Well, if you’re curious ’bout them Atlanta Braves back in 1983, lemme tell ya a thing or two. That year, the Braves didn’t exactly light the world on fire, but they didn’t fall flat on their faces neither. They finished with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. Now, that’s not bad, but it ain’t gonna get ya a championship either. Still, they gave it a good go and had some good folks on that roster.
What was the team like in 1983? Well, the Atlanta Braves had some familiar faces, but they were also goin’ through a few changes. The manager back then was Joe Torre, and he was tryin’ to put together a team that could get into the playoffs. If ya ask me, he did alright, but they weren’t quite ready for the big time just yet.
The roster had all sorts of players, and let me tell ya, some of ’em made a big difference. There was Len Barker, a pitcher who threw some mean stuff, and then you had Steve Bedrosian, another pitcher, who could really get the ball past ya if you weren’t careful. They also had Rick Behenna and Bruce Benedict, who were a big part of the team too. Now, don’t go thinkin’ every player on that roster was a star, but some of ’em sure had their moments.
- Len Barker – Pitcher, and a good one at that. He kept the hitters on their toes.
- Steve Bedrosian – Another pitcher who played a big role in the bullpen.
- Rick Behenna – Part of that pitching crew, doin’ his job.
- Bruce Benedict – Catcher, and he sure could handle things behind the plate.
Now, for those of you wonderin’ what happened with the Braves in that season, well, they didn’t make it to the big ol’ postseason that year, but they still showed that they had the fight in ’em. They finished up in the middle of the pack in the National League, so there was always next year, right?
What about the players on offense? You had some solid hitters, though not many were standin’ out like a sore thumb. Guys like Terry Harper and Dale Murphy were there, and while they weren’t exactly breakin’ records, they were tryin’ to get on base and help the team win. Dale Murphy, in particular, had some good years in Atlanta, and 1983 wasn’t any different for him. He played hard, and you could tell he cared about that Braves jersey.
Other players like Bob Horner and Chris Chambliss were also tryin’ to help get those runs across the plate. Some of these guys weren’t all-stars, but they were solid, and on any given day, they could give you a good game. The Braves didn’t have the most stacked lineup, but they worked with what they had.
- Terry Harper – Outfielder, did his job.
- Dale Murphy – Big name, big heart, always giving his best.
- Bob Horner – Another batter who could bring some power.
- Chris Chambliss – A veteran who was steady in the lineup.
The Braves and Their Record – They ended the season with that 88-74 record, but they were still in a pretty tough division. The National League West wasn’t exactly a cakewalk, and the Braves had their work cut out for ’em. Still, they didn’t fall apart. They played hard, and even if they didn’t win every game, they kept it competitive.
It’s kinda funny when you think ’bout it – the Braves didn’t have the star power of some other teams back then, but they had a real workmanlike attitude. It wasn’t always pretty, but they played the game right. If you had to sum up that 1983 season in one word, it’d be “gritty.”
So, that’s the story of the 1983 Atlanta Braves. Not a championship year, but one with some solid baseball and a few players who showed what it meant to be part of that team. They weren’t perfect, but they sure did try. If you’re ever wonderin’ how they did in that season, just know they gave it their all, and sometimes, that’s all you can ask for.
Tags: [1983 Atlanta Braves, Braves Roster 1983, Atlanta Braves season 1983, Major League Baseball 1983, National League, Joe Torre]
