The 1996 Atlanta Braves season was the 126th season in the history of the franchise and 31st season in the city of Atlanta. They had a regular season record of 96–66 and reached the World Series, where they lost to the underdog New York Yankees in six games, failing to defend their championship in 1995. Heavily favored and seen as one of the greatest Braves teams in history and despite taking a 2–0 lead, the Braves unexpectedly lost the next 4 games. This World Series appearance was their fourth appearance in the last 5 years as a franchise, excluding the strike-abbreviated 1994 season. Atlanta won its seventh division title (second in the National League East, the other five in the NL West) and its fifth in six years. In the previous round, Atlanta completed a miraculous comeback. After trailing in the NLCS to St. Louis three games to one, Atlanta outscored St. Louis 32–1 in games five through seven to complete the comeback.
The 1996 season was the Braves' final season at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, with Game 5 of the 1996 World Series being the last game played in the stadium. Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium also served as a venue during the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, prompting the Braves to go on an extended road trip as their stadium hosted the baseball competition. Following the closing ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Paralympics, Centennial Olympic Stadium was reconstructed as planned into Turner Field, which would become the home of the Braves for the next 20 seasons. This was also the final season for Ted Turner as the owner of the Braves. The team would be acquired (along with TBS) by Time Warner in October 1996, following the World Series.
Atlanta had an excellent pitching staff, which set an MLB record with 1,245 strikeouts, besting the 1969 Houston Astros. The record was surpassed by 4 teams in 2001.
Offseason January 3, 1996: Jerome Walton was signed as a free agent. January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox. The Reds sent Ray King (June 11, 1996) to the Braves to complete the trade. March 31, 1996: Mike Bielecki was signed as a free agent.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || Giants || 10–8 || Maddux (1–0) || Leiter || Borbon (1) || 48,961 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || Giants || 15–2 || Glavine (1–0) || VanLandingham || — || 28,728 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || Giants || 1–7 || Watson || Smoltz (0–1) || — || 30,271 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || Cardinals || 4–5 (14) || Bailey || Bielecki (0–1) || Eckersley || 31,071 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 6 || Cardinals || 2–3 (12) || Parrett || Clontz (0–1) || — || 34,649 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 7 || Cardinals || 13–3 || Schmidt (1–0) || Busby || — || 28,498 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 8 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Nomo || Glavine (1–1) || — || 53,180 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 9 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || Smoltz (1–1) || Astacio || Wohlers (1) || 35,570 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 10 || @ Dodgers || 2–9 || Candiotti || Avery (0–1) || — || 48,194 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 11 || @ Padres || 1–2 || Ashby || Maddux (1–1) || Hoffman || 19,047 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 12 || @ Padres || 5–3 || Schmidt (2–0) || Bergman || Wohlers (2) || 25,747 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 13 || @ Padres || 2–6 || Hamilton || Glavine (1–2) || Bochtler || 45,250 || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 14 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Smoltz (2–1) || Valenzuela || — || 45,014 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 16 || Marlins || 5–2 || Avery (1–1) || Brown || Wohlers (3) || 26,625 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 17 || Marlins || 4–2 || Maddux (2–1) || Burkett || Wohlers (4) || 28,884 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 18 || Marlins || 3–5 || Hammond || Glavine (1–3) || Nen || 25,300 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 19 || Padres || 7–1 || Smoltz (3–1) || Hamilton || — || 27,375 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 20 || Padres || 6–5 || McMichael (1–0) || Bochtler || Wohlers (5) || 31,893 || 10–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 21 || Padres || 1–2 (15) || Worrell || Thobe (0–1) || Bochtler || 28,829 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 22 || Dodgers || 4–1 || Maddux (3–1) || Candiotti || — || 33,080 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 23 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Osuna || Clontz (0–2) || Worrell || 30,475 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 24 || @ Giants || 8–3 || Smoltz (4–1) || Watson || — || 13,296 || 12–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 25 || @ Giants || 0–8 || Gardner || Schmidt (2–1) || — || 12,436 || 12–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 26 || @ Cardinals || 6–1 || Avery (2–1) || Benes || — || 34,598 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 27 || @ Cardinals || 7–2 || Maddux (4–1) || Osborne || — || 20,757 || 14–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || April 29 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Glavine (2–3) || Stottlemyre || Wohlers (6) || 25,452 || 15–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || April 30 || @ Astros || 7–5 || Smoltz (5–1) || Jones || McMichael (1) || 17,795 || 16–11
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Astros || 0–3 || Hampton || Avery (2–2) || — || 18,546 || 16–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 3 || Phillies || 3–6 || Mulholland || Maddux (4–2) || Bottalico || 39,697 || 16–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 4 || Phillies || 6–3 || McMichael (2–0) || Ryan || Clontz (1) || 44,429 || 17–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 5 || Phillies || 11–8 || Smoltz (6–1) || Williams || — || 35,471 || 18–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 6 || Rockies || 4–1 || Avery (3–2) || Thompson || — || 28,725 || 19–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 7 || Rockies || 6–5 (10) || Clontz (1–2) || Leskanic || — || 29,976 || 20–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 8 || Rockies || 5–1 || Glavine (3–3) || Reynoso || — || 29,363 || 21–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 10 || @ Phillies || 11–0 || Smoltz (7–1) || Mulholland || — || 27,068 || 22–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 11 || @ Phillies || 11–3 || Avery (4–2) || Mimbs || — || 22,823 || 23–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 12 || @ Phillies || 0–6 || Grace || Maddux (4–3) || — || 32,314 || 23–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 13 || Pirates || 9–3 || Glavine (4–3) || Darwin || — || 28,583 || 24–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 14 || Pirates || 7–3 || Smoltz (8–1) || Wagner || — || 28,175 || 25–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 15 || Pirates || 0–3 || Neagle || Avery (4–3) || — || 30,917 || 25–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 17 || Reds || 8–2 || Maddux (5–3) || Smiley || — || 40,612 || 26–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 18 || Reds || 2–1 || Clontz (2–2) || Ruffin || Wohlers (7) || 49,553 || 27–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 19 || Reds || 9–5 || Smoltz (9–1) || Schourek || Wohlers (8) || 41,153 || 28–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 20 || Cubs || 18–1 || Avery (5–3) || Castillo || — || 29,984 || 29–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 21 || Cubs || 2–4 || Telemaco || Wohlers (0–1) || Patterson || 31,045 || 29–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 22 || Cubs || 9–4 || Glavine (5–3) || Bullinger || — || 33,186 || 30–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 24 || @ Pirates || 5–3 || Smoltz (10–1) || Darwin || Wohlers (9) || 20,238 || 31–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 25 || @ Pirates || 2–6 || Neagle || Avery (5–4) || — || 29,273 || 31–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 26 || @ Pirates || 6–3 (13) || Wade (1–0) || Miceli || Bielecki (1) || 33,085 || 32–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 27 || @ Cubs || 9–1 || Glavine (6–3) || Telemaco || — || 33,070 || 33–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || May 29 || @ Cubs || 2–0 || Smoltz (11–1) || Trachsel || — || 30,601 || 34–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 31 || @ Reds || 9–1 || Avery (6–4) || Schourek || — || 33,455 || 35–17
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 1 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Portugal || Maddux (5–4) || Brantley || 34,023 || 35–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 2 || @ Reds || 6–2 || Glavine (7–3) || Smiley || — || 23,482 || 36–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 3 || Mets || 5–4 || Clontz (3–2) || Macdonald || Wohlers (10) || 30,162 || 37–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 4 || Mets || 6–12 || Wilson || Schmidt (2–2) || — || 32,199 || 37–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 5 || Mets || 8–6 || McMichael (3–0) || Mlicki || Wohlers (11) || 31,998 || 38–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 7 || @ Rockies || 8–19 || Painter || Bielecki (0–2) || — || 48,027 || 38–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 8 || @ Rockies || 12–13 || Holmes || McMichael (3–1) || Ruffin || 48,015 || 38–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 9 || @ Rockies || 8–3 || Smoltz (12–1) || Thompson || — || 48,036 || 39–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 10 || @ Mets || 3–8 || Jones || Avery (6–5) || — || 17,439 || 39–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 11 || @ Mets || 4–3 (13) || Borbon (1–0) || Byrd || Wade (1) || 19,256 || 40–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 12 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Clark || Maddux (5–5) || Franco || 18,896 || 40–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 13 || Dodgers || 3–6 || Valdez || Glavine (7–4) || Worrell || 39,463 || 40–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 14 || Dodgers || 3–1 || Smoltz (13–1) || Astacio || Wohlers (12) || 45,389 || 41–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 15 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Nomo || Avery (6–6) || Worrell || 49,726 || 41–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 16 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Candiotti || Schmidt (2–3) || Worrell || 44,784 || 41–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 17 || Padres || 9–3 || Maddux (6–5) || Bergman || — || 32,934 || 42–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 18 || Padres || 5–3 || Clontz (4–2) || Hamilton || Wohlers (13) || 32,730 || 43–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 19 || Padres || 5–1 || Smoltz (14–1) || Tewksbury || — || 34,823 || 44–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 21 || Giants || 8–7 (11) || Wade (2–0) || Beck || — || 38,432 || 45–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 22 || Giants || 6–0 || Maddux (7–5) || Gardner || — || 49,365 || 46–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 23 || Giants || 1–0 || Glavine (8–4) || Fernandez || Wohlers (14) || 35,645 || 47–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 24 || Cardinals || 2–9 || Benes || Smoltz (14–2) || — || 31,971 || 47–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 25 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Schmidt (3–3) || Stottlemyre || Wohlers (15) || 30,942 || 48–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 26 || Cardinals || 7–11 || Benes || Avery (6–7) || — || 31,191 || 48–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || June 27 || Cardinals || 3–0 || Maddux (8–5) || Morgan || Wohlers (16) || 32,243 || 49–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || June 28 || @ Marlins || 0–2 || Leiter || Glavine (8–5) || Nen || 30,661 || 49–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || June 29 || @ Marlins || 3–5 || Rapp || Smoltz (14–3) || — || 40,952 || 49–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 30 || @ Marlins || 5–4 || Clontz (5–2) || Burkett || Wohlers (17) || 34,023 || 50–30
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 1 || @ Expos || 7–2 || Avery (7–7) || Rueter || — || 34,116 || 51–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 2 || @ Expos || 1–5 || Cormier || Maddux (8–6) || — || 20,075 || 51–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 3 || @ Expos || 3–1 || Glavine (9–5) || Scott || Wohlers (18) || 26,837 || 52–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 4 || Astros || 2–5 || Reynolds || Smoltz (14–4) || Hernandez || 49,060 || 52–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 5 || Astros || 1–7 || Kile || Schmidt (3–4) || — || 36,896 || 52–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 6 || Astros || 4–2 || Bielecki (1–2) || Hampton || — || 41,619 || 53–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 7 || Astros || 9–1 || Maddux (9–6) || Wall || — || 28,716 || 54–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 11 || Marlins || 8–9 || Burkett || Avery (7–8) || Nen || 33,208 || 54–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 12 || Marlins || 6–3 || Glavine (10–5) || Leiter || Wohlers (19) || 32,517 || 55–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"