Atlanta Braves Playoff History: A Local Fan’s Guide to the Postseason

For Atlanta sports fans, Braves playoff history is part heartbreak, part joy, and completely woven into the identity of the city. If you live in Atlanta, visit regularly, or are just trying to understand how the Braves fit into the city’s culture, knowing their postseason story helps explain why October baseball here feels so special.

This guide walks through the key eras of Braves playoff history, the biggest moments, and how all of it connects to today’s Atlanta and to the ballpark experience at Truist Park in Cobb County.

How the Braves Became an Atlanta October Tradition

The Braves didn’t always belong to Atlanta. The franchise started in Boston, then moved to Milwaukee, before finally arriving in Atlanta in 1966. But it’s the Atlanta years that shape most fans’ playoff memories.

When people in metro Atlanta talk about Braves postseason history, they usually mean:

• The early Atlanta playoff breakthrough in 1969 and 1982
• The incredible 1990s dynasty that defined the team’s national reputation
• The 2000s consistency under Bobby Cox
• The modern resurgence from SunTrust/Truist Park to the 2021 World Series title

Understanding these eras is the best way to grasp why postseason baseball is such a big deal all across the Atlanta area—from downtown to the suburbs.

Early Atlanta Playoff Years (1966–1989)

The First Taste of October: 1969

The Braves’ first playoff appearance as an Atlanta team came in 1969, just a few seasons after the move from Milwaukee.

Key points Atlanta fans usually remember:

• The Braves played home games at Atlanta Stadium (later called Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium), located just south of downtown.
• Led by stars like Hank Aaron, the team won the National League West.
• They faced the New York Mets in the first-ever National League Championship Series (NLCS) and were swept.

Even though they lost, the 1969 run helped plant the idea that Atlanta could be a serious baseball city.

The 1982 Division Title

After a long gap, the Braves returned to the postseason in 1982:

• Their home field was still Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, the same general area where you now find the old Olympic cauldron and Turner Field’s former site (now Georgia State’s football stadium).
• Managed by Joe Torre, the Braves won the NL West and faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.
• The Braves were swept again, but this run helped build the fan base that would explode in the 1990s.

For long-time Atlantans, saying you remember the 1982 Braves is a bit of a badge of honor—you were here before the wave of 90s success and suburban growth around the city.

The 1990s Dynasty: How Atlanta Became a Baseball Powerhouse

If you’re trying to understand why Braves playoff history matters so much in Atlanta, you have to start with the 1990s. This is when the team moved from afterthought to national powerhouse and built a generation of fans.

Worst to First: 1991

The most famous turning point was the 1991 season:

• The Braves went from the bottom of their division to National League champions.
• They played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, and the city put itself on the national sports map.
• The team’s pitching staff—including Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery—became household names.
• In the 1991 World Series against the Minnesota Twins, the Braves lost in seven games, but many fans and observers still call it one of the greatest World Series ever.

For Atlantan fans who grew up in the 90s, this was when October baseball in Atlanta became expected, not just a dream.

The 1992 NL Pennant

The Braves followed 1991 with another strong season in 1992:

• They again won the NL pennant.
• The famous NLCS moment came when Sid Bream slid home to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 7—a play Braves fans in Atlanta still talk about.
• The Braves then lost the 1992 World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Many older fans in areas like Cobb, Gwinnett, and DeKalb County can tell you exactly where they were when that slide happened.

The Move to the NL East and Continued Playoff Runs

In 1994, Major League Baseball realigned divisions, and the Braves moved from the NL West to the NL East. From there, their playoff consistency was remarkable:

• The Braves won division titles year after year, often dominating the NL East.
• Key playoff seasons included 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and into the early 2000s.
• Locally, this meant October nights at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium and, starting in 1997, at the new Turner Field (built originally as Centennial Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Olympics and then converted for baseball).

During this time, fall in Atlanta often meant:

• Evening playoff games that snarled traffic around I-20 and I-75/85.
• The “Tomahawk Chop” echoing all over downtown and in suburbs across metro Atlanta.
• Local schools and workplaces buzzing about the next big game.

The 1995 World Series: Atlanta’s First MLB Championship

For Atlanta residents, 1995 is the crown jewel of the Braves’ 90s playoff history.

Why 1995 Still Matters in Atlanta

• The Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians (now the Cleveland Guardians) in the World Series, winning in six games.
• The clinching victory came at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, giving the city its first World Series championship.
• The pitching rotation, featuring Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, became legendary.
• Tom Glavine’s Game 6 performance is especially remembered in Atlanta baseball lore.

If you live in Atlanta today, you’ll still see 1995 championship merchandise, photos, and highlights in:

• Braves-themed bars and restaurants around The Battery Atlanta
• Local sports shops in metro Atlanta malls
• Historic displays at Truist Park

For many long-time Atlantans, 1995 remains a reference point when explaining the Braves’ importance to newcomers.

Overview of Key Atlanta Braves Playoff Appearances

Below is a simplified look at some of the most important playoff seasons in the Atlanta era (not every single appearance listed):

This table helps tie the ballparks and eras together, which is especially useful if you live in Atlanta and drive past the old or current stadium sites.

Braves Playoffs in the 2000s: Consistent but Frustrating

After the 1990s, the Braves remained a regular playoff presence, especially under long-time manager Bobby Cox.

Early 2000s: Division Titles Without Championships

From 2000 through the mid-2000s, the Braves:

• Played at Turner Field, southeast of downtown Atlanta off I-20.
• Frequently won the NL East, keeping the city in the postseason conversation.
• Often lost in the Division Series (NLDS), sometimes in tight, emotional series.

To Atlanta fans, this period is remembered for:

• High expectations every year.
• The feeling that the team was “always good but couldn’t quite finish” in October.
• Generational stars like Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones driving the offense.

Even with the disappointments, this era kept baseball deeply rooted in Atlanta culture, from youth leagues in Gwinnett and Cobb to packed bars for big playoff games.

The Late Turner Field Era: Transition and New Faces

From the late 2000s up to 2016, the Braves’ playoff presence was on and off:

• The team made the postseason in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
• 2010 was especially memorable as the final season for manager Bobby Cox, a beloved figure in Atlanta.
• Playoff exits came mostly in the NLDS or in the Wild Card Game.

By the end of the Turner Field era, the organization began planning a move to Cobb County. For Atlantans, this was a major shift—from downtown/Summerhill to the suburbs near the junction of I-75 and I-285.

The Move to Truist Park and the New Era of Braves Playoff Baseball

SunTrust/Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta

The Braves opened their new stadium—originally SunTrust Park, now Truist Park—in 2017:

• Located in Cumberland in Cobb County, north of downtown Atlanta.
• Surrounded by a mixed-use development known as The Battery Atlanta, with restaurants, shops, and entertainment options.
• Easily accessible from areas like Marietta, Smyrna, Sandy Springs, and East Cobb, making it a central playoff hub for many metro residents.

For playoff history, this move marked the beginning of a modern resurgence.

The Modern Playoff Run: 2018–2020

From 2018 onward, the Braves became regulars in the postseason again, this time with a younger core:

• Division titles and playoff berths in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• In 2020, the Braves reached the NLCS, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in a neutral-site series.
• That run renewed Atlanta’s hopes of another World Series after a long drought.

For Atlanta residents, this era meant:

• October games at Truist Park, with fans crowding The Battery even if they didn’t have tickets.
• A shift of the city’s baseball energy from downtown to Cobb County.
• The rise of new stars who became local icons.

2021: The World Series Returns to Atlanta

For modern Atlanta, 2021 is now as significant as 1995—maybe even more, especially for younger fans.

The 2021 Championship Run

• The Braves entered the postseason with modest national expectations but were strong down the stretch.
• Home playoff games at Truist Park became major citywide events.
• The team advanced past multiple opponents to reach the World Series.
• In the World Series, the Braves beat the Houston Astros, clinching the title in six games.

While the final game was won on the road, the celebration quickly came home to Atlanta and Cobb County, with:

• A large parade running through parts of downtown and Midtown Atlanta, then up to Cobb County and Truist Park.
• Massive crowds from all across metro Atlanta out to celebrate—families, long-time fans, and people who had only recently adopted the team.

For anyone living in Atlanta then, it felt like the city’s sports story had finally turned a corner after several high-profile championship disappointments in other sports.

How Braves Playoff History Shapes Today’s Atlanta Experience

If you’re in Atlanta now—whether you’ve lived here for decades or just arrived—Braves playoff history affects:

1. The Gameday Atmosphere

During a playoff run, you’ll notice:

• Watch parties at The Battery, Midtown, Buckhead, and neighborhood bars.
• Braves gear everywhere—from offices in Downtown Atlanta to schools across Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett.
• Traffic patterns shifting on game days, especially around I-75, I-285, and the Cumberland area.

2. Local Identity and Pride

The Braves are often described as the most consistently successful major team in Atlanta history. Their playoff track record gives locals a shared story:

• Long-time residents remember 1991–1995 and the early Turner Field years.
• Newer residents and younger fans connect most strongly to 2018–2021 and the championship at Truist Park.
• The team gives the city a sense of continuity—one of the few storylines that link old Atlanta, Olympic-era Atlanta, and today’s booming metro region.

3. Where History Lives in the City

You can still see and feel Braves playoff history at different sites:

• Truist Park & The Battery Atlanta

  • Primary home of current playoff baseball.
  • Statues, displays, and signage celebrating 1995 and 2021 championships and franchise legends.

• Former Turner Field Site (now Center Parc Stadium)

  • Located near downtown off I-20.
  • Used by Georgia State University for football.
  • The area is part of how many locals remember Braves playoff games from 1997–2016.

• Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Memorial

  • Near the former Turner Field location.
  • An outline of the old stadium footprint and a marker for Hank Aaron’s 715th home run.
  • While not strictly about the playoffs, it connects to the early Atlanta era of the Braves.

For anyone interested in Braves playoff history, visiting these spots gives a physical sense of how the team’s October story has moved across the city.

Quick Reference: What an Atlanta Fan Should Know About Braves Playoff History

If you live in or are visiting Atlanta and want the essentials:

• The Braves have been in Atlanta since 1966 and started making regular playoff appearances in the 1990s.
• The team’s most iconic World Series titles in the Atlanta era are 1995 and 2021.
• Key ballparks in the playoff story:
  • Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (early years and 1995 title)
  • Turner Field (late 90s through 2016 playoff runs)
  • Truist Park (modern playoff era and 2021 title)
• Playoff baseball in Atlanta is a major civic event, with the energy now centered around Truist Park and The Battery in Cobb County but with roots that stretch back through downtown and South Atlanta.

Knowing this history helps you understand why, when the Braves are in the playoffs, the entire Atlanta area—from Downtown to Cumberland to suburban neighborhoods—seems to shift into October mode.