Editing Atlanta Braves (section)

===Boston (1871–1952)===
{{main|Boston Braves}}

====1871–1913====
[[File:1890 Boston Beaneaters.jpg|thumb|left|Boston Beaneaters team photo, 1890]]

The [[Cincinnati Red Stockings]], formed in 1869, were the first openly all-professional baseball team but disbanded after the 1870 season.<ref name="longcon">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/11/season-long-tribute-planned-to-pioneering-1869-red/|first1=Dan|last1=Sewell|title=Season-long tribute planned to pioneering 1869 Red Stockings|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> Manager [[Harry Wright]] and players moved to [[Boston]], forming the ''Boston Red Stockings'', a charter team in the [[National Association of Professional Base Ball Players]] (NAPBBP).<ref name="beant">{{cite book|last=Souder|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Souder|title=The Glorious Beaneaters of the 1890s|url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/how-bostonians-became-the-beaneaters/|chapter=How Bostonians Became the Beaneaters|date=December 19, 2019 |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|isbn=978-1970159196}}</ref> Led by the Wright brothers, Ross Barnes, and [[Albert Spalding|Al Spalding]], they dominated the National Association, winning four of five championships.<ref name="NLast"/> The original Boston Red Stockings team and its successors can lay claim to being the oldest continuously playing franchise in American professional sports.<ref name="BravesHistory"/><ref name="longcon"/>

The club was known as the Boston Red Caps when they played the first [[Major League Baseball#Founding|National League]] game in [[1876 in baseball|1876]], winning against the [[Philadelphia Athletics (1860–76)|Philadelphia Athletics]].<ref>[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1876/04221876.htm Events of Saturday, April 22, 1876] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713200303/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1876/04221876.htm |date=July 13, 2015}}. Retrosheet. Retrieved September 30, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Marty|last=Noble|title=MLB carries on strong, 200,000 games later: Look what they started on a ballfield in Philadelphia in 1876|date=September 23, 2011|work=MLB.com|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110922&content_id=25060814&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=ed-5337375-55428157|access-date=September 30, 2011|quote=[B]aseball is about to celebrate its 200,000th game — [in the division series on] Saturday [October 1, 2011] ....|archive-date=February 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201192845/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110922&content_id=25060814&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&partnerId=ed-5337375-55428157|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Thorn|first=John|title=Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues|url=http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2015/05/04/why-is-the-national-association-not-a-major-league-and-other-records-issues/|publisher=[[Major League Baseball Advanced Media]]|website=OurGame.MLBlogs.com|date=May 4, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2015|quote=The National Association, 1871–1875, shall not be considered as a 'major league' due to its erratic schedule and procedures, but it will continue to be recognized as the first professional baseball league.|archive-date=October 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022052623/http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2015/05/04/why-is-the-national-association-not-a-major-league-and-other-records-issues/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite a weaker roster in the league's first year, they rebounded to secure the 1877 and 1878 pennants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-boston-wins-5th-pennant/140866715/|title=Sporting Matters|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=October 7, 1878|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> Managed by [[Frank Selee]], they were a dominant force in the 19th century, winning eight pennants.<ref name="beant"/><ref name="billyh">{{cite book|last=Fleitz|first=David|title=The Glorious Beaneaters of the 1890s|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Billy-Hamilton/|chapter=Billy Hamilton|date=December 19, 2019 |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|isbn=978-1970159196}}</ref> By 1898, the team was known as the [[1898 Boston Beaneaters season|Beaneaters]] and they won 102 games that season, with stars like [[Hugh Duffy]], [[Tommy McCarthy (baseball)|Tommy McCarthy]], and "Slidin'" [[Billy Hamilton (baseball, born 1866)|Billy Hamilton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-boston-wins-1898-pennan/140865941/|first1=T.H.|last1=Murnane|title=Boston Again Champions|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=October 12, 1898|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="beant"/><ref name="billyh"/><ref name="McCarthy">{{cite book|last=Lamb|first=Bill|author-link=Bill Lamb|title=The Glorious Beaneaters of the 1890s|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Tommy-McCarthy/|chapter=Tommy McCarthy|date=December 19, 2019 |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|isbn=978-1970159196}}</ref>

In 1901, the American League was introduced, causing many Beaneaters players including stars Duffy and [[Jimmy Collins]] to leave for clubs of the rival league.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/boston-evening-transcript-beaneaters-lea/140860795/|title=Boston Team Completed|newspaper=[[Boston Evening Transcript]]|date=March 6, 1901|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> The team struggled, having only one winning season from 1900 to 1913. In 1907, they temporarily dropped the red color from their stockings due to infection concerns.<ref name="bgbraves"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/boston-red-sox-team-history-and-facts|title=Get to know the Red Sox for HRDX|first1=Pat|last1=James|website=mlb.com|date=May 27, 2022|access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref>

The club underwent various nickname changes until becoming the Braves before the [[1912 Boston Braves season|1912 season]].<ref name="bgbraves">{{cite news |title=Ward Wants His Team to be Called the "Boston Braves" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24553764/ |first1=T.H. |last1=Murnane |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=December 21, 1911 |access-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423003929/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24553764/the-boston-globe/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The president of the club, John M. Ward named the club after the owner, [[James E. Gaffney|James Gaffney]].<ref name="bgbraves" /> Gaffney was called one of the "braves" of New York City's political machine, [[Tammany Hall]], which used a Native American chief as their symbol.<ref name="bgbraves" /><ref>Kaese, Harold ''The Boston Braves'', Northeastern University Press, 1948.</ref>

====1914: Miracle====
{{main|1914 Boston Braves season}}
{{multiple image
| footer    = A program from the [[1914 World Series]], featuring Braves manager [[George Stallings]] (left). [[Baseball Magazine]] cover, 1914 (right).
| image1    = 1914 Braves.png
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| width1    = {{#expr: (300 * 275 / 390) round 0}}
| image2    = 1914 Boston BaseballMagazine.jpg
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| width2    = {{#expr: (300 * 1218 / 1836) round 0}}
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In 1914, the Boston Braves experienced a remarkable turnaround in what would become one of the most memorable seasons in baseball history.<ref>{{cite journal | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aS0DAAAAMBAJ&q=hank+gowdy+baseball+digest&pg=PA84 | title = How Losing an Exhibition Sparked Miracle Braves | first = Joseph M. | last = Overfield | periodical = Baseball Digest | publisher = Lakeside Publishing Company | location = Evanston |date=May 1961 | volume = 20 | issue = 4 | pages = 83–85 | issn = 0005-609X}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2C4DAAAAMBAJ&q=1914+boston+braves+baseball+digest&pg=PA30 | title = Down To The Wire; Six Greatest Stretch Runs For The Pennant | first = George | last = Vass | periodical = Baseball Digest | publisher = Lakeside Publishing Company | location = Evanston | volume = 60 | issue = 9 | pages = 26–35 | issn = 0005-609X |date= September 2001}}</ref> Starting with a dismal 4–18 record, the Braves found themselves in last place, trailing the league-leading [[1914 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] by 15 games after losing a doubleheader to the [[1914 Brooklyn Robins season|Brooklyn Robins]] on July 4.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chances Thrown Away by Braves' Misplays|first1=J.C.|last1=O'Leary|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-braves-lose-dh-to-the-b/141779089/|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=July 5, 1914|access-date=February 21, 2024}}</ref> However, the team rebounded with an incredible hot streak, going 41–12 from July 6 to September 5.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1914&t=BSN |title=1914 Boston Braves Schedule by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430075507/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1914&t=BSN |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 3, [[Joseph Lannin]] the president of the Red Sox, offered [[Fenway Park]] to the Braves free of charge for the remainder of the season since their usual home, the [[South End Grounds]], was too small.<ref name="fenway">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-fenway-park-for-braves/140882320/|first1=T.H.|last1=Murnane|title=Fenway Park for Braves|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=August 4, 1914|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> On September 7 and 8, they defeated the Giants in two out of three games, propelling them into first place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-braves-beat-giants-in-s/140880800/|first1=J.C.|last1=O'Leary|title=Braves on Top Again|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=September 9, 1914|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> Despite being in last place as late as July 18, the Braves secured the pennant, becoming the only team under the old eight-team league format to achieve this after being in last place on the Fourth of July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1914&t=NY1 |title=1914 New York Giants Schedule by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501033845/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/schedule.php?y=1914&t=NY1 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Nowlin|first=Bill|title=The Miracle Braves of 1914: Boston's Original Worst-to-First World Series Champions|date=February 1, 2014|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|page=380|isbn=978-1933599694}}</ref> They were in last place as late as July 18, but were close to the pack, moving into fourth on July 21 and second place on August 12.<ref>Cohen, Neft, Johnson and Deutsch, ''The World Series'', The Dial Press, 1976.</ref>

The Braves entered the [[1914 World Series]] led by captain and National League [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player|Most Valuable Player]], [[Johnny Evers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/685802066/|title=Johnny Evers and Eddie Collins Chalmers Trophy Winners for 1914|date=October 4, 1914 |newspaper=[[The Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|access-date=February 9, 2024|page=29|via=Newspapers.com |quote=Johnny Evers, captain and second baseman of the champion Boston Braves, is winner of the Chalmers Trophy in the National League of 1914, with 50 out of a possible 64 points.|ref=none}}</ref> The Boston club were slight underdogs against [[Connie Mack]]'s [[1914 Philadelphia Athletics season|Philadelphia A's]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/72462904/|title=Million and a Half in Wagers on World Series|date=October 9, 1914 |newspaper=[[New Castle News]]|access-date=February 9, 2024|page=15 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=The general betting today, however was 5 to 4 on the Athletics. Last week the odds were around 7 to 4 on the Athletics, while two or three weeks ago when it looked certain that the Braves would win the pennant, the Athletic backers offered 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 against the Braves|ref=none}}</ref> However, they swept the Athletics and won the world championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/119125592/|title=Braves Win 3-1|first1=J.C.|last1=O'Leary|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=October 13, 1914|access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref> Inspired by their success, owner Gaffney constructed a modern park, [[Braves Field]], which opened in August 1915 and was the largest park in the majors at the time, boasting 40,000 seats and convenient public transportation access.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-braves-announce-a-new-p/140883174/|first1=T.H.|last1=Murnane|title=Boston Braves to Move to Allston|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=December 5, 1914|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name="bf1915">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-braves-field-opens/140884547/|first1=J.C.|last1=O'Leary|title=Braves Field Opening Today|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|date=August 18, 1915|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref>

====1915–1952====
[[File:Boston Braves Cap Logo (1946 to 1952).svg|thumb|upright=0.65|The Boston Braves cap logo, 1946 to 1952]]
From 1917 to 1933, the Boston Braves struggled. After a series of different owners, [[Emil Fuchs (baseball)|Emil Fuchs]] bought the team in 1923.<ref>{{cite book|last=Craig|first=William J.|title=A History of the Boston Braves: A Time Gone By|date=November 20, 2012 |publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-1609498573}}</ref> Fuchs brought his longtime friend, pitching great [[Christy Mathewson]], as part of the syndicate that bought the club.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fuchs|first1=Robert S.|first2=Wayne|last2=Soini|title=Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves, 1923-1935|date=April 15, 1998 |publisher=McFarland|page=24|isbn=978-0786404827}}</ref> However, the death of pitching legend in 1925 left Fuchs in control.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge Fuchs is Elected President of Braves to Fill Mathewson Vacancy|newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]|date=October 22, 1925|page=13}}</ref> Despite Fuchs' commitment to success, the team faced challenges overcoming the damage from previous years. It wasn't until 1933 and 1934, under manager [[Bill McKechnie]], that the Braves became competitive, but it did little to help the club's finances.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fuchs|first1=Robert S.|first2=Wayne|last2=Soini|title=Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves, 1923-1935|date=April 15, 1998 |publisher=McFarland|page=58|isbn=978-0786404827}}</ref>

In an effort to boost fan attendance and finances, Fuchs orchestrated a deal with the [[New York Yankees]] to acquire [[Babe Ruth]] in 1935.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-babe-ruth-signs-wit/140903847/|first1=Stuart|last1=Cameron|title=Acquisition of Bate Ruth May Pull the Braves Out of the 'Red'|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Citizen]]|date=February 27, 1935|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{cite magazine |last1=Rothman |first1=Lily |title=The Disappointing Reason Babe Ruth Left Baseball |url=https://time.com/3896371/babe-ruth-1935-retirement/ |access-date=February 16, 2024 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=June 2, 2015}}</ref> Ruth was appointed team vice president with promises of profit shares and managerial prospects.<ref name="Neyer">{{cite book |last=Neyer |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Neyer |title=Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders |year=2006 |publisher=Fireside |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7432-8491-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/robneyersbigbook0000neye}}</ref> Initially, Ruth seemed to provide a spark on opening day, but his declining skills became evident.<ref name="babebreak">{{cite book|last1=Fuchs|first1=Robert S.|first2=Wayne|last2=Soini|title=Judge Fuchs and the Boston Braves, 1923-1935|date=April 15, 1998 |publisher=McFarland|pages=110–113|isbn=978-0786404827}}</ref> Ruth's inability to run and poor fielding led to internal strife, and it became clear that his titles were symbolic.<ref name="babebreak"/> Ruth retired on June 1, 1935, shortly after hitting his last three home runs.<ref name="babebreak"/> The Braves finished the season with a dismal 38–115 record, marking the franchise's worst season.<ref name="Neyer"/>

Fuchs lost control of the team in August 1935,<ref name="Neyer"/> leading to a rebranding attempt as the Boston Bees, but it did little to alter the team's fortune. Construction magnate [[Lou Perini]] took over, eventually restoring the Braves' name.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-braves-again-in-1941/140900579/|first1=Bill|last1=King|title=It's Braves Again as New Owners Stamp Out 'Bees'|newspaper=[[The Post-Crescent]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=April 30, 1941|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> Despite World War II causing a brief setback, the team, led by pitcher [[Warren Spahn]], enjoyed impressive seasons in 1946 and 1947 under Perini's ownership.<ref name="Neyer"/>

[[File:Warren Spahn Pitching transparency 1952 March 21.png|thumb|Hall of Fame pitcher [[Warren Spahn]]]]
In 1948, the [[1948 Boston Braves season|team]] won the pennant, behind the pitching of Spahn and [[Johnny Sain]].<ref name="48ws">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/moberly-monitor-index-and-moberly-evenin/141839140/|title=Indians 5 to 1 Favorites to Win the Series|first1=Jack|last1=Hand|newspaper=Moberly Monitor-Index and Moberly Evening Democrat|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 6, 1948|access-date=February 22, 2024|page=9}}</ref> The remainder of the rotation was so thin that in September, ''Boston Post'' writer Gerald Hern wrote this poem about the pair:<ref>{{cite news|first1=Red|last1=Smith |title=Spahnie and Howie|work=[[The Berkshire Eagle]] |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/berkshire-eagle-jan-29-1973-p-21/|date=January 29, 1973 |access-date=January 5, 2024|ref=none}}</ref>

:''First we'll use Spahn''
:''then we'll use Sain''
:''Then an off day''
:''followed by rain''
:''Back will come Spahn''
:''followed by Sain''
:''And followed''
:''we hope''
:''by two days of rain.''

The poem received such a wide audience that the sentiment, usually now paraphrased as "[[Pray for Rain (poem)|Spahn and Sain and pray for rain]]", entered the baseball vocabulary.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Clayton|last1=Bellamy |title=Hall-of-Famer Spahn dead at 82 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/ohio/delphos/delphos-herald/2003/11-25/page-7/ |work=Delphos Herald Newspaper |agency=Associated Press |date=November 25, 2003 |access-date=January 5, 2024|ref=none}}</ref>

The [[1948 World Series]], which the Braves lost in six games to the [[1948 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]], turned out to be the Braves' last hurrah in Boston.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news-braves/140901528/|first1=Jake|last1=Frost|title=Braves Unable to Beat Luck, Says Sothwort|newspaper=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News|agency=[[United Press International|U.P.]]|date=October 12, 1948|access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> On March 13, 1953, Perini announced he was moving the club to [[Milwaukee]].<ref name="mbrave53">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rhinelander-daily-news-braves-move-t/141099678/|title=More Territory to be Drafted O'Malley Says|first=Jack|last=Hand|newspaper=[[Rhinelander Daily News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=March 19, 1953|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref> Perini cited advent of television and the lack of enthusiasm for the Braves in Boston as the key factors in deciding to move the franchise.<ref name="mbrave53"/>