A close second would be the
Chicago Cubs – organized just as long, but out of operation for two years during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
You might not recognize them as the oldest, though, because the
Braves have gone by many names. Originally, they went by the Boston Red Stockings – yes, just like the
Red Sox, only old-timey sounding. Some times they went by the “Red Caps” and other times the “Rustlers,” and just to make things extra confusing, in 1883, they officially changed their name to the Beaneaters.
But before all the funny names, they were the Red Stockings, and they were one of the
National League‘s eight charter teams. The Stockings actually won the very first NL game ever played on April 22nd, 1876. Although their skill varied over the years, they were one of the
League’s most dominant 19th century teams, winning a total of eight pennants.
The team stuck around in Boston until 1952, before finally heading west in 1966, to become the
Atlanta Braves. Throughout their very long history, the
Braves won a total of three
World Series, and witnessed some of baseball’s most hallowed players, including Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron and Greg Maddux.