The 1961 Milwaukee Braves season was the ninth in Milwaukee and the 91st overall season of the franchise. The fourth-place Braves finished the season with an record, ten games behind the National League champion The home attendance at Milwaukee County Stadium, County Stadium fifth in the eight-team National League. It was the Braves' lowest attendance to date in Milwaukee, and was the last season surpassing one million fans.

Offseason

* October 14, 1960: Red Schoendienst was released by the Braves. * October 14, 1960: Stan Lopata was released by the Braves. * December 3, 1960: Billy Martin was purchased by the Braves from the Cincinnati Reds.Billy Martin page at Baseball Reference
/ref> * December 14, 1960: Joe Azcue was purchased by the Braves from the Cincinnati Reds. * Prior to 1961 season (exact date unknown) ** Jim Campbell (catcher), Jim Campbell was traded by the Braves to the Houston Colt .45s for Morrie Martin.Morrie Martin page at Baseball Reference
/ref> ** Clay Carroll was signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent.

Regular season

On April 28, Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants. On June 8, against the Cincinnati Reds, four consecutive Braves batters hit home runs off pitchers Jim Maloney (two) and Marshall Bridges (two more) in the seventh inning. The batters who accomplished this feat were Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, and Frank Thomas (outfielder), Frank Thomas. Oddly, both Adcock and Thomas were former players for the Reds.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

* April 1961: Morrie Martin was released by the Braves. * May 9, 1961: Mel Roach was traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Frank Thomas (outfielder), Frank Thomas. * May 10, 1961: Wes Covington was selected off waivers from the Braves by the Chicago White Sox. * June 1, 1961: Billy Martin was traded by the Braves to the Minnesota Twins for Billy Consolo.

Managerial turnover

Chuck Dressen, 66, was fired on September 2, less than a month shy of finishing his second year as the Braves' The club was in third place at seven games behind the league-leading 1961 Cincinnati Reds season, Cincinnati Reds, when the change was announced after a Saturday home win over The Braves were under Dressen's command. His successor was executive vice president Birdie Tebbetts, 48, a former Cincinnati manager, who came down from the Milwaukee front office to take the reins; the Braves went under him to finish the season. Tebbetts was signed through the 1963 Milwaukee Braves season, 1963 season but he would spend only 1962 Milwaukee Braves season, 1962 as the Braves' skipper before leaving to become manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1963 Cleveland Indians season, 1963. Tebbetts retained two of Dressen's coaches, Andy Pafko and Whit Wyatt, while George Myatt departed for the American League Detroit Tigers.

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''

Other 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''

Awards and honors

League leaders

* Warren Spahn, National League leader, wins''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p.99, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Louisville

Notes

References

*
1961 Milwaukee Braves season at Baseball Reference
{{Atlanta Braves Milwaukee Braves seasons 1961 Major League Baseball season, Milwaukee Braves season 1961 in sports in Wisconsin