2003 Atlanta Braves season

The 2003 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 38th season in Atlanta and 133rd overall. The Braves won their ninth consecutive division title, finishing 10 games ahead of the second-place Florida Marlins. The Braves lost the NLDS to the Chicago Cubs, 3–2. The Braves finished 2003 with their best offensive season up to that point in franchise history, hitting a franchise record 235 home runs. Atlanta also had one of the most noteworthy combined offensive outfield productions in league history.

The Braves' starting rotation had new faces in 2003, but aged pitchers. Opposite of what they were traditionally known for in years earlier. Greg Maddux was joined by trade acquisitions Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz, free agent Shane Reynolds and rookie Horacio Ramírez. Critics noted had Atlanta had a younger staff with this offense, they would've been more likely to win the World Series. Marcus Giles had an All-Star season as the Braves' second baseman and Gary Sheffield as the Braves' right fielder. Sheffield finished with a top 5 voting in NL MVP voting. 2003 also marked the last season for Maddux, ending his tenure in Atlanta after 11 seasons.

Offseason November 18, 2002: Mike Hampton was traded by the Florida Marlins with cash to the Atlanta Braves for Ryan Baker (minors) and Tim Spooneybarger. (Hampton had been traded to the Marlins from the Colorado Rockies on November 16, 2002) November 20, 2002: Donzell McDonald was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves. December 16, 2002: Ray King was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Atlanta Braves for John Foster and Wes Helms. December 17, 2002: Russ Ortiz was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Atlanta Braves for Damian Moss and Merkin Valdez. December 18, 2002: Paul Byrd was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves. (Byrd did not play for the Braves in 2003)Paul Byrd Statistics Baseball-Reference.com December 19, 2002: Greg Maddux was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves. December 20, 2002: Johnny Estrada was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Kevin Millwood. January 6, 2003: Robert Fick signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves. January 8, 2003: Julio Franco was signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves.Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com January 23, 2003: Roberto Hernandez signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves. April 10, 2003: Shane Reynolds signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves.

Regular season In 2003, John Smoltz set a Major League record (since tied) by having 34 saves before the All-Star Break.Sports Illustrated, Volume 109, No. 2, July 14–21, 2008, p.24, Published by Time Inc. May 23, 2003 – During the Atlanta Braves 15-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Braves players Rafael Furcal, Mark DeRosa and Gary Sheffield hit consecutive home runs to start the game. On August 10, 2003, Rafael Furcal of the Braves had an unassisted triple play. He caught the liner, touched second base, and tagged the runner going back to first base.

Opening Day starters + Position NameStarting PitcherGreg MadduxCatcher Henry BlancoFirst BasemanRobert FickSecond BasemanMarcus GilesThird BasemanVinny CastillaShortstopRafael FurcalLeft FielderChipper JonesCenter FielderAndruw JonesRight FielderGary Sheffield

Season standings

National League East

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions August 29, 2003: Jaret Wright was selected off waivers by the Atlanta Braves from the San Diego Padres.Jaret Wright Statistics Baseball-Reference.com Notable draft signings in 2003 include Jarrod Saltalamacchia (36th overall) and Jonny Venters (30th round).2003 Major League Baseball draft

Roster 2003 Atlanta Braves Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches (bench) (bullpen) (third base) (first base)

(hitting)

Game log

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 || March 31 || Expos || 2–10 || Armas (1–0) || Maddux (0–1) || — || 40,258 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 || April 2 || Expos || 0–3 || Day (1–0) || Ramirez (0–1) || Biddle (1) || 19,116 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 || April 3 || Expos || 0–4 || Vazquez (1–0) || Ortiz (0–1) || — || 19,505 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || April 4 || Marlins || 12–7 || Hernandez (1–0) || Nunez (0–1) || Smoltz (1) || 20,642 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 || April 5 || Marlins || 1–17 || Beckett (1–1) || Maddux (0–2) || — || 23,081 || 1–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || April 6 || Marlins || 13–4 || Ramirez (1–1) || Penny (0–1) || — || 21,253 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 || April 7 || Marlins || 3–0 || Ortiz (1–1) || Pavano (0–2) || Smoltz (2) || 19,326 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 || April 8 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Mesa (1–0) || Gryboski (0–1) || — || 13,283 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 || April 9 || @ Phillies || 2–16 || Padilla (1–1) || Maddux (0–3) || — || 14,724 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 || April 10 || @ Phillies || 6–2 || Holmes (1–0) || Roa (0–2) || — || 14,840 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 11 || April 11 || @ Marlins || 4–7 || Penny (1–1) || Ramirez (1–2) || Looper (1) || 12,045 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 || April 12 || @ Marlins || 5–12 || Pavano (1–2) || Ortiz (1–2) || — || 25,203 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 || April 13 || @ Marlins || 7–1 || Maddux (1–3) || Redman (1–2) || Smoltz (3) || 21,834 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 || April 15 || @ Expos* || 2–1 || Bong (1–0) || Smith (1–1) || Smoltz (4) || 13,399 || 6–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 || April 16 || @ Expos* || 3–2 || Ramirez (2–2) || Ohka (1–2) || Smoltz (5) || 15,571 || 7–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || April 17 || @ Expos* || 14–8 || Bong (2–0) || Biddle (1–1) || — || 13,170 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 || April 18 || Phillies || 5–4 || Gryboski (1–1) || Wolf (2–1) || Smoltz (6) || 28,100 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 || April 19 || Phillies || 0–4 || Padilla (3–1) || Hampton (0–1) || — || 29,777 || 9–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 || April 20 || Phillies || 8–1 || Reynolds (1–0) || Duckworth (0–1) || — || 22,978 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 || April 22 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Ortiz (2–2) || Stephenson (1–2) || Smoltz (7) || 20,969 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 || April 23 || Cardinals || 4–2 || Maddux (2–3) || Morris (1–2) || Smoltz (8) || 21,338 || 12–9 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 || April 24 || Cardinals || 4–3 || King (1–0) || Kline (0–2) || — || 24,184 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 || April 25 || Brewers || 5–12 || Sheets (2–2) || Reynolds (1–1) || — || 21,938 || 13–10 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 || April 26 || Brewers || 3–2 || King (2–0) || de los Santos (0–2) || Smoltz (9) || 27,313 || 14–10 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 || April 27 || Brewers || 7–1 || Ortiz (3–2) || Rusch (1–4) || — || 26,349 || 15–10 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || April 29 || @ Astros || 3–1 || Maddux (3–3) || Oswalt (2–3) || Smoltz (10) || 28,467 || 16–10 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 || April 30 || @ Astros || 11–1 || Hampton (1–1) || Miller (0–3) || — || 24,018 || 17–10 |- |colspan="11"|*Games the Montreal Expos played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the 2003 season counted as Expos home games.

|- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 || May 1 || @ Astros || 8–7 || Hernandez (2–0) || Wagner (1–2) || Smoltz (11) || 24,673 || 18–10 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 || May 2 || @ Diamondbacks || 4–2 || Bong (3–0) || Mantei (3–1) || — || 38,287 || 19–10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 || May 3 || @ Diamondbacks || 6–7 || Villarreal (2–2) || Gryboski (1–2) || Mantei (5) || 44,398 || 19–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 || May 4 || @ Diamondbacks || 7–4 || Hodges (1–0) || Capuano (0–1) || Smoltz (12) || 38,851 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 || May 6 || Rockies || 3–2 || Hernandez (3–0) || Jones (0–1) || Smoltz (13) || 18,108 || 21–11 |- bgcolor="#cccccc" | – || May 7 || Rockies || colspan=7|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for May 8 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 || May 8 || Rockies || 12–6 || Reynolds (2–1) || Cruz (3–3) || Smoltz (14) || N/A || 22–11 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 || May 8 || Rockies || 5–2 || Ortiz (4–2) || Chacon (4–2) || Smoltz (15) || 22,829 || 23–11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 || May 9 || Giants || 2–9 || Foppert (2–2) || Maddux (3–4) || Brower (2) || 32,040 || 23–12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || May 10 || Giants || 6–3 || Gryboski (2–2) || Nathan (4–1) || — || 39,357 || 24–12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 || May 11 || Giants || 7–3 || Hampton (2–1) || Schmidt (3–1) || — || 28,329 || 25–12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 || May 12 || @ Dodgers || 11–4 || Bong (4–0) || Gagne (0–1) || — || 27,458 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 || May 13 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || Ortiz (5–2) || Quantrill (0–2) || Smoltz (16) || 31,021 || 27–12 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 || May 14 || @ Dodgers || 1–5 || Brown (4–1) || Maddux (3–5) || — || 29,343 || 27–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 || May 15 || @ Padres || 15–6 || Ramirez (3–2) || Deago (0–1) || — || 15,818 || 28–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 || May 16 || @ Padres || 6–4 || Gryboski (3–2) || Nagy (0–1) || Smoltz (17) || 24,229 || 29–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 || May 17 || @ Padres || 12–2 || Reynolds (3–1) || Loewer (0–1) || — || 28,551 || 30–13 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 || May 18 || @ Padres || 6–3 || Ortiz (6–2) || Lawrence (2–5) || Smoltz (18) || 23,776 || 31–13 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 || May 20 || @ Reds || 8–9 || Sullivan (5–0) || Hernandez (3–1) || Williamson (11) || 24,076 || 31–14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 || May 21 || @ Reds || 3–9 || Reitsma (3–1) || Hampton (2–2) || — || 33,355 || 31–15 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 || May 22 || @ Reds || 9–4 || Reynolds (4–1) || Dempster (1–4) || — || 28,962 || 32–15 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 || May 23 || Mets || 5–6 || Trachsel (3–2) || Ortiz (6–3) || Benitez (14) || 33,270 || 32–16 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || May 24 || Mets || 10–4 || Ramirez (4–2) || Glavine (5–4) || — || 40,912 || 33–16 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 || May 25 || Mets || 3–1 || Hernandez (4–1) || Weathers (1–4) || Smoltz (19) || 41,432 || 34–16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 || May 26 || Reds || 6–7 || White (2–0) || Hernandez (4–2) || — || 33,455 || 34–17 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 || May 27 || Reds || 3–2 || Hodges (2–0) || Reitsma (3–2) || — || 23,041 || 35–17 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 || May 28 || Reds || 15–3 || Ortiz (7–3) || Austin (2–3) || Bong (1) || 25,713 || 36–17 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 || May 30 || @ Mets || 5–2 || Maddux (4–5) || Glavine (5–5) || Smoltz (20) || 26,439 || 37–17 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 || May 31 || @ Mets || 2–4 || Seo (2–2) || Hampton (2–3) || Benitez (16) || 33,378 || 37–18

|- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 56 || June 1 || @ Mets || 4–10 || Leiter (6–2) || Gryboski (3–3) || — || 25,162 || 37–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 || June 3 || Rangers || 6–5 || Gryboski (4–3) || Urbina (0–2) || Smoltz (21) || 30,444 || 38–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 || June 4 || Rangers || 5–2 || Maddux (5–5) || Thomson (3–7) || Smoltz (22) || 30,836 || 39–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 || June 5 || Rangers || 8–4 || Bong (5–0) || Fultz (1–1) || — || 35,944 || 40–19 |- bgcolor="#cccccc" | – || June 6 || Pirates || colspan=7|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for September 5 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 || June 7 || Pirates || 8–6 || Hernandez (5–2) || Boehringer (3–2) || Smoltz (23) || 35,397 || 41–19 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 || June 8 || Pirates || 6–5 || Hodges (3–0) || Fogg (2–3) || Smoltz (24) || 29,869 || 42–19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 || June 10 || @ Athletics || 3–4 || Bradford (5–3) || Bong (5–1) || — || 22,088 || 42–20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 || June 11 || @ Athletics || 11–6 || Ramirez (5–2) || Lilly (3–5) || — || 35,618 || 43–20 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 || June 12 || @ Athletics || 4–2 || Reynolds (5–1) || Zito (7–5) || Smoltz (25) || 21,173 || 44–20 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 || June 13 || @ Mariners || 1–2 || Garcia (7–6) || Ortiz (7–4) || Nelson (4) || 45,791 || 44–21 |- bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 || June 14 || @ Mariners || 3–1 || Hampton (3–3) || Moyer (10–3) || Smoltz (26) || 45,971 || 45–21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc"