Atlanta Braves

In 2002, 2003, and 2004 the Braves won their division again, but lost in the NLDS in all three years 3 games to 2, to the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Houston Astros respectively. Its sequel, The Godfather, Part III, was released in 1990. In 2001, Atlanta won the National League East division, swept the NLDS against the Houston Astros, then lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. The success of The Godfather Part II began the Hollywood tradition of numbered sequels, as with Rocky III, Halloween 2, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and many others. With their strong pitching being a constant, the Braves would also appear in the 1996 and 1999 World Series, and have not failed to win a division title since 1990 as of this writing. Pitching is not the only constant in the Braves organization; as of the end of the 2004 season, Cox is still the Braves' manager and Schuerholz remains the team's GM. Paramount Pictures was initially opposed to his decision to name the movie The Godfather Part II. According to Coppola, the studio's objection stemmed from the belief that audiences would be reluctant to see a film with such a title, as the audience would supposedly believe that, having already seen The Godfather, there was little reason to see an addition to the original story. With this World Series victory, the Braves became the first team in Major League Baseball to win world championships in three different cities. In the director's commentary on the DVD edition of the film (released in 2002), Coppola states that this film was the first major motion picture to use "Part II" as the title.

The Braves would win a World Series in 1995, defeating the Cleveland Indians in six games. The film has also been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 1993, the Braves signed Cy Young Award winning pitcher Greg Maddux, leading many baseball insiders to declare the pitching staff the best of all-time. Gazzo), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Lee Strasberg), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Talia Shire) and Best Costume Design. In the 1992 season, the Braves would reach the NLCS again and defeat, once again, in seven games, the Pirates, only to lose in the World Series to a dominating Toronto Blue Jays team. It was also nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Al Pacino), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Michael V. Despite the loss, the Braves' success would continue. In addition to Best Picture, The Godfather Part II won Oscars for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Robert De Niro), Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Director (Francis Ford Coppola), Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola) and Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material.

They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tightly contested seven-game NLCS only to lose the World Series, also in seven games, to the Minnesota Twins. In fact, some have commented that even while Coppola won Best Director for The Godfather, there is an equally good case for him to win the same award for The Conversation if he were nominated for that film. Meanwhile, behind position players Dave Justice, Ron Gant and unexpected league Most Valuable Player and batting-average leader Terry Pendleton, the Braves overcame a slow start to go 47-22 over the last three months of the season and win 8 of their last 9, edging the Los Angeles Dodgers by one game in one of baseball history's more memorable playoff races. The Conversation was released to theaters in 1974 and was also nominated for Best Picture, resulting in Coppola being the only director in Hollywood history to have two films released in the same year nominated for Best Picture and competing for the same prize at the Academy Awards. The following season, Glavine, Avery, and Smoltz would be recognized as the best young pitchers in the league, winning 52 games between them. In between The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Coppola directed The Conversation, a story of a paranoid wiretapping and surveillance expert (played by Gene Hackman) who finds himself caught up in a possible murder plot. Immediately after the season, John Schuerholz was hired as general manager. The Godfather series remains the only series to win two awards for Best Picture award, however.

Perhaps the Braves' most important move, however, was not on the field, but in the front office. The Godfather, Part II is one of only two sequels ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture (the other being The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). However, pitching coach Leo Mazzone began training young pitchers Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, and John Smoltz. Francis Coppola has suggested (perhaps retroactively) that the ambiguity of this plot reflects the double-dealings and betrayals of the underworld, in which no one can really trust anyone (despite the emphasis on "family" and "business" that is repeatedly stated throughout the series). Not only was this season a losing effort, the Braves traded Dale Murphy to the Philadelphia Phillies after it was clear he was becoming a less dominant player. The person responsible for this "mob hit" is never truly revealed, and some have said it is a weakness in the plot; however, audience members have generally chosen to overlook this plot point in favor of the overall story. Bobby Cox was rehired as manager in 1990. Some discussions and minor complaints from fans and film buffs focus upon one apparent plot hole in the story, involving an assassination attempt upon the Corleone family lieutenant in New York City, Frank Pentangeli (played by Michael Gazzo).

Murphy, excelling in defense, hitting, and running, was consistently recognized as one of the league's best players, but the Braves averaged only 65 wins per season between 1985-1990. By the time the film's climax is reached, in a montage of death and murder that mirrors the climax of the first film, Michael has committed unforgivable sins and destroyed the heart of the family—and his own soul. Murphy also won a Most Valuable Player award the following season, but the Braves began a period of decline that defined the team throughout the 1980s. Unlike his father, Michael finds himself in a changed world, where the Corleone family finds itself falling apart, even as Michael reaches to make the Corleone business more powerful than ever before. Strong performances from Bob Horner, Chris Chambliss, pitcher Phil Niekro, and short relief pitcher Gene Garber helped the Braves, but no Brave was more acclaimed than Murphy, who won both a Most Valuable Player and a Gold Glove award. The "modern day" portion of the film takes place several years after Vito Corleone's death, and his son Michael Corleone's ascension to the role of the new Don. Cox was fired after the 1981 season and replaced with Joe Torre, under whose leadership the Braves attained their first divisional title since 1969. In a meticulous recreation of the Italian section of New York City at the beginning of the 20th Century, the audience experiences the early life of Vito Corleone, and his experiences with the Mafia: the murder of his father (first), brother (second) and mother (third) by a Sicilian crimelord; his flight to America, where he finds the mob in control of the Italian neighborhood of his new home; his beginnings as a petty thief, and his eventual rise to power as the new "Don." As in The Godfather, Vito Corleone portrays the mythical Mafia Don as a man of respect, someone who appears to be out to help his fellow men (despite the acts of murder and violence he commits).

However, in 1980, Murphy was moved to center field and demonstrated excellent range and throwing ability, while the Braves earned their first winning season since 1974. This version of Vito is played by different actors at different ages, but the adult Vito is played by Robert DeNiro, who won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for a role in which, interestingly, he speaks almost no English-language dialogue. Murphy hit 77 home runs over the next three seasons, but struggled on defense, positioned at either catcher or first base while being unable to adeptly play either. One storyline is the continuing story involving Michael Corleone in the 1950s; the other is a flashback sequence following his father, Vito, from his youth in Sicily up through the founding of the Corleone crime family in New York and the births of Michael and his siblings. Cox promoted a 22-year-old slugger named Dale Murphy into the starting lineup. The plot consists of two parallel storylines, and the film switches back and forth between them. After three straight losing seasons, Bobby Cox was hired as manager of the franchise for the 1978 season. Coppola then insisted upon complete creative control of the film and a minumum of studio interference, plus a sizable salary; Paramount Pictures agreed to these conditions, and Coppola committed himself to directing the sequel.

In 1977, Turner appointed himself manager, but was ordered to relinquish that position after one game (the Braves lost). He initially suggested to Paramount that Martin Scorsese (who was still an up-and-coming director at the time, as well as a friend of Coppola) direct the sequel, but the studio refused. Turner quickly gained a reputation as a quirky, hands-on baseball owner. Coppola stated that he was not in favor of directing a sequel to The Godfather, because he had waged a number of battles with the studio (and at one point was even danger of being fired from his position). In 1976 the team was purchased by media magnate Ted Turner, owner of superstation WTBS. The film was written by Francis Ford Coppola from the original work by Mario Puzo, and was directed by Coppola. On April 4 he hit #714 in Cincinnati, and on April 8, in front of his home fans, he finally beat Ruth's mark. Many critics consider the sequel to be equal to (if not superior to) the original film in quality.

The next season, it was only a matter of time before he set a new record. Gazzo, John Cazale, Talia Shire and Lee Strasberg. Throughout the winter he received racially motivated death threats, but stood up well under the pressure. The movie also stars Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Michael V. In the relatively hitter friendly confines of Fulton County Stadium ("The Launching Pad"), he actually increased his offensive production, and by the end of the 1973 season had hit 713 home runs, one short of Babe Ruth's record. The movie follows the original Godfather film by alternating the story of a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), with his son Michael's (Al Pacino) rise to control the Mob in Las Vegas. In the mean time, fans had to be satisfied with the achievements of Aaron. The Godfather, Part II is the 1974 sequel to The Godfather.

They would not win it again until 1982, under Joe Torre. A .500 baseball team in the first few years (85-77, 77-85 and 81-81) respectively, they won the 1969 NL West pennant, before being swept by the "Miracle Mets" in the NLCS. The next year, the Braves were its new residents. Keen to attract them, the City of Atlanta constructed a new ballpark, Fulton County Stadium, officially opened in 1965.

By the early 1960s attendance in Milwaukee had dwindled as well, and a new group of owners once again sought relocation. Burdette, the Series MVP, threw three complete game victories, giving up only two earned runs. In 1957, it culminated in their first World Series win for over 40 years, defeating the New York Yankees of Berra, Mantle and Ford. Sluggers Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron drove the offense (they would hit a combined 863 home runs as Braves), whilst Spahn, Lew Burdette and Bob Buhl anchored the rotation.

As the 1950s the reinvigorated Braves were increasingly competitive. Attendances steadily dwindled until, on March 13, 1953, then-owner Lou Perini announced he was moving the team to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their two pennants not withstanding, the Braves term in Boston was not a successful time. Ironically, in the 1948 season, the Braves actually had a better record in games that Spahn and Sain did not start than in games they did.

The poem received such a wide audience that the sentiment, usually now paraphrased as "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain", entered the baseball vocabulary. The remainder of the rotation was so thin that in September the Boston Post journalist Gerald Hern characterised them by the poem. In 1948 the team won the pennant, behind the pitching of Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain who won 39 games between them. A miraculous season of these proportions has never again been seen in professional sports.

The team was at the top of the league in both pitching, and hitting, and its leader, Evers, won the Chalmers Award, which is equivalent to today's MVP. The turnaround was complete. They were now World Champions. Nevertheless, the Braves dominated the series in every phase, and swept away the favored Athletics.

The team entered the World Series as a heavy underdog to Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's. Not only did they finish first, but they ended up 10.5 games up on the second place Giants. The Braves went 51-16 in the second half of the season, winning 34 of their last 44 games. From there came a romp unmatched in baseball history.

When the team rallied to sweep the Reds in a doubleheader on July 19th, Stallings declared that the team was playing ball better than any other in the league, and was ready to catch New York. At midseason, on July 15th, the team was still in last place, 11.5 games out of first. It had solidified around the phenomenal double-play tandem of Rabbit Maranville and Johnny Evers (of Evers to Tinker to Chance fame), and a strong starting rotation led by Lefty Tyler, Dick Rudolph, and Bill James. Slowly, the team began to turn itself around.

The only man left believing was the team's manager, "Miracle Man" George Stallings. Everything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. After a dismal 4-18 start to the season, the fanbase was turned off, as it looked like the Braves were headed for another bottom-feeder season. None were more remarkable than the mid-season last-to-first transformation of the 1914 "Miracle" Braves.

The Boston franchise that became known as the Braves took part in some of baseball's most memorable moments, achievements, and penant races. They are most recently known for their ongoing record of 13 consecutive division championships (1991-2004, except for the strike-shortened 1994 season), the most in any professional North American sport, while collecting one World Series championship in that time (in 1995, also a strike-shortened season). They are in the Eastern Division of the National League. The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Danville Braves
Orlando Braves. Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Rome Braves. Mississippi Braves. Richmond Braves.

National League
. Pitching saves: John Smoltz, 55 (2002). Pitching ERA: Greg Maddux, 1.56 (1994). Pitching strikeouts: Charlie Buffinton, 417 (1884).

Pitching wins: John Clarkson, 49 (1889). Strikeouts: Andruw Jones, 147 (1948). Walks: Bob Elliott, 131 (1948). Hitting streak: Tommy Holmes, 37 games (1945).

Stolen bases: King Kelly, 84 (1887). Triples: Dick Johnston and Harry Stovey, 20 (1897 and 1891). Doubles: Hugh Duffy, 51 (1894). Runs: Hugh Duffy, 160 (1894).

Hits: Hugh Duffy, 237 (1894). Runs batted in: Hugh Duffy, 145 (1894). Home runs: Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews, 47 (1971 and 1953). Batting average: Hugh Duffy, .440 (1894).

44 Hank Aaron. 42 Jackie Robinson (this number is retired throughout baseball). 41 Eddie Mathews. 35 Phil Niekro.

21 Warren Spahn.   3 Dale Murphy. Johnny Estrada (2004). Mike Hampton (2003).

Javy Lopez (2003). Gary Sheffield (2003). Chipper Jones (1999, 2000). Jeff Blauser (1997).

John Smoltz (1997). David Justice (1993). Fred McGriff (1993). Ron Gant (1991).

Tom Glavine (1991, 1995, 1996, 1998). Dale Murphy (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985). Silver Slugger