The Kingsport Braves, located in Kingsport, Tennessee

Kingsport, Tennessee

Kingsport is a city located mainly in Sullivan County with some western portions in Hawkins County in the US state of Tennessee. The majority of the city lies in Sullivan County...

, were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1974 to 1979. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

, they played in the Appalachian League

Appalachian League

The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...

. Although they lasted only six seasons, a multiple future major leaguers played for them, including Matt Sinatro

Matt Sinatro

Matthew Stephen Sinatro is a former major league catcher and currently handling administrative duties for the Chicago Cubs after being replaced as 1st base coach in January 2010. He attended Conard High School in West Hartford, Connecticut...

, Rick Behenna

Rick Behenna

Richard Kipp Behenna is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves in 1983 and the Cleveland Indians from 1983 to 1985. Rick was part of one of the worst trades ever made by the Braves...

, Jose Alvarez

Jose Alvarez (baseball)

Jose Lino Alvarez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played four seasons at the major league level, pitching for the Atlanta Braves...

, Steve Bedrosian

Steve Bedrosian

Stephen Wayne Bedrosian, is an American former baseball player. Nicknamed "Bedrock", he played from 1981 to 1995 with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins...

, Paul Runge

Paul Runge (infielder)

Paul William Runge is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves from until...

, Brad Komminsk

Brad Komminsk

Brad Komminsk , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Despite a sterling record in the minor leagues, he never played well in the majors...

, Milt Thompson, Brook Jacoby

Brook Jacoby

Brook Wallace Jacoby is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and the current hitting coach of the Cincinnati Reds. Jacoby played in the major leagues from 1981 through 1992, and in Japan in 1993. He batted and threw right-handed. His father Brook Wallace Jacoby Sr...

 and Mike Payne

Mike Payne (baseball)

Michael Earl Payne is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played one season with the Atlanta Braves in 1984.-External links:...

. They played their home games at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Year-by-year record

(from Baseball Reference)

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1974	31-39	7th	Hoyt Wilhelm Hoyt Wilhelm James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....	none
1975	33-33	6th	Gene Hassell Gene Hassell Eugene "Gene" Hassell was a minor league baseball player and manager. He played eleven years in the minor leagues then managed for another eleven in the minors. As a player, Hassell was an infielder with a high on base percentage and speed but without power; he failed to hit a single home run in...	none
1976	25-42	8th	Bobby Dews Bobby Dews Robert Walter Dews, Jr., known professionally as Bobby Dews, is a former infielder in Minor League Baseball and coach in Major League Baseball....	none
1977	43-27	2nd	Bob Didier Bob Didier Robert Daniel Didier is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams from 1969 through 1974. Listed at , , he was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed....	none
1978	33-37	5th	Eddie Haas Eddie Haas George Edwin Haas is a former outfielder, coach, manager and scout in American Major League Baseball. Haas spent many years as a skipper in the farm system of the Atlanta Braves and replaced Joe Torre as Atlanta’s manager after the 1984 season...	none
1979	39-31	2nd	Gene Hassell Gene Hassell Eugene "Gene" Hassell was a minor league baseball player and manager. He played eleven years in the minor leagues then managed for another eleven in the minors. As a player, Hassell was an infielder with a high on base percentage and speed but without power; he failed to hit a single home run in...	none