1980 Atlanta Braves season

The 1980 Atlanta Braves season was the 15th season in Atlanta along with the 110th season as a franchise overall.

Offseason

• November 20, 1979: Relief pitcher Al Hrabosky signed as a free agent.
• December 5, 1979: Barry Bonnell, Pat Rockett, and Joey McLaughlin were traded by the Braves to the Toronto Blue Jays for Chris Chambliss and Luis Gómez.
• December 6, 1979: Adrian Devine and Pepe Frías were traded by the Braves to the Texas Rangers for Doyle Alexander, Larvell Blanks and $50,000.

Regular season

On August 6, umpire Jerry Dale ruled that Braves shortstop Rafael Ramírez did not step on second base while turning a double play. Manager Bobby Cox argued the call and confronted Dale while tobacco juice streamed out of his mouth. Cox was accused of spitting on the umpire.

Phil Niekro became the only pitcher in the history of the National League to lead the NL in losses for four consecutive seasons.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 3, 1980: Ken Dayley was drafted by the Braves in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1980 Major League Baseball draft.
• July 1, 1980: Bill Haselrig (minors) was traded by the Braves to the New York Mets for Randy Johnson.
• August 8, 1980: Larvell Blanks was released by the Braves.

Game log

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 9 || @ Reds || 0–9 || Pastore (1–0) || Niekro (0–1) || || 51,774 || 0–1 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 2 || April 11 || @ Reds || 0–6 <small>(6)</small> || LaCoss (1–0) || McWilliams (0–1) || || 12,902 || 0–2 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 12 || @ Reds || 4–5 || Hume (1–0) || Hrabosky (0–1) || || 11,839 || 0–3 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 4 || April 13 || @ Reds || 0–5 || Leibrandt (1–0) || Niekro (0–2) || || 32,996 || 0–4 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 5 || April 14 || @ Astros || 4–5 || Sambito (1–0) || Garber (0–1) || || 15,017 || 0–5 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 6 || April 15 || @ Astros || 2–6 || Niekro (1–0) || McWilliams (0–2) || || 15,712 || 0–6 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 7 || April 17 || Reds || 1–4 || Pastore (2-0) || Niekro (0–3) || || 15,742 || 0–7 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 8 || April 18 || Reds || 3–0 || Matula (1–0) || Leibrandt (1–1) || || 5,624 || 1–7 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 9 || April 19 || Reds || 1–6 || Bonham (1–0) || Alexander (0–1) || || 9,684 || 1–8 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 10 || April 20 || Reds || 3–5 || Tomlin (2–0) || Bradford (0–1) || Hume (1) || 8,002 || 1–9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 11 || April 22 || Padres || 3–2 <small>(10)</small> || Hrabosky (1–1) || Shirley (0–1) || || 4,710 || 2–9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 12 || April 23 || Padres || 2–1 || Matula (2–0) || Jones (1–2) || Hrabosky (1) || 4,166 || 3–9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 13 || April 24 || Padres || 8–7 || Garber (1–1) || Fingers (2–1) || || 4,498 || 4–9 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 14 || April 25 || Expos || 8–7 <small>(11)</small> || Bradford (1–1) || Bahnsen (0–1) || || 6,929 || 5–9 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 15 || April 26 || Expos || 3–4 || Grimsley (1–1) || Niekro (0–4) || Fryman (2) || 13,705 || 5–10 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 16 || April 27 || Expos || 6–3 || McWilliams (1–2) || Sanderson (1–2) || Hrabosky (2) || 12,917 || 6–10 |-bgcolor=#bbb | – || April 28 || @ Padres || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 28 |-bgcolor=#bbb | – || April 29 || @ Padres || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 21 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 17 || April 30 || @ Padres || 1–2 || Rasmussen (1–2) || Matula (2–1) || Shirley (3) || 9,018 || 6–11

|-bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || May 1 || @ Padres || 3–4 || Shirley (1–1) || Camp (0–1) || || 12,131 || 6–12 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 19 || May 2 || @ Pirates || 6–1 || Niekro (1–4) || Rooker (2–2) || || 11,476 || 7–12 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 20 || May 3 || @ Pirates || 3–1 <small>(10)</small> || Hrabosky (1–1) || Jackson (2–1) || || 34,104 || 8–12 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 21 || May 4 || @ Pirates || 4–13 || Bibby (4–0) || Boggs (0–1) || || 14,358 || 8–13 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || May 5 || @ Phillies || 1–7 || Carlton (5–1) || Matula (2–2) || || 26,165 || 8–14 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || May 6 || @ Phillies || 5–10 || Ruthven (2–2) || Alexander (0–2) || Noles (2) || 25,302 || 8–15 |-bgcolor=#bbb | – || May 7 || @ Phillies || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 25 as a traditional double-header |-bgcolor=#bfb | 24 || May 9 || Astros || 5–4 || McWilliams (2–2) || Forsch (4–1) || Bradford (1) || 11,111 || 9–15 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 25 || May 10 || Astros || 2–3 <small>(11)</small> || LaCorte (2–0) || Garber (1–2) || Sambito (3) || 13,798 || 9–16 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 26 || May 11 || Astros || 7–4 || Niekro (2–4) || Niekro (4–2) || || 10,871 || 10–16 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 27 || May 13 || Phillies || 7–3 || Alexander (1–2) || Lerch (0–5) || Camp (1) || 10,146 || 11–16 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 28 || May 14 || Phillies || 1–9 || Carlton (6–2) || McWilliams (2–3) || || 4,625 || 11–17 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 29 || May 16 || Mets || 3–5 || Falcone (2–2) || Niekro (2–5) || Allen (6) || 6,135 || 11–18 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 30 || May 18 || Mets || 2–1 || Matula (3–2) || Zachry (0–2) || Camp (2) || – || 12–18 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 31 || May 18 || Mets || 1–2 || Allen (1–3) || Garber (1–3) || || 11,807 || 12–19 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 32 || May 19 || @ Expos || 8–11 || Palmer (3–0) || McWilliams (2–4) || Fryman (7) || 20,656 || 12–20 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 33 || May 20 || @ Expos || 1–0 || Niekro (3–5) || Sanderson (3–3) || || 11,071 || 13–20 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 34 || May 21 || @ Expos || 2–3 || Rogers (4–4) || Garber (1–4) || || 13,606 || 13–21 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 35 || May 23 || @ Mets || 1–2 || Burris (3–3) || Matula (3–3) || Allen (8) || 7,864 || 13–22 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 36 || May 24 || @ Mets || 4–5 <small>(10)</small> || Allen (2–3) || Camp (0–2) || || 7,221 || 13–23 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || May 25 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Swan (3–3) || Niekro (3–6) || || 13,624 || 13–24 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || May 26 || Giants || 2–1 || Boggs (1–1) || Minton (1–2) || Bradford (2) || 5,822 || 14–24 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || May 27 || Giants || 6–3 || McWilliams (3–4) || Knepper (3–6) || Garber (1) || 5,277 || 15–24 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 40 || May 28 || Giants || 3–2 <small>(12)</small> || Hrabosky (2–1) || Lavelle (0–5) || || 5,500 || 16–24 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 41 || May 29 || @ Dodgers || 0–3 || Welch (5–1) || Niekro (3–7) || || 24,630 || 16–25 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 42 || May 30 || @ Dodgers || 4–8 || Hooton (5–3) || Matula (3–4) || || 32,200 || 16–26 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 43 || May 31 || @ Dodgers || 6–5 || Boggs (2–1) || Reuss (6–1) || Garber (2) || 40,161 || 17–26

|-bgcolor=#bfb | 44 || June 1 || @ Dodgers || 9–5 || Alexander (2–2) || Goltz (3–4) || Camp (3) || 49,320 || 18–26 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 45 || June 2 || @ Giants || 4–2 || Niekro (4–7) || Whitson (2–6) || || 3,768 || 19–26 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 46 || June 3 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Minton (2–2) || Bradford (1–2) || || 9,294 || 19–27 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 47 || June 4 || @ Giants || 7–2 || Matula (4–4) || Montefusco (2–5) || || 5,593 || 20–27 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 48 || June 6 || Dodgers || 0–5 || Reuss (7–1) || Niekro (4–8) || || 18,331 || 20–28 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 49 || June 7 || Dodgers || 6–1 || Alexander (3–2) || Goltz (3–5) || || 25,723 || 21–28 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 50 || June 8 || Dodgers || 1–3 || Sutton (5–2) || Boggs (2–2) || Sutcliffe (4) || 12,543 || 21–29 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 9 || Cardinals || 5–8 <small>(10)</small> || Littlefield (1–0) || Bradford (1–3) || Frazier || 6,513 || 21–30 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 52 || June 10 || Cardinals || 5–2 || Niekro (5–8) || Sykes (1–5) || || 6,763 || 22–30 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 53 || June 11 || Cardinals || 3–4 <small>(10)</small> || Forsch (6–4) || Bradford (1–4) || Seaman (1) || 6,755 || 22–31 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || June 13 || @ Cubs || 7–6 || Alexander (4–2) || McGlothen (3–3) || Garber (3) || 14,470 || 23–31 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || June 14 || @ Cubs || 5–10 || Lamp (6–6) || Niekro (5–9) || || 25,108 || 23–32 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 15 || @ Cubs || 1–4 || Krukow (4–7) || Matula (4–5) || Sutter (13) || 11,421 || 23–33 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 57 || June 16 || @ Cardinals || 6–3 || Boggs (3–2) || Forsch (6–5) || || 16,809 || 24–33 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 58 || June 17 || @ Cardinals || 2–3 || Vuckovich (6–5) || Alexander (4–3) || || 13,524 || 24–34 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 59 || June 18 || Pirates || 3–2 || Garber (2–4) || Tekulve (5–4) || || – || 25–34 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || June 18 || Pirates || 5–4 || Camp (1–2) || Romo (3–3) || Garber (4) || 17,154 || 26–34 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 61 || June 19 || Pirates || 4–3 || Matula (5–5) || Robinson (2–3) || Bradford (3) || 10,585 || 27–34 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 62 || June 20 || Cubs || 2–4 || McGlothen (4–4) || Boggs (3–3) || Sutter (16) || 10,273 || 27–35 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 63 || June 21 || Cubs || 8–0 || Alexander (5–3) || Hernandez (1–6) || || 14,516 || 28–35 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 64 || June 22 || Cubs || 2–3 || Lamp (8–6) || Niekro (5–10) || Tidrow (3) || 15,070 || 28–36 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 65 || June 24 || @ Reds || 2–8 || Leibrandt (7–4) || McWilliams (3–5) || || 22,682 || 28–37 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 66 || June 25 || @ Reds || 3–15 || Seaver (3–4) || Matula (5–6) || || 32,603 || 28–38 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 67 || June 27 || @ Padres || 5–3 || Camp (2–2) || Curtis (3–6) || Garber (5) || 15,303 || 29–38 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 68 || June 28 || @ Padres || 5–4 || Bradford (2–4) || Shirley (5–4) || Garber (6) || – || 30–38 |-bgcolor=#fbb | 69 || June 28 || @ Padres || 2–3 || D'Acquisto (2–1) || Camp (2–3) || || 17,554 || 30–39 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 70 || June 29 || @ Padres || 4–2 || McWilliams (4–5) || Rasmussen (1–7) || || 11,938 || 31–39 |-bgcolor=#bfb | 71 || June 30 || Astros || 5–4 || Hrabosky (3–1) || Sambito (2–1) || || 8,208 || 32–39

|- | Legend:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Win&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Loss&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; = Postponement<br/>Bold = Braves team member

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

Awards and honors

• Phil Niekro, Roberto Clemente Award

League leaders

• Phil Niekro, National League leader, Losses

Notes

References

• 1980 Atlanta Braves season at Baseball Reference