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. 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. 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
Record vs. opponents
Roster 1997 Atlanta Braves Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Game log
|- 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 6 |- 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 || 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 || Wohlers (1–0) || Hoffman (0–1) || — || 45,473 || 16–5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || April 27 || Padres || 2–0 || 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
|- 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 || 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 || 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
|- 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 || Rhodes (4–2) || Borowski (2–2) || Myers (22) || 47,344 || 42–24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 || June 15 || Orioles || 3–5 || 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 || Stanton (5–0) || Bielecki (3–4) || — || 39,887 || 52–29
|- 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"