1997 Atlanta Braves season

March 2026 November 2013 Atlanta Braves 1997 National League East champions National League East Turner Field Atlanta 101–61 (.623) 1st Time Warner John Schuerholz Bobby Cox WTBSTBS Superstation(Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson)SportSouth(Tim Brando, Ernie Johnson, Bob Rathbun) WSB (AM)(Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson) The 1997 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 32nd season in Atlanta and 127th overall. The Braves entered the season as defending National League champions, having lost the 1996 World Series to the Yankees in 6 games. They won their seventh consecutive division title, taking the National League East by 9 games over the second place Florida Marlins. However, the Marlins defeated the Braves in the NLCS. 1997 was the first year that the Braves played their home games in Turner Field, a reconstruction of the former Centennial Olympic Stadium, which originally served as the main venue for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Off season November 20, 1996: John Smoltz was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves.https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/smoltjo01.shtml John Smoltz Stats November 25, 1996: Paul Byrd was traded by the New York Mets with a player to be named later to the Atlanta Braves for Greg McMichael. The New York Mets sent Andy Zwirchitz (minors) (May 25, 1997) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade.Paul Byrd Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 19, 1996: Mike Bielecki was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves.https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bielemi01.shtml Mike Bielecki Stats March 25, 1997: Kenny Lofton was traded by the Cleveland Indians with Alan Embree to the Atlanta Braves for Marquis Grissom and David Justice. Regular season The first game at Turner Field took place on April 4, 1997, with Denny Neagle making the start for the Braves.100 Things Braves Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die: Revised and Updated, Jack Wilkinson, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2019, ISBN 978-1-62937-694-3, p.140 Opening day starters Kenny Lofton – CF Mark Lemke – 2B Chipper Jones – 3B Fred McGriff – 1B Ryan Klesko – LF Michael Tucker – RF Javy López – C Jeff Blauser – SS John Smoltz – P Season standings Atlanta Braves Record vs. opponents ATL Roster 1997 Atlanta Braves Roster Pitchers 26 Mike Bielecki 50 Joe Borowski 49 Chris Brock 45 Paul Byrd 38 Mike Cather 30 Brad Clontz 32 Alan Embree 40 Chad Fox 47 Tom Glavine 50 John LeRoy 46 Kerry Ligtenberg 31 Greg Maddux 34 Kevin Millwood 15 Denny Neagle 29 John Smoltz 36 Terrell Wade 43 Mark Wohlers Catchers  8 Javy López 48 Greg Myers 12 Eddie Pérez  9 Tim Spehr Infielders  2 Rafael Belliard  4 Jeff Blauser 23 Greg Colbrunn 11 Ed Giovanola 14 Tony Graffanino 10 Chipper Jones 20 Mark Lemke  1 Keith Lockhart 27 Fred McGriff 16 Mike Mordecai 33 Randall Simon Outfielders 17 Danny Bautista 19 Tommy Gregg 25 Andruw Jones 18 Ryan Klesko  7 Kenny Lofton 24 Michael TuckerManager  6 Bobby Cox Coaches 37 Jim Beauchamp (bench) 39 Pat Corrales (third base) 22 Bobby Dews (first base) 28 Clarence Jones (hitting) 54 Leo Mazzone (pitching) 42 Ned Yost (bullpen) Game log Atlanta Braves 1997 Game Log: 101–61 (Home: 50–31; Away: 51–30) y Atlanta Braves April: 19–6 (Home: 12–2; Away: 7–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 || April 1 || @ Astros || 1–2 || Reynolds (1–0) || Smoltz (0–1) || Wagner (1) || 44,618 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 || April 2 || @ Astros || 3–4 || Hampton (1–0) || Maddux (0–1) || Wagner (2) || 16,308 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || April 3 || @ Astros || 3–2 || Glavine (1–0) || Kile (0–1) || Wohlers (1) || 17,963 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || April 4 || Cubs || 5–4 || Clontz (1–0) || Adams (0–1) || Wohlers (2) || 45,044 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="#cccccc" | – || April 5 || Cubs || colspan=7|Suspended (rain); completed April 6suspended Game was suspended in the bottom of the 7th with the Braves leading 8–5. |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || Cubs || 11–5 || Smoltz (1–1) || Casian (0–1) || — || 45,698 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || April 6 || Cubs || 4–0 || Maddux (1–1) || Mulholland (0–2) || — || 41,318 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || April 8 || Astros || 4–2 || Glavine (2–0) || Hampton (1–1) || Wohlers (3) || 31,064 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 || April 9 || Astros || 4–3 (12) || Embree (1–0) || Lima (0–1) || — || 33,986 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 || April 10 || Astros || 3–5 || Holt (1–0) || Smoltz (1–2) || Hudek (1) || 33,637 || 6–3 |- bgcolor="#cccccc" | – || April 11 || @ Cubs || colspan=7|Postponed (snow); rescheduled for July 22 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 || April 12 || @ Cubs || 2–1 || Bielecki (1–0) || Patterson (0–1) || Wohlers (4) || 23,944 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 || April 13 || @ Cubs || 6–4 || Clontz (2–0) || Wendell (0–1) || Wohlers (5) || 21,244 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 || April 14 || Reds || 15–5 || Neagle (1–0) || Schourek (0–2) || — || 31,427 || 9–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || April 15 || Reds || 3–0 || Smoltz (2–2) || Mercker (1–1) || — || 31,962 || 10–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 || April 16 || Reds || 7–1 || Byrd (1–0) || Smiley (1–3) || — || 38,411 || 11–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 || April 18 || @ Rockies || 14–0 || Glavine (3–0) || Wright (2–1) || — || 48,070 || 12–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || April 19 || @ Rockies || 8–7 || Neagle (2–0) || Ritz (1–3) || Bielecki (1) || 48,065 || 13–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 || April 20 || @ Rockies || 2–9 || Holmes (1–0) || Smoltz (2–3) || — || 48,155 || 13–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 || April 22 || @ Giants || 4–0 || Maddux (2–1) || Van Landingham (1–1) || — || 18,404 || 14–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 || April 23 || @ Giants || 3–4 || Henry (2–0) || Embree (1–1) || — || 17,050 || 14–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 || April 25 || Padres || 5–4 || Neagle (3–0) || Cunnane (0–1) || Wohlers (6) || 43,376 || 15–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || April 26 || Padres || 3–2 (10) || Wohlers (1–0) || Hoffman (0–1) || — || 45,473 || 16–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || April 27 || Padres || 2–0 (5) || Maddux (3–1) || Valenzuela (1–3) || — || 36,399 || 17–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 || April 28 || Dodgers || 14–0 || Glavine (4–0) || Martinez (2–2) || — || 28,357 || 18–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 || April 29 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Park (1–1) || Wade (0–1) || — || 35,442 || 18–6 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 || April 30 || @ Reds || 12–3 || Neagle (4–0) || Mercker (1–3) || — || 18,278 || 19–6 y Atlanta Braves May: 17–11 (Home: 8–6; Away: 9–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || May 1 || @ Reds || 4–2 || Smoltz (3–3) || Burba (3–3) || Wohlers (7) || 19,991 || 20–6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 27 || May 2 || Pirates || 2–3 || Peters (1–0) || Bielecki (1–1) || Loiselle (1) || 37,577 || 20–7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 28 || May 3 || Pirates || 0–3 || Loaiza (3–0) || Glavine (4–1) || Rincon (2) || 46,602 || 20–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 || May 4 || Pirates || 3–1 || Wade (1–1) || Cordova (1–3) || Wohlers (8) || 42,037 || 21–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 || May 5 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Neagle (5–0) || Al. Benes (3–3) || Wohlers (9) || 26,113 || 22–8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 || May 6 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Mathews (1–1) || Bielecki (1–2) || Eckersley (7) || 28,620 || 22–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 || May 7 || @ Marlins || 3–2 (10) || Byrd (2–0) || Powell (0–1) || Bielecki (2) || 26,838 || 23–9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 || May 8 || @ Marlins || 1–5 || Saunders (1–1) || Glavine (4–2) || — || 32,088 || 23–10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 || May 9 || @ Pirates || 0–9 || Cordova (2–3) || Wade (1–2) || — || 18,006 || 23–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 || May 10 || @ Pirates || 9–3 || Neagle (6–0) || Lieber (1–4) || — || 34,143 || 24–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || May 11 || @ Pirates || 8–2 || Smoltz (4–3) || Cooke (3–4) || — || 29,895 || 25–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 || May 12 || @ Pirates || 10–2 || Maddux (4–1) || Schmidt (1–2) || — || 12,114 || 26–11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 38 || May 13 || Marlins || 5–11 || Saunders (2–1) || Wade (1–3) || — || 38,365 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 || May 14 || Marlins || 3–4 || Brown (4–2) || Bielecki (1–3) || Nen (10) || 38,902 || 26–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 || May 16 || Cardinals || 1–0 (13) || Borowski (1–0) || Frascatore (2–2) || — || 46,626 || 27–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 || May 17 || Cardinals || 11–6 || Smoltz (5–3) || Morris (1–2) || — || 48,366 || 28–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 || May 18 || Cardinals || 5–1 || Glavine (5–2) || An. Benes (2–2) || — || 35,046 || 29–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || May 19 || Cardinals || 7–3 || Neagle (7–0) || Stottlemyre (2–3) || — || 33,497 || 30–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 || May 20 || Expos || 4–2 || Wade (2–3) || Hermanson (1–3) || Wohlers (10) || 38,278 || 31–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 || May 21 || Expos || 3–2 || Maddux (5–1) || Urbina (2–3) || — || 41,528 || 32–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || May 23 || @ Dodgers || 4–2 || Smoltz (6–3) || Astacio (3–3) || Wohlers (11) || 38,735 || 33–13 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 || May 24 || @ Dodgers || 3–10 || Martinez (4–3) || Glavine (5–3) || — || 49,074 || 33–14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 || May 25 || @ Dodgers || 0–2 || Valdez (3–5) || Neagle (7–1) || To. Worrell (13) || 40,417 || 33–15 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || May 26 || @ Padres || 12–5 || Borowski (2–0) || Ti. Worrell (2–6) || — || 17,265 || 34–15 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || May 27 || @ Padres || 9–2 || Maddux (6–1) || Hamilton (3–2) || — || 18,231 || 35–15 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 || May 29 || Giants || 2–4 || Estes (7–2) || Smoltz (6–4) || Beck (16) || 38,844 || 35–16 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || May 30 || Giants || 3–2 || Wohlers (2–0) || Henry (2–1) || — || 45,181 || 36–16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 || May 31 || Giants || 4–6 || Poole (2–0) || Borowski (2–1) || Beck (17) || 46,445 || 36–17 y Atlanta Braves June: 16–12 (Home: 5–5; Away: 11–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 || June 1 || Giants || 4–3 || Bielecki (2–3) || Poole (2–1) || Wohlers (12) || 46,501 || 37–17 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 || June 2 || Padres || 4–5 || Murray (1–0) || Maddux (6–2) || Hoffman (9) || 33,659 || 37–18 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 || June 3 || Padres || 2–5 || Smith (1–0) || Wohlers (2–1) || Hoffman (10) || 41,902 || 37–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 || June 4 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Glavine (6–3) || Juden (5–2) || — || 16,429 || 38–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 || June 5 || @ Expos || 9–0 || Neagle (8–1) || Hermanson (2–4) || — || 12,212 || 39–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 || June 6 || @ Giants || 9–5 || Byrd (3–0) || Roa (1–4) || — || 16,948 || 40–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 || June 7 || @ Giants || 5–2 || Maddux (7–2) || Henry (2–2) || Wohlers (13) || 30,440 || 41–19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 || June 8 || @ Giants || 3–5 || Poole (3–1) || Smoltz (6–5) || Beck (19) || 36,689 || 41–20 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 || June 9 || @ Rockies || 3–8 || Bailey (6–5) || Glavine (6–4) || — || 48,047 || 41–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 || June 10 || @ Rockies || 8–3 || Neagle (9–1) || Ritz (5–5) || — || 48,103 || 42–21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 64 || June 11 || @ Rockies || 6–9 || Thomson (2–4) || Clontz (2–1) || — || 48,633 || 42–22 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 || June 13 || Orioles || 3–4 || Key (11–1) || Maddux (7–3) || Myers (21) || 48,334 || 42–23 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 || June 14 || Orioles || 4–6 (12) || Rhodes (4–2) || Borowski (2–2) || Myers (22) || 47,344 || 42–24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 || June 15 || Orioles || 3–5 (10) || Mathews (1–1) || Wohlers (2–2) || Myers (23) || 48,088 || 42–25 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 || June 16 || @ Blue Jays || 3–0 || Neagle (10–1) || Clemens (11–2) || — || 34,409 || 43–25 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 || June 17 || @ Blue Jays || 8–7 || Maddux (8–3) || Andujar (0–3) || Wohlers (14) || 31,356 || 44–25 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 || June 18 || @ Blue Jays || 3–5 || Williams (2–6) || Smoltz (6–6) || Timlin (6) || 31,717 || 44–26 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 || June 20 || @ Phillies || 4–1 || Glavine (7–4) || Leiter (4–8) || — || 20,648 || 45–26 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 || June 21 || @ Phillies || 9–8 || Clontz (3–1) || Blazier (0–1) || Wohlers (15) || 24,309 || 46–26 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 || June 22 || @ Phillies || 12–5 || Maddux (9–3) || Stephenson (2–3) || — || 25,534 || 47–26 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 || June 23 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Reed (5–4) || Smoltz (6–7) || — || 22,193 || 47–27 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 || June 24 || @ Mets || 5–6 || McMichael (4–6) || Wohlers (2–3) || — || 26,663 || 47–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 || June 25 || @ Mets || 14–7 || Glavine (8–4) || Jones (12–4) || — || 27,980 || 48–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 || June 26 || Phillies || 5–4 || Neagle (11–1) || Beech (0–3) || Wohlers (16) || 41,762 || 49–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 || June 27 || Phillies || 7–1 || Maddux (10–3) || Stephenson (2–4) || — || 48,234 || 50–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 || June 28 || Phillies || 9–1 || Smoltz (7–7) || Schilling (9–7) || — || 48,557 || 51–28 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 || June 29 || Phillies || 6–5 || Bielecki (3–3) || Brewer (0–1) || Wohlers (17) || 47,902 || 52–28 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 || June 30 || @ Yankees || 0–1 (10) || Stanton (5–0) || Bielecki (3–4) || — || 39,887 || 52–29 y Atlanta Braves July: 17–11 (Home: 9–6; Away: 8–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 || July 1 || @ Yankees || 3–1 || Neagle (12–1) || Mendoza (3–3) || Wohlers (18) || 39,596 || 53–29 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 83 || July 2 || @ Yankees || 2–0 || Maddux (11–3) || Gooden (3–1) || — || 36,606 || 54–29 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 84 || July 3 || @ Expos || 15–2 || Smoltz (8–7) || Bullinger (5–8) || — || 18,064 || 55–29 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 85 || July 4 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Clontz (4–1) || Urbina (2–6) || Wohlers (19) || 19,939 || 56–29 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 86 || July 5 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Glavine (9–4) || Martinez (10–4) || Wohlers (20) || 24,788 || 57–29 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 87 || July 6 || @ Expos || 2–6 || Juden (11–2) || Neagle (12–2) || — || 21,316 || 57–30 |- bgcolor="bbcaff" | colspan=9 | 68th All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 88 || July 10 || Mets || 7–10 || McMichael (5–6) || Bielecki (3–5) || Franco (21) || 47,685 || 57–31 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 89 || July 11 || Mets || 7–9 || Lidle (4–1) || Glavine (9–5) || Franco (22) || 40,094 || 57–32 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 90 || July 12 || Mets || 7–4 || Maddux (12–3) || Clark (7–6) || Wohlers (21) || 48,091 || 58–32 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 91 || July 13 || Mets || 6–7 (10) || McMichael (6–6) || Bielecki (3–6) || Franco (23) || 42,111 || 58–33 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 92 || July 14 || Phillies || 10–6 || Millwood (1–0) || Brewer (0–2) || Wohlers (22) || 38,118 || 59–33 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 93 || July 15 || Phillies || 1–8 || Stephenson (3–4) || Smoltz (8–8) || — || 39,494|| 59–34 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 94 || July 16 || Rockies || 2–1 || Glavine (10–5) || Dipoto (3–2) || Wohlers (23) || 48,400 || 60–34 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 95 || July 17 || Rockies || 8–2 || Maddux (13–3) || Swift (4–3) || — || 48,024 || 61–34 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 96 || July 18 || Dodgers || 4–1 || Neagle (13–2) || Reyes (1–1) || Wohlers (24) || 48,721 || 62–34 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 97 || July 19 || Dodgers || 1–4 || Astacio (6–7) || Millwood (1–1) || Radinsky (1) || 49,758 || 62–35 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 98 || July 20 || Dodgers || 3–8 || Park (8–5) || Smoltz (8–9) || — || 48,414 || 62–36 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 99 || July 21 || Dodgers || 5–4 (10) || Embree (2–1) || Dreifort (3–1) || — || 49,318 || 63–36 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 100 || July 22 (1) || @ Cubs || 4–1 || Maddux (14–3) || Gonzales (7–3) || — || N/A || 64–36 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 101 || July 22 (2) || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Bottenfield (2–2) || Cather (0–1) || Rojas (12) || 31,804 || 64–37 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 102 || July 23 || @ Cubs || 1–3 || Tapani (1–0) || Millwood (1–2) || Rojas (13) || 34,230 || 64–38 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 103 || July 25 || @ Reds || 7–3 || Smoltz (9–9) || Schourek (5–6) || — || 34,931 || 65–38 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 104 || July 26 || @ Reds || 6–7 (11) || Shaw (3–0) || Wohlers (2–4) || — || 33,115 || 65–39 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 105 || July 27 || @ Reds || 3–2 || Maddux (15–3) || Burba (6–10) || Wohlers (25) || 30,167 || 66–39 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 106 || July 28 || Cubs || 6–0 || Neagle (14–2) || Tapani (1–1) || — || 47,266 || 67–39 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 107 || July 29 || Cubs || 7–2 || Millwood (2–2) || Trachsel (5–9) || — || 44,131 || 68–39 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 108 || July 30 || Cubs || 6–5 || Embree (3–1) || Rojas (0–4) || — || 43,090 || 69–39 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 109 || July 31 || @ Marlins || 0–1 || Saunders (3–3) || Byrd (3–1) || Nen (27) || 18,409 || 69–40 y Atlanta Braves August: 16–11 (Home: 8–6; Away: 8–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 110 || August 1 || @ Marlins || 2–3 (12) || Powell (2–2) || Cather (0–2) || — || 40,669 || 69–41 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 111 || August 2 || @ Marlins || 4–2 || Neagle (15–2) || Leiter (8–7) || Wohlers (26) || 41,643 || 70–41 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 112 || August 3 || @ Marlins || 4–8 || Fernandez (13–8) || Millwood (2–3) || — || 41,193 || 70–42 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 113 || August 4 || @ Pirates || 6–0 || Smoltz (10–9) || Cooke (8–11) || — || 21,609 || 71–42 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 114 || August 5 || @ Pirates || 4–5 || Schmidt (7–6) || Glavine (10–6) || Loiselle (18) || 20,069 || 71–43 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 115 || August 6 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Wohlers (3–4) || Petkovsek (4–5) || — || 46,880 || 72–43 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 116 || August 7 || Cardinals || 3–0 || Neagle (16–2) || Stottlemyre (11–8) || Wohlers (27) || 46,687 || 73–43 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 117 || August 8 || Marlins || 4–6 || Fernandez (14–8) || Byrd (3–2) || Nen (28) || 49,335 || 73–44 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 118 || August 9 || Marlins || 4–3 || Smoltz (11–9) || Stanifer (1–1) || Wohlers (28) || 47,552 || 74–44 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 119 || August 10 || Marlins || 2–4 (10) || Powell (3–2) || Bielecki (3–7) || Nen (29) || 47,649 || 74–45 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 120 || August 11 || Marlins || 2–1 || Wohlers (4–4) || Heredia (4–2) || — || 47,870 || 75–45 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 121 || August 12 || Pirates || 2–5 || Sodowsky (2–2) || Wohlers (4–5) || Loiselle (19) || 42,435 || 75–46 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 122 || August 13 || Pirates || 1–2 || Lieber (7–12) || Smoltz (11–10) || Loiselle (20) || 40,793 || 75–47 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 123 || August 15 || @ Cardinals || 2–3 (12) || King (1–0) || Cather (0–3) || — || 43,863 || 75–48 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 124 || August 16 || @ Cardinals || 5–3 || Maddux (16–3) || Morris (8–8) || Wohlers (29) || 47,229 || 76–48 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 125 || August 17 || @ Cardinals || 1–3 || King (2–0) || Neagle (16–3) || Eckersley (29) || 40,968 || 76–49 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 126 || August 19 || @ Astros || 4–3 || Smoltz (12–10) || Hampton (10–8) || Wohlers (30) || 32,145 || 77–49 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 127 || August 20 || @ Astros || 3–1 || Glavine (11–6) || Reynolds (6–8) || Wohlers (31) || 25,593 || 78–49 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 128 || August 22 || Reds || 6–2 || Maddux (17–3) || Remlinger (6–5) || — || 48,937 || 79–49 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 129 || August 23 || Reds || 10–3 || Neagle (17–3) || Tomko (8–5) || — || 48,499 || 80–49 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 130 || August 24 || Reds || 4–6 (10) || Shaw (4–2) || Fox (0–1) || Belinda (1) || 45,577 || 80–50 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 131 || August 26 || Astros || 7–6 (11) || Clontz (5–1) || Wagner (7–6) || — || 37,313 || 81–50 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 132 || August 27 || Astros || 4–6 (13) || Hudek (1–2) || Byrd (3–3) || Lima (2) || 33,019 || 81–51 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 133 || August 28 || Astros || 4–2 || Neagle (18–3) || Kile (17–4) || Wohlers (32) || 37,849 || 82–51 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 134 || August 29 || @ Red Sox || 9–1 || Smoltz (13–10) || Sele (12–11) || — || 32,577 || 83–51 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 135 || August 30 || @ Red Sox || 15–2 || Millwood (3–3) || Wakefield (9–15) || — || 32,865 || 84–51 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 136 || August 31 || @ Red Sox || 7–3 || Glavine (12–6) || Avery (6–6) || — || 33,147 || 85–51 y Atlanta Braves September: 16–10 (Home: 8–6; Away: 8–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 137 || September 1 || Tigers || 2–4 || Moehler (9–10) || Maddux (17–4) || T. Jones (26) || 38,950 || 85–52 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 138 || September 2 || Tigers || 5–0 || Neagle (19–3) || Keagle (1–4) || — || 32,308 || 86–52 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 139 || September 3 || Tigers || 4–12 || Blair (15–6) || Smoltz (13–11) || — || 36,556 || 86–53 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 140 || September 4 || @ Padres || 8–7 (11) || Wohlers (5–5) || Worrell (3–8) || — || 12,804 || 87–53 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 141 || September 5 || @ Padres || 2–6 || Ashby (8–10) || Glavine (12–7) || — || 21,492 || 87–54 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 142 || September 6 || @ Padres || 9–1 || Maddux (18–4) || Hitchcock (10–9) || — || 32,099 || 88–54 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 143 || September 7 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Neagle (20–3) || Hamilton (10–6) || — || 21,052 || 89–54 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 144 || September 9 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 || Smoltz (14–11) || Valdez (9–11) || Wohlers (33) || 37,270 || 90–54 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 145 || September 10 || @ Dodgers || 7–0 || Glavine (13–7) || R. Martinez (9–4) || — || 41,564 || 91–54 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 146 || September 12 || Rockies || 1–3 || Munoz (3–3) || Wohlers (5–6) || Dipoto (14) || 47,772 || 91–55 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 147 || September 13 || Rockies || 6–10 || Holmes (8–2) || Cather (0–4) || DeJean (2) || 49,097 || 91–56 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 148 || September 14 || Rockies || 0–4 || Astacio (11–9) || Smoltz (14–12) || — || 46,245 || 91–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 149 || September 15 || Giants || 5–4 || Ligtenberg (1–0) || Beck (5–4) || — || 38,641 || 92–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 150 || September 16 || Giants || 6–4 || Millwood (4–3) || Alvarez (12–11) || — || 37,661 || 93–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 151 || September 17 || Mets || 10–2 || Maddux (19–4) || B. Jones (14–9) || — || 40,974 || 94–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 152 || September 18 || Mets || 11–4 || Byrd (4–3) || Isringhausen (2–2) || — || 41,373 || 95–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 153 || September 19 || Expos || 2–1 || Smoltz (15–12) || Perez (12–12) || — || 47,156 || 96–57 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 154 || September 20 || Expos || 3–1 || Glavine (14–7) || P. Martinez (17–8) || — || 48,147 || 97–57 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 155 || September 21 || Expos || 1–7 || DeHart (2–1) || Neagle (20–4) || — || 47,179 || 97–58 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 156 || September 22 || Expos || 3–2 (11) || Cather (1–4) || Bennett (0–1) || — || 41,268 || 98–58 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 157 || September 23 || @ Phillies || 6–0 || Millwood (5–3) || Leiter (10–17) || — || 14,264 || 99–58 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 158 || September 24 || @ Phillies || 1–5 || Stephenson (8–6) || Byrd (4–4) || — || 16,772 || 99–59 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 159 || September 25 || @ Phillies || 3–2 (10) || Cather (2–4) || Spradlin (3–8) || Clontz (1) || 15,030 || 100–59 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 160 || September 26 || @ Mets || 7–6 (11) || LeRoy (1–0) || Rojas (0–6) || Ligtenberg (1) || 21,864 || 101–59 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 161 || September 27 || @ Mets || 1–2 || Crawford (4–3) || Wohlers (5–7) || — || 31,472 || 101–60 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 162 || September 28 || @ Mets || 2–8 || Acevedo (3–1) || Neagle (20–5) || — || 27,176 || 101–61 |- | Legend:      #cfc = Win      #fcc = LossBold = Braves team member Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Javy López 123 414 122 .295 23 68 1B Fred McGriff 152 564 156 .277 22 97 2B Mark Lemke 109 351 86 .245 2 26 SS Jeff Blauser 151 519 160 .308 17 70 3B Chipper Jones 157 597 176 .295 21 111 LF Ryan Klesko 143 467 122 .261 24 84 CF Kenny Lofton 122 493 164 .333 5 48 RF Michael Tucker 138 499 141 .283 14 56 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI Andruw Jones 153 399 92 .231 18 70 Eddie Pérez 73 191 41 .215 6 18 Tony Graffanino 104 186 48 .258 8 20 Keith Lockhart 96 147 41 .279 6 32 Danny Bautista 64 103 25 .243 3 9 Mike Mordecai 61 81 14 .173 0 3 Rafael Belliard 72 71 15 .211 1 3 Greg Colbrunn 28 54 15 .278 2 9 Tommy Gregg 13 19 5 .263 0 0 Randall Simon 13 14 6 .429 0 1 Tim Spehr 8 14 3 .214 1 4 Greg Myers 9 9 1 .111 0 1 Ed Giovanola 14 8 2 .250 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note; G = Games pitched, IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO John Smoltz 35 256.0 15 12 3.02 241 Tom Glavine 33 240.0 14 7 2.96 152 Denny Neagle 34 233.1 20 5 2.97 172 Greg Maddux 33 232.2 19 4 2.20 177 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Kevin Millwood 12 51.1 5 3 4.03 42 Terrell Wade 12 42.0 2 3 5.36 35 Chris Brock 7 30.2 0 0 5.58 16 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO Mark Wohlers 71 5 7 33 3.50 92 Alan Embree 66 3 1 0 2.54 45 Brad Clontz 51 5 1 1 3.75 42 Mike Bielecki 50 3 7 2 4.08 60 Mike Cather 35 2 4 0 2.39 29 Paul Byrd 31 4 4 0 5.26 37 Chad Fox 30 0 1 0 3.29 28 Joe Borowski 20 2 2 0 3.75 6 Kerry Ligtenberg 15 1 0 1 3.00 19 John LeRoy 1 1 0 0 0.00 3 Turner Field thumb|right|Turner Field exterior from Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard In 1997, the Braves moved into Turner Field. The ballpark was built across the street from the former home of the Braves, Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, which was demolished in the summer of 1997. The most popular name choice among Atlanta residents for the new stadium at the time of its construction (according to a poll in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) was Hank Aaron Stadium. After the ballpark was instead named after Ted Turner, the city of Atlanta renamed the section of Capitol Avenue on which the stadium sits Hank Aaron Drive, giving Turner Field the street number 755, after Aaron's home run total. After the 1996 Summer Olympics were complete the stadium was officially given as a gift to the Atlanta National League Baseball Club, Inc. (the Atlanta Braves) Ted Turner, then owner of the Braves, agreed to pay a large sum of the cost to build Centennial Olympic Stadium (approximately $170 million of the $209 million bill), if in turn, the stadium was built in a way that it could be converted to a new baseball stadium and that the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG) paid for the conversion.At Close of Games, Braves Will Move Into Olympic Stadium Sandomir Richard July 30, 1996 July 24, 2008 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/specials/olympics/0730/oly-stadium-braves.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080628184724/http://www.nytimes.com/specials/olympics/0730/oly-stadium-braves.html June 28, 2008 live mdy This was considered a good agreement for both the Olympic Committee and the Braves, because there would be no use for a permanent 85,000 seat track and field stadium in Downtown Atlanta (as the 71,000 seat Georgia Dome was completed four years earlier by the state of Georgia) and the Braves had already been exploring opportunities for a new stadium.Turner Field Scott Kendrick About.com http://baseball.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/MLB-Stadiums-Gallery/Turner-Field.htm July 24, 2008 July 16, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022309/http://baseball.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/MLB-Stadiums-Gallery/Turner-Field.htm dead Postseason Game log Atlanta Braves 1997 Postseason Game Log y Atlanta Braves National League Division Series: 3–0 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || September 30 || Astros || 2–1 || Maddux (1–0) || Kile (0–1) || — || 46,467 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || October 1 || Astros || 13–3 || Glavine (1–0) || Hampton (0–1) || — || 49,200 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || October 3 || @ Astros || 4–1 || Smoltz (1–0) || Reynolds (0–1) || — || 53,688 || 3–0 y Atlanta Braves National League Championship Series: 2–4 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 1 || October 7 || Marlins || 3–5 || Brown (1–0) || Maddux (1–1) || Nen (1) || 49,244 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || October 8 || Marlins || 7–1 || Glavine (2–0) || Fernandez (1–1) || — || 48,933 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 3 || October 10 || @ Marlins || 2–5 || Hernandez (1–0) || Smoltz (1–1) || Nen (2) || 53,857 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || October 11 || @ Marlins || 4–0 || Neagle (1–0) || Leiter (0–1) || — || 54,890 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 5 || October 12 || @ Marlins || 1–2 || Hernandez (2–0) || Maddux (1–2) || — || 51,982 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffcccc" | 6 || October 14 || Marlins || 4–7 || Brown (2–0) || Glavine (2–1) || — || 50,446 || 2–4 Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Richmond Braves International League Bill Dancy AA Greenville Braves Southern League Randy Ingle A Durham Bulls Carolina League Paul Runge A Macon Braves South Atlantic League Brian Snitker A-Short Season Eugene Emeralds Northwest League Jim Saul Rookie Danville Braves Appalachian League Rick Albert Rookie GCL Braves Gulf Coast League Frank HowardLEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GreenvilleJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007 References External links 1997 Atlanta Braves at Baseball Reference Braves on Baseball Almanac 100% Category:Atlanta Braves seasons Atlanta Braves Season, 1997 Category:National League East champion seasons Atlanta Braves Season, 1997 Atlanta