The Atlanta Braves were one of the most successful teams in the 1990s. During this decade, the team won a record 14 consecutive division titles. This was an unprecedented level of success for a professional sports franchise. While the entire team was a force to be reckoned with, there were a few standout performers who truly made the Braves a dynasty. In this article, we take a look at the best Atlanta Braves pitcher of the 90s to find out who it was.
Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine was one of the most dominant pitchers of the 90s. He was selected in the second round of the 1984 MLB draft by the Braves and quickly rose to the top of the team’s pitching staff. During his time with the Braves, he was a five-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award twice. He also led the league in wins three times and had a career ERA of 3.54. His most impressive accomplishment, however, was helping the Braves win the 1995 World Series. In that series, he pitched two complete games and was named the MVP.
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux was another dominant pitcher for the Braves in the 90s. He was acquired in a trade from the Chicago Cubs in 1993 and quickly become one of the best pitchers in the league. During his time with the Braves, he was a four-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award four times. He also led the league in ERA five times and had a career ERA of 3.27. He also had a remarkable 11-year run with the Braves in which he consistently put up impressive numbers.
John Smoltz
John Smoltz was the third member of the Braves’ “Big Three” pitching staff in the 90s. He was drafted by the Braves in the first round of the 1985 MLB draft and quickly rose to the top of the team’s pitching staff. During his time with the Braves, he was a seven-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award once. He also led the league in saves four times and had a career ERA of 3.33. He was also an integral part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win, as he was the winning pitcher in the decisive Game 6.
Steve Avery
Steve Avery was another dominant pitcher for the Braves in the 90s. He was selected in the first round of the 1988 MLB draft and quickly rose to the top of the team’s pitching staff. During his time with the Braves, he was a two-time All-Star and had a career ERA of 3.50. He also led the league in wins and ERA once each. He was also an important part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win, as he was the winning pitcher in the decisive Game 7.
Denny Neagle
Denny Neagle was the fifth member of the Braves’ “Big Five” pitching staff in the 90s. He was acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996 and quickly become one of the best pitchers in the league. During his time with the Braves, he was a two-time All-Star and had a career ERA of 3.38. He also led the league in wins and ERA once each. He was also an important part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win, as he pitched a complete game in the decisive Game 6.
Conclusion
The Atlanta Braves had an impressive array of pitchers during the 90s. Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Steve Avery, and Denny Neagle all had impressive careers with the team. In terms of the best Braves pitcher of the 90s, the award has to go to Greg Maddux. He was the most dominant pitcher on the team and was an integral part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win. He also had a remarkable 11-year run with the Braves in which he consistently put up impressive numbers.
Awards
Tom Glavine
- Five-time All-Star
- Two-time Cy Young Award Winner
- Led the league in wins three times
- Career ERA of 3.54
- 1995 World Series MVP
Greg Maddux
- Four-time All-Star
- Four-time Cy Young Award Winner
- Led the league in ERA five times
- Career ERA of 3.27
- 11-year run with the Braves
John Smoltz
- Seven-time All-Star
- One-time Cy Young Award Winner
- Led the league in saves four times
- Career ERA of 3.33
- Winning pitcher in the 1995 World Series Game 6
Steve Avery
- Two-time All-Star
- Led the league in wins and ERA once each
- Career ERA of 3.50
- Winning pitcher in the 1995 World Series Game 7
Denny Neagle
- Two-time All-Star
- Led the league in wins and ERA once each
- Career ERA of 3.38
- Pitched a complete game in the 1995 World Series Game 6
Final Thoughts
The Atlanta Braves had an impressive array of pitchers during the 90s, but the best of them all was clearly Greg Maddux. He was the most dominant pitcher on the team and was an integral part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win. He also had a remarkable 11-year run with the Braves in which he consistently put up impressive numbers. His dominance on the mound made him the clear choice for the best Braves pitcher of the 90s.
Conclusion
The Atlanta Braves had an impressive array of pitchers during the 90s, but the best of them all was undoubtedly Greg Maddux. He was the most dominant pitcher on the team and was an integral part of the Braves’ 1995 World Series win. He also had a remarkable 11-year run with the Braves in which he consistently put up impressive numbers. His dominance on the mound made him the clear choice for the best Braves pitcher of the 90s.