1995 Atlanta Braves season
The 1995 Atlanta Braves season was the 125th season in the history of the franchise and 30th season in the city of Atlanta. The team finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 90–54, the best in the National League, en route to winning the World Series. For the sixth straight season, the team was managed by Bobby Cox. The Braves started the season in mediocre fashion, posting a 20–17 record up to June 4, putting them in third place behind the Philadelphia Phillies and the Montreal Expos. The team went on to win twenty  of the last twenty-five games before the All-Star Break to put themselves in first place by four and a half games. In the second half of the season, the Braves pulled away from the rest of the division by going 11–7 over the rest of July and 19–10 in August. The team went on to win the division by twenty-one games. The Braves' 90–54 record was second only to the American League's Cleveland Indians, who went 100–44 on the season. In the postseason, the Braves beat the Colorado Rockies in the NL Division Series three games  to one, then swept the Cincinnati Reds four games to zero to win the NL Championship Series. In the World Series, the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians four games to two, bringing the first World Championship to the city of Atlanta. Through completion of the 2019 MLB season, the Braves are one of two teams out of eight MLB franchises to have first swept their opponent in the League Championship Series (LCS), and subsequently go onto win the World Series. This two-decades-long milestone for Atlanta is based upon the (LCS) becoming a best-of-seven (games) format 10  years earlier, 1985. Opening Day starter Greg Maddux led the National League in wins (19) and earned run average (1.63) to secure his fourth consecutive Cy Young Award. Marquis Grissom won a Gold Glove for center field, and Greg Maddux won his sixth (of thirteen) consecutive Gold Gloves. This would be the last World Series title for the Braves until the 2021 season. Offseason. The Braves 1995 season began without some of the regular contributors of 1994. The team lost Terry Pendleton, Dave Gallagher, and Bill Pecota to free agency. Roberto Kelly and Tony Tarasco were also traded with Esteban  Yan to the Montreal Expos for Marquis Grissom. They signed free agents Mike Sharperson, Dwight Smith, and Mike Stanton. The Braves five starting pitchers remained the same from 1994. The Braves would also be playing in the brand–new National League East in 1995. The division was formed through realignment prior to the 1994 Major League Baseball season, but division championships were not awarded in 1994 due to the 1994 strike. The division includes the Philadelphia Phillies, the Montreal Expos, the Florida Marlins, and the New York Mets. Postseason. National League Division Series. Atlanta wins series, 3-1 National League  Championship Series. Atlanta wins series, 4-0 World Series. Game 1. October 21, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta Game 2. October 22, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta Game 3. October 24, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio Game 4. October 25, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio Game 5. October 26, 1995, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio Game 6. October 28, 1995, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta Player stats. Batting. Regular starters. "Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B =  Doubles; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage" Other batters. "Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage" Pitching. Starting pitchers. "Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games; GS  = Games started; SV = Saves; CG = Complete games; SHO = Shutouts; IP = Innings pitched; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts" Relief Pitchers. "Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; CG = Complete games; SHO = Shutouts; IP = Innings pitched; BB = Base on balls; SO = Strikeouts" Award winners. 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game