The Braves Encyclopedia (Baseball Encyclopedias of North America)

Rating:
Summary: Essential history of the Braves, 1876 - 1994
Review: If you're a fan of the Braves, this is a great history. Really the only problem with it is that it stops just short of the 1995 postseason, which of course culminated in the first Atlanta World Series triumph (the third for the Braves organization). But every history book is slightly obsolete--and until this book is itself updated and republished, it remains the best. There is a season-by-season section with entries for every year from 1876-1994, with a description, team roster, and final (basic) batting/pitching stats for the year. There is a section of biographies of major players from every era. There are sections on the managers, the ownership, the ballparks, and the best-and-worst player transactions. There's accounts of every postseason appearance, with box scores. There are photos of players, uniforms, newspaper headlines, even souvenirs through the years. All nicely arranged. What more could a Braves fan want? Nothing, except a second edition.