The 1982 and 1983 Atlanta Braves seasons were an oasis of contention in a desert of irrelevance through which the franchise wandered for the better part of two decades.
After Hank Aaron was traded away (at his own request) following his record-breaking 1974 Atlanta campaign, the Braves went on to finish an average of 23 games out of first place during the next 16 seasons. Atlanta won the National League West by a single game in 1982, and looked poised to repeat as division champion for much of the following year.
Led by reigning NL MVP Dale Murphy, All-Star third baseman Bob Horner, legendary knuckleballer Phil Niekro and an emerging cast of potential young stars — notably 26-year-old left fielder/leadoff man Brett Butler, the Braves had the best record in baseball by mid-August 1983.