2003 Atlanta Braves | ||
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National League East Champions | ||
League | National League | |
Division | East | |
Ballpark | Turner Field | |
City | Atlanta | |
Record | 101–61 (.623) | |
Divisional place | 1st | |
Owners | AOL Time Warner | |
General managers | John Schuerholz | |
Managers | Bobby Cox | |
Television | TBS Superstation (Don Sutton, Joe Simpson) Turner South (Pete Van Wieren) FSN South (Tom Paciorek, Bob Rathbun) | |
Radio | WSB (AM) (Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray) WWWE (Luis Octavio Dozal, Jose Manuel Flores) | |
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The 2003 Atlanta Braves season marked the franchise's 38th season in Atlanta and 133rd overall. The Braves won their ninth consecutive division title, finishing 10 games ahead of the second-place Florida Marlins. The Braves lost the NLDS to the Chicago Cubs, 3 games to 2. The Braves finished 2003 with their best offensive season up to that point in franchise history, hitting a franchise record 235 home runs. Atlanta also had one of the most noteworthy combined offensive outfield productions in league history.
The Braves' starting rotation had new faces in 2003, but aged pitchers. Opposite of what they were traditionally known for in years earlier. Greg Maddux was joined by trade acquisitions Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz, free agent Shane Reynolds and rookie Horacio Ramírez. Critics noted had Atlanta had a younger staff with this offense, they would've been more likely to win the World Series. Marcus Giles had an All-Star season as the Braves' second baseman and Gary Sheffield as the Braves' right fielder. Sheffield finished with a top 5 voting in NL MVP voting. 2003 also marked the last season for Maddux, ending his tenure in Atlanta after 11 seasons.