2003 Atlanta Braves season

2003 Atlanta Braves
2003 NL East Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1876)
Eastern Division (since 1994)
Location
Turner Field (since 1997)
Atlanta (since 1966)
Results
Record	101–59 (.623)
Divisional place	1st
Other information
Owner(s)	AOL Time Warner
General manager(s)	John Schuerholz
Manager(s)	Bobby Cox
Local television	TBS Superstation (Don Sutton, Joe Simpson) Turner South (Pete Van Wieren) FSN South (Tom Paciorek, Bob Rathbun)
Local radio	WSB (AM) (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray) WWWE (Luis Octavio Dozal, Jose Manuel Flores)
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The 2003 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 38th season in Atlanta. The Braves won their 12th consecutive division title, finishing 10 games ahead of the second-place Florida Marlins. The Braves lost the 2003 Divisional Series to the Chicago Cubs, 3 games to 2. The Braves finished 2003 with their best offensive season 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)^[1]
• November 20, 2002: Donzell McDonald was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[2]
• December 16, 2002: Ray King was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Atlanta Braves for John Foster and Wes Helms.^[3]
• December 17, 2002: Russ Ortiz was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Atlanta Braves for Damian Moss and Merkin Valdez.^[4]
• December 18, 2002: Paul Byrd was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves. (Byrd did not play for the Braves in 2003)^[5]
• December 19, 2002: Greg Maddux was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[6]
• December 20, 2002: Johnny Estrada was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Kevin Millwood.^[7]
• January 6, 2003: Robert Fick signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[8]
• January 8, 2003: Julio Franco was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[9]
• January 23, 2003: Roberto Hernandez signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[10]
• April 10, 2003: Shane Reynolds signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.^[11]

Regular season

• In 2003, John Smoltz set a Major League record (since tied) by having 34 saves before the All-Star Break.^[12]
• 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.^[13]
• 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.^[14]

Opening Day starters

Position	Name
Starting Pitcher	Greg Maddux
Catcher	Henry Blanco
First Baseman	Robert Fick
Second Baseman	Marcus Giles
Third Baseman	Vinny Castilla
Shortstop	Rafael Furcal
Left Fielder	Chipper Jones
Center Fielder	Andruw Jones
Right Fielder	Gary Sheffield

Season standings

National League East

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Atlanta Braves	101	61	0.623	—	55–26	46–35
Florida Marlins	91	71	0.562	10	53–28	38–43
Philadelphia Phillies	86	76	0.531	15	49–32	37–44
Montreal Expos	83	79	0.512	18	52–29	31–50
New York Mets	66	95	0.410	34½	34–46	32–49

Record vs. opponents

2003 National League Records Source:
Team	ARI	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LAD	MIL	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL	AL
Arizona	—	2–5	2–4	7–2	10–9	2–5	5–1	10–9	3–3	4–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	9–10	5–14	3–3	11–4
Atlanta	5–2	—	4–2	3–3	6–0	9–10	5–1	4–2	4–2	12–7	11–8	9–10	7–2	6–1	2–4	4–2	10–5
Chicago	4–2	2–4	—	10–7	3–3	4–2	9–7	2–4	10–6	3–3	5–1	1–5	10–8	4–2	4–2	8–9	9–9
Cincinnati	2–7	3–3	7–10	—	4–2	2–4	5–12	2–4	8–10	2–4	2–4	5–4	5–11	3–3	3–3	9–7	7-5
Colorado	9–10	0–6	3–3	2–4	—	4–2	2–4	7–12	5–1	3–4	2–5	2–4	3–6	12–7	7–12	4–2	9–6
Florida	5–2	10–9	2–4	4–2	2–4	—	1–5	2–5	7–2	13–6	12–7	13–6	2–4	5–1	1–5	3–3	9–6
Houston	1–5	1–5	7–9	12–5	4–2	5-1	—	4–2	9–8	3–3	2–4	2–4	10–6	3–3	2–4	11–7	11–7
Los Angeles	9–10	2–4	4–2	4–2	12–7	5–2	2–4	—	4–2	4–2	3–3	2–5	5–1	8–11	6–13	4–2	11–7
Milwaukee	3–3	2–4	6–10	10–8	1–5	2–7	8–9	2–4	—	0–6	6–3	4–2	10–7	5–1	1–5	3–13	5–7
Montreal	2–4	7–12	3–3	4–2	4–3	6-13	3–3	2–4	6–0	—	14–5	8–11	3–3	4–2	7–0	1–5	9–9
New York	2–4	8–11	1–5	4–2	5–2	7–12	4–2	3–3	3–6	5–14	—	7–12	4–2	3–3	4–2	1–5	5–10
Philadelphia	2-4	10–9	5–1	4–5	4–2	6–13	4–2	5–2	2–4	11–8	12–7	—	2–4	4–3	3–3	4–2	8–7
Pittsburgh	3–3	2–7	8–10	11–5	6–3	4–2	6–10	1–5	7–10	3–3	2–4	4–2	—	4–2	2–4	7–10	5–7
San Diego	10–9	1–6	2–4	3–3	7–12	1–5	3–3	11–8	1–5	2–4	3–3	3–4	2–4	—	5–14	2–4	8–10
San Francisco	14–5	4–2	2–4	3–3	12–7	5–1	4–2	13–6	5–1	0–7	2–4	3–3	4–2	14–5	—	5–1	10–8
St. Louis	3–3	2–4	9–8	7–9	2–4	3-3	7–11	2–4	13–3	5–1	5–1	2–4	10–7	4–2	1–5	—	10–8

Notable transactions

• August 29, 2003: Jaret Wright was selected off waivers by the Atlanta Braves from the San Diego Padres.^[15]
• Notable draft signings in 2003 include Jarrod Saltalamacchia (36th overall) and Jonny Venters (30th round).^[16]

Roster

2003 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers 51 Jung Bong 26 Will Cunnane 43 Joey Dawley 49 Kevin Gryboski 32 Mike Hampton 34 Roberto Hernández 45 Trey Hodges 40 Darren Holmes 46 Ray King 31 Greg Maddux 38 Jason Marquis 50 Kent Mercker 48 Russ Ortiz 30 Horacio Ramírez 37 Shane Reynolds 29 John Smoltz 27 Jaret Wright		Catchers 20 Henry Blanco 23 Johnny Estrada  8 Javy López Infielders 19 Vinny Castilla  5 Robert Fick 14 Julio Franco  1 Rafael Furcal  2 Jesse Garcia 22 Marcus Giles		Outfielders 28 Darren Bragg 12 Mike Hessman 25 Andruw Jones 10 Chipper Jones 18 Ryan Langerhans 11 Gary Sheffield Other batters 16 Mark DeRosa  4 Matt Franco		Manager  6 Bobby Cox Coaches 39 Pat Corrales (bench) 52 Bobby Dews (bullpen) 33 Fredi González (third base) 17 Glenn Hubbard (first base) 54 Leo Mazzone (pitching)  9 Terry Pendleton (hitting)

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Other batters

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Starting pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Other pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA

Relief pitchers

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO

2003 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs

Chicago wins the series, 3-2

Game	Score	Date	Location	Attendance
1	Chicago Cubs – 4, Atlanta Braves – 2	September 30	Turner Field	52,043[17]
2	Chicago Cubs – 3, Atlanta Braves – 5	October 1	Turner Field	52,743[18]
3	Atlanta Braves – 1, Chicago Cubs – 3	October 3	Wrigley Field	39,982[19]
4	Atlanta Braves – 6, Chicago Cubs – 4	October 4	Wrigley Field	39,983[20]
5	Chicago Cubs – 5, Atlanta Braves – 1	October 5	Turner Field	54,357[21]

Award winners

2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Richmond Braves	International League	Pat Kelly
AA	Greenville Braves	Southern League	Brian Snitker
A	Myrtle Beach Pelicans	Carolina League	Randy Ingle
A	Rome Braves	South Atlantic League	Rocket Wheeler
Rookie	Danville Braves	Appalachian League	Kevin McMullan
Rookie	GCL Braves	Gulf Coast League	Ralph Henriquez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Rome, GCL Braves^[22][23]

References

1. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamptmi01.shtml#trans
2. http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcdondo01.shtml
3. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kingra01.shtml#trans
4. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ortizru01.shtml#trans
5. Paul Byrd Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
6. http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/maddugr01.shtml
7. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/estrajo01.shtml#trans
8. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fickro01.shtml#trans
9. Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
10. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernaro01.shtml#trans
11. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynosh01.shtml#trans
12. Sports Illustrated, Volume 109, No. 2, July 14–21, 2008, p.24, Published by Time Inc.
13. Mackin, Bob (2004). The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Books. p. 240. ISBN 9781553650386.
14. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats8.shtml
15. Jaret Wright Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
16. 2003 Major League Baseball draft
17. "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
18. "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
19. "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
20. "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
21. "2003 NLDS – Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves – Game 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
22. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
23. Baseball America 2004 Annual Directory

• 2003 Atlanta Braves at Baseball Reference