the dependable front-of-the-rotation presence.
• Smoltz was taking his early lumps and learning how to adjust.
• Avery showed that young, front-line-caliber arms were arriving.
• Veterans like Leibrandt and Mahler kept the team afloat while the core sharpened.
• Relievers like Berenguer, Boever, and Mercker filled in the back-end roles that would later be refined as the team improved.

When you attend a Braves game in Atlanta now—hearing former players honored on the field, seeing retired numbers posted up, or walking past historical exhibits—it helps to know that 1990 was one of the last “rebuilding” chapters before the turnaround in 1991.

Quick Reference: Notable Braves Pitchers in 1990

If you just need a fast Atlanta-focused reference to the most important 1990 Braves pitchers:

• Starters

  • Tom Glavine
  • John Smoltz
  • Charlie Leibrandt
  • Steve Avery
  • Rick Mahler

• Relievers / Bullpen Arms

  • Juan Berenguer
  • Joe Boever
  • Marvin Freeman
  • Kent Mercker

Understanding who these pitchers were—and how they were used—helps any Atlanta fan, visitor, or new resident connect the dots between the struggling Braves of the late 1980s and the championship-caliber teams that followed.

If you’re heading to a game at Truist Park, strolling through the Battery, or exploring old stadium sites around Atlanta, this snapshot of the 1990 Braves pitching staff gives you a clearer sense of how the city’s baseball story evolved on the mound.