Page 392 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

FRONT OFFICE Atlanta’s opening day Records

Home Runs

The Braves have hit 58 home runs on Opening Day since the club moved to Atlanta in 1966. Five players (Dale
Murphy, Fred McGriff, Andruw Jones, Brian McCann, and Freddie Freeman) hold the Atlanta-era record with
three career homers in openers, while Joe Torre, McGriff and Edgar Renteria are the only Atlanta Braves with a
multi-homer game on Opening Day. In 2018, Nick Markakis hit the only game-ending home run on Opening
MANAGER & STAFF Day in Atlanta franchise history, driving a 1-1, ninth-inning pitch out to right field to give the Braves an 8-5 win.
April 1, 1996 vs. San Francisco
March 31, 2011 at Washington
April 12, 1966 vs. Pittsburgh
Joe Torre (2)
Ryan Klesko
Jason Heyward
April 11, 1967 at Houston
Fred McGriff
Justin Upton
Clete Boyer Jeff Blauser April 1, 2013 vs. Philadelphia
Mark Lemke
April 7, 1970 at San Diego Jerome Walton Freddie Freeman
Dan Uggla
Orlando Cepeda April 1, 1997 at Houston April 4, 2016 vs. Washington
Chipper Jones
April 4, 1974 at Cincinnati
PLAYER BIOS Hank Aaron April 5, 1999 vs. Philadelphia Freddie Freeman
Adonis Garcia
Brian Jordan
April 8, 1977 at Houston
March 29, 2018 vs. Philadelphia
Jeff Burroughs
Andres Galarraga
Ozzie Albies
April 7, 1978 vs. Los Angeles April 3, 2000 vs. Colorado Freddie Freeman
Rowland Office Andruw Jones Nick Markakis^
Dale Murphy April 2, 2001 at Cincinnati March 28, 2019 at Philadelphia
Jerry Royster Andruw Jones Matt Joyce
SEASON IN REVIEW Dale Murphy April 1, 2002 vs. Philadelphia Opening Day HR Leaders
Rafael Furcal
April 10, 1981 vs. Cincinnati
*First career at-bat
^Game-ending home run
Vinny Castilla
April 4, 1983 at Cincinnati
Gary Sheffield
Chris Chambliss
April 8, 1986 vs. Montreal
Marcus Giles
Dale Murphy April 6, 2004 vs. New York Player Opening Day HR 3 3 3
1. Dale Murphy
April 3, 2006 at Los Angeles
Fred McGriff

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Ozzie Virgil Adam LaRoche T6. Joe Torre 3 3 2 2 2
April 5, 1988 vs. Chicago

Andruw Jones
Andruw Jones
Brian McCann
Gerald Perry
Freddie Freeman
Ryan Langerhans
Ken Oberkfell
Andres Thomas
April 2, 2007 at Philadelphia

David Justice
Edgar Renteria (2)
April 4, 1989 at Houston

Ryan Klesko
Brian McCann
Ron Gant
Chipper Jones
Tommy Gregg
Jason Heyward
Chipper Jones
April 10, 1991 vs. Los Angeles March 30, 2008 at Washington Edgar Renteria 2 2 2
David Justice April 5, 2009 at Philadelphia
BRAVES HISTORY April 4, 1994 at San Diego Jeff Francoeur
Brian McCann
Deion Sanders
Jordan Schafer*
Ryan Klesko
April 26, 1995 vs. San Francisco
Brian McCann
Fred McGriff (2) April 5, 2010 vs. Chicago
David Justice Jason Heyward*
OPPONENTS Most Opening Day Starts, By Position
Since the club moved to Atlanta in 1966, only Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones have made at least 10 starts on
Opening Day for the Braves. Jones holds the Atlanta-era record with 13 starts at third base.
Manager ........................Bobby Cox ...........................24 Shortstop ......................Jeff Blauser ...........................6
Pitcher ...........................Phil Niekro .............................8 Third Base .....................Chipper Jones ....................13
Catcher .........................Brian McCann .......................8 Left Field .......................R. Garr, R. Klesko .................4
MISCELLANEOUS Second Base ................Glenn Hubbard .....................8 Right Field ....................Hank Aaron ...........................8
First Base ......................Freddie Freeman ................10
Center Field .................Andruw Jones.....................10
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2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE