The Atlanta Braves: A Complete History for Atlanta Fans

Few sports stories are as deeply woven into a city’s identity as the history of the Atlanta Braves is with Atlanta, Georgia. From their move south in the 1960s to modern days at Truist Park, the Braves have helped shape how Atlanta sees itself: a big-league, fast-growing, sports-loving city.

If you live in metro Atlanta, are visiting, or are just trying to understand what the Braves mean to this city, this guide walks you through the franchise’s journey and how you can still see that history around town today.

From Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta: How the Braves Got Here

Early roots (Boston and Milwaukee days)

The Braves franchise is one of the oldest in professional baseball, beginning in the 19th century in Boston under several different names. They later moved to Milwaukee in the 1950s, where they found quick success and a strong fan base.

For Atlanta residents, the most important part of that early story is what it led to: Major League Baseball coming to the Southeast.

The move to Atlanta (1966)

In 1966, the Braves relocated to Atlanta, making the city:

• The home of the first Major League Baseball team in the deep South
• A symbol of Atlanta’s growing status as a major U.S. city
• A new focal point for sports fans across Georgia, Alabama, the Carolinas, and beyond

The Braves began playing at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, built near downtown just south of what’s now the Georgia State University campus.

For longtime Atlantans, this stadium is remembered for:

• Its circular “cookie-cutter” design common in that era
• The massive outfield dimensions, especially in left-center
• Hosting both the Braves and the Atlanta Falcons

Today, if you visit the area near the old stadium site, you can still find historic markers and outlines marking where famous plays once happened.

Hank Aaron and the 1970s: A Historic Moment in Atlanta

Hank Aaron’s home run chase in Atlanta

The early years of the Atlanta Braves are forever tied to Hank Aaron, one of baseball’s all-time greats. While Aaron started his career before the team moved to Atlanta, many of his biggest moments happened here.

On April 8, 1974, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Aaron hit his 715th career home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s long-standing record. This moment:

• Put Atlanta front and center in American sports history
• Became a lasting point of pride for the city
• Showed the Braves as more than just a team—they were part of larger cultural change

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect with this history:

• Look for Hank Aaron statues and displays around the Truist Park area
• You may also see Aaron’s name honored in local streets, fields, and community programs

The 1970s and 1980s: Struggles and stars

On the field, the Braves had an up-and-down stretch in the 1970s and 1980s. Locals from that era often remember:

• Glavine, Murphy, Niekro–style individual stars (especially Hall of Fame knuckleballer Phil Niekro and slugger Dale Murphy)
• Seasons where the team didn’t always win, but still drew loyal crowds
• The first sense that Atlanta had “its own” major league baseball identity

For many families in metro Atlanta, these years laid the groundwork for lifelong fandom—even if the championships hadn’t arrived yet.

The 1990s Dynasty: How the Braves Shaped Modern Atlanta

The rise at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium

In the early 1990s, the Braves went from last place to first, surprising nearly everyone. By 1991, they were playing in the World Series and becoming a national story.

Key players of that era that Atlanta fans still talk about:

• Tom Glavine – Left-handed pitcher, calm and consistent
• Greg Maddux – Master of pinpoint control
• John Smoltz – Power pitcher and clutch performer
• Chipper Jones – Switch-hitting third baseman and future Hall of Famer
• David Justice, Fred McGriff, Javy López, and others

This run of success helped define Atlanta as a “baseball city”, not just a football or college sports town.

The 1995 World Series: Atlanta’s first big-league title

The pinnacle of that decade came in 1995, when the Braves won the World Series, defeating the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians).

For Atlanta:

• This was the first major professional championship for the city
• It cemented the Braves as a source of civic pride
• Many Atlantans still remember exactly where they were during that series

If you tour Braves-related exhibits or visit team displays around the city, the 1995 team is often front and center.

Turner Field Era: Olympics, New Stadium, and Changing Atlanta

From Olympic Stadium to Turner Field

In 1996, Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games. Part of the legacy of those Olympics was a stadium that was later converted into Turner Field, where the Braves played from 1997 through 2016.

What Turner Field meant to Atlanta:

• It anchored the Summerhill neighborhood, just south of downtown
• It provided a more baseball-focused park than the old multipurpose stadium
• It symbolized Atlanta’s international ambitions and Olympic-era growth

If you’re exploring the city today, Turner Field itself has been adapted for Georgia State University football, but the area still carries clear traces of the Braves’ presence.

Consistent division titles, few October breakthroughs

During the Turner Field years, the Braves:

• Continued a streak of division titles through much of the late 1990s and early 2000s
• Were known for elite pitching and strong regular seasons
• Often struggled to convert success into additional World Series championships

For Atlanta fans, this era is remembered with a mix of pride (for the regular-season dominance) and some frustration (for postseason exits).

The Move to Cobb County: Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta

Why the Braves left Turner Field

By the mid-2010s, the Braves organization decided to relocate from downtown to a new ballpark in Cobb County, in the northwest metro area. The new stadium opened in 2017 as SunTrust Park and was later renamed Truist Park.

For Atlanta-area residents, this move:

• Shifted game-day traffic and activity from downtown to the Cumberland area
• Brought Major League Baseball closer to many suburban fans
• Sparked debate about city vs. suburban development and public investment

What Truist Park is like for Atlanta visitors

If you’re attending a game or visiting from out of town, Truist Park offers:

• A modern, fan-friendly ballpark with good sightlines
• The surrounding Battery Atlanta development, including shops, restaurants, and entertainment
• A variety of Braves history displays, statues, and photo spots

Even on non-game days, many people in metro Atlanta visit The Battery area simply to eat, shop, or walk around. If you want a feel for current Braves culture, this is the best single place to go.

The 2021 World Series: A New Era of Braves Baseball

A championship for the new generation

In 2021, the Braves won another World Series, this time while playing at Truist Park. For Atlanta residents who didn’t experience 1995, this felt like a defining sports moment of their lifetimes.

Key points about the 2021 title from an Atlanta perspective:

• The team overcame injuries and midseason changes
• They beat several heavily favored opponents
• Celebrations stretched across Atlanta and Cobb County, with parades covering both the city and suburban routes

This championship helped cement the modern Braves as more than just a historic brand—they’re an active, elite team shaping the city’s sports identity today.

Key Eras of Braves History at a Glance

Here’s a simple overview you can use to place everything in context:

How Braves History Shows Up Across Atlanta Today

Even if you’re not at a game, you’ll see Braves history woven into the city.

1. Stadium sites and surrounding neighborhoods

• Former Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium site
  Located near the intersection of I-20 and the Downtown Connector, the area is now closely tied to Georgia State University. Look for markers and layout outlines where famous Braves moments took place.

• Turner Field (now Center Parc Stadium)
  Although it’s been converted for college football, longtime residents still call it “the old Braves stadium.” Walking nearby, you may spot remnants of Braves-themed architecture and references.

• Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta
  This is the living, active center of Braves history today, with memorabilia, statues, and game-day traditions on full display.

2. Names and landmarks honoring players

Across the Atlanta area, you may find:

• Fields and complexes named after Hank Aaron and other Braves legends
• Local youth baseball leagues that model uniforms and team names after Braves teams
• Murals, posters, and décor in sports bars and restaurants featuring iconic Braves moments

If you’re new to the city, paying attention to these names is a quick way to learn which players Atlanta holds closest.

3. Broadcast culture and regional identity

For decades, Braves games were widely televised across the Southeast, creating a regional fan base that still feeds into Atlanta’s identity. Today, you’ll notice:

• Braves caps and jerseys in neighborhoods all across metro Atlanta, from Buckhead and Midtown to Marietta, Smyrna, and beyond
• Strong turnout for watch parties and playoff games at local establishments
• Conversations that link family memories (like “my first game at the old stadium”) to different parts of the city

What Atlanta Residents and Visitors Can Do to Experience Braves History

If you want to go beyond watching the current team and really feel the history of the Atlanta Braves, here are practical ways to do it:

1. Attend a game at Truist Park

Even if you’re not a hardcore baseball fan, going to a game:

• Lets you see historic displays, statues, and retired numbers up close
• Gives you a sense of modern Braves culture, chants, and traditions
• Offers an easy way to connect with locals who grew up with the team

📝 Tip: Consider arriving early to walk around The Battery and look for plaques, signage, and photo spots that highlight key moments in team history.

2. Explore the old stadium areas

If you’re downtown or near Georgia State University:

• Look for historic markers that explain the legacy of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
• Take a short walk around to imagine the location during Hank Aaron’s home run chase and the early 1990s pennant runs

This is especially meaningful for transplants who want to understand what longtime locals are referring to when they talk about “the old stadium.”

3. Visit Braves-themed exhibits and local collections

Around metro Atlanta, you may encounter:

• Braves memorabilia displays in sports bars and local establishments
• Community centers or schools with walls honoring local players who made it to the Braves
• Occasional exhibits that showcase Hank Aaron and other Atlanta sports legends

Checking these out gives you a more personal, neighborhood-level feel for how the team fits into everyday life.

Why the Braves Matter So Much to Atlanta

For someone trying to understand Atlanta, Georgia, knowing the history of the Braves is genuinely helpful. The team’s story reflects:

• The city’s growth from regional center to major metropolitan area
• Shifts in population and development, from downtown stadiums to suburban complexes
• Moments of racial and cultural change, especially around Hank Aaron’s achievements
• Civic pride, through the 1995 and 2021 World Series titles

Whether you’re just moving here, visiting for a few days, or have lived in Atlanta your whole life, learning the history of the Atlanta Braves is a direct way to understand how this city sees itself—and why so many Atlantans still plan summer evenings around first pitch.