The 1990 Atlanta Braves season was a year of significant transformation, marked by the return of Bobby Cox as manager in June and the selection of future legend Chipper Jones as the number one overall pick in the MLB draft. Despite a challenging record, the season featured exciting individual breakouts, with David Justice winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award after hitting 28 home runs and Ron Gant joining the prestigious 30-30 club with 32 home runs and 33 stolen bases. These performances, combined with steady pitching from staff ace John Smoltz, provided the foundational spark and optimism for the franchise's historic turnaround and dominance throughout the following decade.