The last time the Braves won the division ...

Atlanta Braves

The last time the Braves won the division ...

A look back at the 2005 Atlanta Braves and how they compare to the 2013 squad.

In 2005, the Atlanta Braves (90-72) clinched the National League East on Sept. 27 with a 12-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field. That season, the Braves spent 100 days atop the standings, and had a .654 winning percentage at home with a roster of young faces and veterans. Those Braves lost the NL Division Series (3-1) to Houston Astros. Here is how those Braves compared to the last team to win the division crown.

The 2013 Atlanta Braves have led the National League East for 146 days. The Braves enjoyed a 14-game win streak that helped them reach a 15-1/2 game lead over the Washington Nationals in mid-August.

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox won his fourth NL Manager of the Year award in 2005. Since 1995, the Braves had finished first in the their division under Cox.

In three seasons as manager, the Atlanta Braves have finished no better than second in the National League East under Fredi Gonzalez. The Braves currently hold the best record in the National League with two weeks left in the regular season.

Catcher Brian McCann, 21 at the time, played backstop in 59 games and batted .278 with 50 hits and 5 homers.

Now 29, Brian McCann is in the final season of a 7-year contract with Atlanta. McCann returned from offseason shoulder surgery this season and is batting .257 with 86 hits and 20 home runs in 95 games.

Adam LaRoche was in his second season with the Braves, playing first base. LaRoche batted .259 with 117 hits and 20 homers. LaRoche had a .994 fielding percentage at first.

All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman is in his third full season with the Braves. He is batting .314 with 161 hits and 21 homers. He ranks third in the National League with 99 RBIs.

Marcus Giles had a .984 fielding percentage at second base led the league with 469 assists. Giles had 168 hits and batted in 68 runs while hitting .291.

Braves second baseman Dan Uggla ranks second on the team with 21 homers, and third overall in the majors with 158 strikeouts. His .180 batting average is a league low.

In his final season as Atlanta's shortstop, Rafael Furcal led the majors with 255 putouts. Furcal was third in the majors with 46 stolen bases (caught 10 times) while batting .284 with 175 hits and 58 RBIs.

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons is batting .246 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs in his second season with Atlanta. Simmons leads the majors with 458 assists from shortstop.

Chipper Jones, 33 at the time, made his full-time return to third base in 2005. He played in 109 games, batting .296 with 106 hits and 21 home runs.

The Braves acquired Chris Johnson to replace longtime veteran third baseman Chipper Jones, who retired at the end of the 2012 season. Johnson leads the Braves with a .330 batting average (second in the majors) and 156 hits, 10 homers and 64 RBIs.

Braves rightfielder Jeff Francoeur made his major league debut in 2005, playing in 70 games. He batted .300 with 77 hits, 14 homers and 45 RBIs. He finished third in the Rookie of they Year balloting.

Braves rightfielder Jason Heyward has missed significant playing time with some injuries, including a broken jaw suffered during an at-bat Aug. 23 in New York. In 95 games, Heyward has hit .253 with 89 hits and 13 homers.

Braves center fielder Andruw Jones had a career year in 2005. Jones came in second in the MVP balloting, while leading majors with 51 homers and 128 RBIs. The Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and All-Star outfielder had a .995 fielding percentage.

In his first season in Atlanta, center fielder B.J. Upton is batting a career-low .190. Upton has a .983 fielding percentage and leads the majors with double plays by a center fielder (3).

Braves leftfielder Kelly Johnson started in 87 his rookie season with Atlanta. He batted .241 with 70 hits and 40 RBIs, along with 9 homesr.

Braves left fielder Justin Upton is batting .259 in his first season with Atlanta. The 7-year veteran leads the Braves with 25 homers this season while hitting 132 hits and 65 RBIs. His 151 strikeouts put him fourth overall in the league.

Outfielder Ryan Langerhans was one of 18 rookies called up by the Braves in the 2005 season. In 128 games that season, Langerhans batted .267 with 87 hits and 42 RBIs.

The Braves' 26-year-old rookie has been a surprise in the lineup, batting .238 with 19 homers and 57 RBIs in 303 at-bats. Gattis has played in 81 total games this season at catcher, left field and designated hitter.

In his second stint with the Braves, outfielder Jordan Schafer has been a spark off the bench, batting .254 with 53 RBIs in 86 games this season.

Starting pitcher Tim Hudson, 29 at the time, had a 14-9 record in his first season with the Atlanta Braves. Hudson had a 3.52 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched.

Braves rookie pitcher Julio Teheran is 12-8 with a 3.14 ERA in 28 game starts this season. His 160 strikeouts trail only Mike Minor on the staff.

1/25

In 2005, the Atlanta Braves (90-72) clinched the National League East on Sept. 27 with a 12-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Turner Field. That season, the Braves spent 100 days atop the standings, and had a .654 winning percentage at home with a roster of young faces and veterans. Those Braves lost the NL Division Series (3-1) to Houston Astros. Here is how those Braves compared to the last team to win the division crown.

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