Atlanta Braves History: Things didn’t start well (1900)

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) had seen some pretty good days under Manager Frank Selee but 1900 brought a continued decline under his leadership. They ended up 66-72, 17 games behind in fourth place. Closer to last than third.

They year started out on a bad note. In 1899, several players didn’t like how moody catcher Marty Bergen was. So much so, they said they wouldn’t play with him next year. I guess no one really knew how troubled he was. On January 19, Marty’s father discovered how bad it was. Bergen used a razor and ax to kill his wife, three year old son, new born daughter and himself.

Things did not start well and did not finish well.

Atlanta Braves History: Fred Tenney belts a home run in his rookie year (July 21, 1894)

As a rookie in 1894, Fred Tenney got off to a very good start with the Boston Bean Eaters (now the Atlanta Braves). On July 21, in a 14-3 Boston win over New York‚  Fred belts a home run off Jouett Meekin. It would be 1 of 3 home runs for the season.

He would play in 21 games that year and end up with a .395 batting average. Much better than he would do next year when he played in 49 games and batted .272.

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Atlanta Braves History: Not always as it seems (1890)

The Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves) finished fifth in 1890 12 games behind with a 76-57 record. The year before they had finished second. It was clearly a disappointing year for first year manager Frank Selee.

It was however, a prelude to one of the most prosperous periods in the franchise history.

It was a  year of  “labor” problems. The players got very upset with the owners. . They started their own league. Imagine that happening today. Hard to imagine for sure. As a result, the Beaneaters were decimated.

But, things are not always as it first appears. Success was just right around the corner.

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Atlanta Braves History: New Management (1902)

After 12 seasons, Frank Selee was out. Al Buckenberger was the new man. In his first year, 1902, he had a 73-64 record finishing third. Only 29 games behind the leader. It was an improvement however.

Frank’s departure was not popular at all. Many felt he was the scapegoat for the team’s owners. Sound familiar?

Al had managed both in Pittsburgh and St. Louis but had been in the minors before getting the call. He was 41 but had been managing since he was 23. A new era began.

Amazing (1897)

Finally!! In Frank Selee‘s 8th season (1897) as manager, the Braves (Boston Beaneaters) had the best record in the franchise history at that time. They finished first, 93-39 and 2 games ahead. Frank was able to get the best out of them like he did earlier in his career.

How good would this record be in the modern era? A team today would have to win 115 games out of the current 162 game schedule. It was a .705 percentage record. In 1993, the Braves had a .642 record which brought them 104 wins.

This was an amazing year for sure!!

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Called because of heat? (1905)

Playing in Boston on July 12, 1905‚ the Reds score 7 runs in the 6th to beat the Boston Beaneaters (now know as the Atlanta Braves)‚ 15-3 in the first of 2. Rookie Charley Malay hits his only career homer‚ a-3-run home run‚ off Patsy Flaherty.

Because of the intense heat‚ Reds manager Joe Kelley wants game 2 to be limited to 7 innings‚ but Boston manager Fred Tenney insists on 9, so the Braves win‚ 3-2. The next day‚ however‚ game 2 of the double header will be postponed till August.

Was it the name? (1896)

Maybe it was the name. The Beaneaters. It was a disappointing year for the Braves (then known as the Beaneaters) in 1896. The finished fourth with a 74-57 overall record. They were 17 games behind. They had an infusion of talent that would help them over the next few years but not in 1896 though. Frank Selee, the manager, would certainly experience it all during his tenure.

Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901.

It was also the year that Republican William McKinley would defeat William Jennings Bryan for President. He was the last veteran of the War Between the States to be elected for President.

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The slip (1894)

The slip began. It wasn’t a huge slide, but the Boston Beaneaters (now known as the Atlanta Braves) dropped to third in 1894. They had won the pennant the year before. They ended up 83-49 and eight games behind under Frank Selee as the manager that year.

Frank Selee served as manager from 1890 to 1901. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They had been favored to win in 1894. Not in the cards at all though. It ended up being a very tragic season. It started out with a stunning accident to Charlie Bennett. He was a very good catcher. He lost both legs on January 9th when he fell under the wheels of a train in Kansas. The loss set the tone for a very bad year for the Braves.

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Big money didn’t help (1888)

Sometimes owners think you can throw money at the problem and it will work. History teaches us that in sports, sometimes that helps and sometimes it doesn’t. The whole premise of “Money Ball” documents that.

King Kelly (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Triumvirs (the owners) brought in King Kelly in 1887. It didn’t help. In 1888 the Boston Beaneaters (now the Atlanta Braves),  had a 70-64 record in John Morrill‘s fourth and last year as manager. They finished fourth in the league, 15 1/2 games behind. The Triumvirs preceded Ted Turner in being willing to pay for great players. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.

In 1888, it didn’t and Mr. Morrill would be shown the door. It wasn’t a problem of money as much as it was talent.

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Can you buy talent? (1887)

King Kelly (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1887 was just a plain weird year for the Braves (then known as the Boston Beaneaters). No one had ever heard of buying and selling players. A new innovation for the league for sure.

The innovation did not help their record as they barely broke .500 with a 61-60 record ending up fifth in the league, 16 1/2 games behind. It wasn’t ever clear who was the manager. Was it John Morrill or the “$10,000 Beauty” (the bought player), King Kelly?

It would be the third consecutive fifth place finish for the Braves. So much for “buying” talent.

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