1998 Atlanta Braves season


The 1998 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 33rd season in Atlanta and 128th overall. They went on to win their fourth consecutive division title, taking the National League East title by 18 games over the second place New York Mets.
The team featured six all stars: shortstop Walt Weiss and third baseman Chipper Jones were voted as starters, while first baseman Andrés Galarraga, catcher Javy López, and pitchers Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux were selected as reserves. Jones and Lopez each hit over 30 home runs as Galaragga led the club in home runs and RBI. Galaragga finished as an MVP candidate.
The 1998 Braves beat the Chicago Cubs three games to none in the National League Division Series. In the next round Atlanta then lost to the San Diego Padres in the National League Championship Series four games to two. Despite winning two games after losing the first three, Atlanta's comeback bid came short by being eliminated in game 6. San Diego's winning over Atlanta was seen as one of the biggest upsets in postseason history.
This team has earned a few historic accolades. ESPN writer David Schoenfield lists them as one of the top teams in MLB history to not win a World Series
ESPN columnist Jeff Merron also writes that the pitching staff of Maddux, Glavine, John Smoltz, Denny Neagle, and Kevin Millwood was the greatest of all time. The quintet posted a cumulative 2.97 ERA and amassed 88 wins, equaling the win total of the 2nd place Mets. The 1998 Braves are the only team in MLB history to have five pitchers each strike out 150 batters in the same season. Glavine, the lone 20 game winner in the National League for that year, won the Cy Young Award.

Offseason

Opening Day starters

C Eddie Perez
1B Andres Galarraga
2B Tony Graffanino
3B Chipper Jones
SS Walt Weiss
LF Ryan Klesko
CF Andruw Jones
RF Michael Tucker
P Greg Maddux

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Transactions

Player stats

Batting

Starting Players
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
CJavy López133489139.28434107
1BAndrés Galarraga153555169.30544121
2BKeith Lockhart10936694.257937
SSWalt Weiss9634797.280027
3BChipper Jones160601188.31334107
LFRyan Klesko129427117.2741870
CFAndruw Jones159582158.2713190
RFMichael Tucker130414101.2441346

Other batters

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

N/A
Relief pitchers

National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs

Atlanta wins the series, 3-0

National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 7: Turner Field in Atlanta

Game 2

October 8: Turner Field in Atlanta

Game 3

October 10: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California

Game 4

October 11: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California

Game 5

October 12: Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California

Game 6

October 14: Turner Field in Atlanta

Award winners

1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game