What would the all time roster for the Braves look like?

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Andruw Jones, Bobby Lowe, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Herman Long, Joe Torre, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn

Atlanta Braves Logo

How would you fill out the all time roster for a team with as much talent as the Braves have had since 1871? Not easy. Recently Nick Selbe gave it a shot.

Here is his list.

Year founded: 1871

1966-present: Atlanta Braves
1953-1965: Milwaukee Braves
1936-1940: Boston Bees
1912-1935, 1941-1952: Boston Braves
1911: Boston Rustlers
1907-1910: Boston Doves
1883-1906: Boston Beaneaters
1876-1882: Boston Red Caps
1871-1875: Boston Red Stockings

Total WAR: 819.9

C: Joe Torre (1960-1968; 33.3)
1B: Dale Murphy (1976-1990; 46.9)
2B: Bobby Lowe (1890-1901; 19.1)
3B: Eddie Mathews (1952-1966; 94.4)
SS: Herman Long (1890-1902; 35.4)
OF: Hank Aaron (1954-1974; 142.1)
OF: Chipper Jones (1993-2012; 85.0)
OF: Andruw Jones (1996-2007; 61.0)

SP: Kid Nichols (1890-1901; 108.5)
SP: Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1964; 92.0)
SP: Phil Niekro (1964-1983, 1987; 90.0)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (2010-2014; 12.2)

Making the all-time roster for MLB’s oldest continually running franchise was no small task. To make room for the three outfielders, we shifted Dale Murphy to first base, despite his primarily playing the outfield. Murphy made 205 appearances at first base in his first two big league seasons.

Though none of them made the final cut, the trio of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine deserve to be mentioned. As teammates from 1993-2002, they combined for a 453-224 record, with 4,616 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA.

Source: Filling Out All-Time Rosters for Each MLB Franchise

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Jerry Koosman ties the National League rookie record held by Irving Young (September 13, 1968)

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1877, 1904, 1968, Billy Hamilton, Boston Beaneaters, Grover Cleveland, Irving Young, Jerry Koosman, July 21, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, September 13

Irving Young

Jerry Koosman ties the National League rookie record on September 13, 1968 when he hurls his seventh shutout of the season, blanking Pittsburgh on just three singles.

The left-hander’s 2-0 victory, the Mets’ 67th win of the season – a franchise high, equals the mark shared by Irving Young (Boston Beaneaters, 1905) and Grover Cleveland Alexander (Phillies, 1911).

Irving Young played six seasons from 1905 to 1911 for the Boston Beaneaters/Doves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox.

Irving Melrose “Cy the Second”/“Young Cy” Young was born on July 21, 1877, and raised in Colum­bia Falls, Maine, 16 miles west of Machias. At age 17, Irv and his family moved to Concord, New Hampshire, so that he could find employment as a fireman on the Boston & Maine Railroad. Although working 60 hours a week on the railroad, Irv managed to find time to pitch for the YMCA and other local amateur clubs on weekends. In 1904, at the rather advanced age of 27, he turned pro, joining Concord in the New England League. There he won 18 games and caught the eye of scout Billy Hamilton. Hamilton strongly recommended him to the Boston Beaneaters (later the Braves)… who bought his contract for $500. Source: SABR Biography Project

 

Really? That is a good name? (1907)

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1907, Athur Soden, Boston Doves, Cincinnati Reds, Dovey Brothers, Fred Tenney, Jeff Pfeffer, South End Grounds, St. Louis Cardinals

Boston Doves – Joe Kelly Manager – 1908

I don’t think a lot of this nickname. But then again this is the Braves I am talking about.

In 1907 they changed from the Beaneaters to the Doves. It didn’t seem to help since they finished 7th in the pennant race with a record of 58-90. They were a dismal 47 games behind first.

There isn’t much to say about losing 90 games in a season. One bright spot during a 90-loss season came on May 8, when Big Jeff Pfeffer pitched a no-hitter in a 6-0 home win over the Cincinnati Reds. The only other bright spot was the St. Louis Cardinals lost 101 games that year.

Fred Tenney continued as manager. What is weird is that this was an improvement over the previous year. Go figure.

The Dovey brothers operated the club. Before the 1907 season, longtime Boston Beaneaters owner Arthur Soden sold the team to the Dovey Brothers. They thought their name would be better than the Beaneaters. They also improved the South End Grounds where they played at the time. They added a new scoreboard (to keep up with the opponents runs better???) and cushioned a few seats. How about some better players? Hmm, there is a thought.

There is one thing in baseball we know for sure. You can’t fire the owners.

There is little distinction when you lose a hundred games (1910)

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1910, Boston Doves, Fred Lake

Fred Lake

A change doesn’t always bring the results you want. It was change though. 1910 brought the fifth new manager in four seasons. Fred Lake would be at the helm.

The Boston Doves (now known as the Atlanta Braves) would end up in eight place that season, 50 1/2 games out of first. They had a record of 53-100. Yep, they lost a hundred games. That still amazes me. How do you lose a hundred games.

Fred was a catcher. He played for Boston in 1891 and again in 1897. They won the pennant that year. It is thought he wasn’t that great of a catcher. In 1910 he wasn’t that great of a manager either.

1910 would also be the last year for the use of the name “The Doves”. Good riddance.

The Names of the Atlanta Braves over the years

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1876, 1953, 1966, Atlanta Braves

I wouldn’t think there would be a controversy on baseball team names. You would think the history would be clear. But amazingly enough, for 1876 to 1882, some still called them the Red Stockings, some called them the Red Caps and others the Braves during those years.

The Braves franchise began in 1876 in Boston, moved to a Milwaukee in 1953, and came to a stop in Atlanta in 1966. Over the course of a century-plus they have seen three cities and many different official names.

So, I will use the following as the “official” reference but I could be wrong. 🙂

• Boston Red Caps 1876-1882
• Boston Beaneaters 1883-1906
• Boston Doves 1907-1910
• Boston Rustlers 1911-1911
• Boston Braves 1912-1935
• Boston Bees 1936-1940
• Boston Braves 1941-1952
• Milwaukee Braves 1953-1965
• Atlanta Braves 1966-Today

Fred Tenney (1894-1907, 1911)

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1894, 1907, 1911, Frank Selee, Fred Tenney, July 3, November 26

Fred Tenney

Fred Tenney played for the Braves when they were know as the Beaneaters, Doves and Rustlers (1894-1907, 1911).

He was a first baseman, outfielder, catcher and pitcher. Clearly very versatile.

He was born in Georgetown, Massachusetts on November 26, 1871 and passed away on July 3, 1952.

He batted and threw as a lefty.

He was truly one of the pioneers in the early years of the game. He was also an amazing first baseman. The Beaneaters great manager, Frank Selee had already won 3 pennants when he spotted Fred. In that day, he was a pretty rare prospect as a left handed catcher.

But Selee could spot talent and Tenney would help him win two more pennants and a place in history as the greatest team in the 1890’s.

Fred Tenney in the most controversial game ever (September 23, 1908)

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1908, Chicago Cubs, Fred Tenney, Harry McCormick, Joe McGinnity, Johnny Evers, New York Giants, September 23

Fred Tenney

On September 23, 1908, Giants Pitcher Mathewson and Cubs Pitcher,  Three Fingered Brown, battle in the most controversial game ever played. Now, I would love to meet a pitcher named Three Fingered Brown.

The score is 1-1‚ with 2 outs in the last of the 9th. The Giants’ Harry McCormick is on 3B‚ and Fred Merkle (19‚ and making his first start of the year)‚ is subbing for the sore-legged veteran Fred Tenney‚ on 1B. Fred played for the Braves from 1894 to 1907.

Al Bridwell singles‚ scoring McCormick. Halfway to 2B‚ Merkle turns and heads for the clubhouse in center field. Johnny Evers secures a ball (Joe McGinnity swears he picked up the ball that was in play and threw it into the stands) and touches 2B as the crowd overruns the field. Umpire O’Day at 1B claims he didn’t see the play‚ but that evening he rules the run does not count‚ and the game ended with a tie score.

Years later‚ in an interview‚ Merkle will describe it this way: “When Bridwell shot that long single‚ I started across the grass for the clubhouse. Matty was near me. When Evers began shouting for the ball‚ he noticed something was wrong. Matty caught me by the arm and told me to wait a minute. We walked over toward 2B‚ and Matty spoke to Emslie. ‘How about this‚ Bob‚ is there any trouble with the score of the play?’ ‘It’s all right‚’ said Emslie. ‘You’ve got the game. I don’t see anything wrong with the play.’ Matty then took me by the arm and we walked to the clubhouse confident that we had won the game.”

47 games out of first is a long way out (1907)

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Al Bridwell, Boston Doves, Dave Brain, Fred Tenney, Ginger Beaumont

Fred Tenney

1907 would be the 3rd and last season that Fred Tenney would manage the Boston Doves (now the Atlanta Braves). The Braves had some strong individual contributors. Outfielder Ginger Beaumont would lead the league in hits. Third baseman Dave Brain would belt out 10 home runs, also the league leader. Shortstop Al Bridwell led all shortstops in fielding.

All to no avail. The Braves ended seventh and ended Fred’s tenure as a Brave manager. 47 games out of first is a long way out.

The Dovey Brothers and Joe Kelly (1908)

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1891, 1908, Dovey Brothers, Joe Kelly

Boston Doves – Joe Kelly Manager – 1908

Joe Kelley only had one year as manager for the Boston Doves in 1908. The Dovey Brothers had decided to replace Fred Tenney. Joe is a Hall of Famer with a .317 lifetime batting average. Not too bad for a player.

He had played 12 games for them in 1891. Perhaps he should never come back. He was previously a player-manager in Cincinnati for over 3 seasons. He would finish over .500 but never got them higher than third place.

The Boston Doves (now the Atlanta Braves) finished sixth under his leadership in 1908. A 63-91 season ending up 36 games behind. What is surprising is that he lasted the whole season.

It got worse (1909)

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1908, 1909, Boston Doves, Frank Bowerman, Harry Smith, Last Place

Boston Doves

If the 1908 season was bad, who would have thought it could get worse in 1909? But, it always can and in 1909, the Boston Doves (now the Atlanta Braves) finished eighth. They had a 45-108 record and were 65 1/2 games behind the leader. Yes, that is right. 65 1/2 games behind.

They had 2 managers that year, Frank Bowerman and Harry Smith. Neither one would be back in 1910. Frank had his challenges. His fiery temper did not go well with his team, and he was relegated to player-only status after only 76 games.