Brian Snitker goes out on his own terms, leaving behind a legacy Braves Country will never forget

On Wednesday, Jeff Passan broke the news that Brian Snitker will not return as Braves manager in 2026. It marks the end of an era in Atlanta, though Snitker will remain with the organization as a senior advisor, giving him an incredible 50 years with the club next season.

Not even an hour after the announcement, the Braves quickly organized a press conference, where Snitker shed some light on how the decision unfolded.

Brian Snitker went out on his own terms

Perhaps more information comes to light in the future about how it all went down, but from what Brian Snitker said at the podium, this was his call.

“In my mind, I’m ready for this next step,” Snitker said. “If you wait to do it until you’re ready, then you never will (retire)… Once a Brave, always a Brave. It’s true. There’s nothing like it.”

Despite what some frustrated fans may believe, this always should have been Snitker’s decision. He wasn’t perfect—no manager is—but his track record speaks for itself. There’s no way Alex Anthopoulos could look at this past season and reasonably conclude Snitker was the root of the team’s struggles. His comments at the press conference back that up:

“Best run of success of my career,” Anthopoulos said. “The reason I’m wearing this (World Series) ring is because of him.”

For all the criticisms lobbed his way, nobody can take away Snitker’s 2021 postseason. It was a surgical masterpiece, executed flawlessly with a depleted roster that was missing Ronald Acuña Jr. among others. Very few managers could have guided that group to a championship. Snitker did, and because of it, he’ll forever be remembered as a Braves legend.

Brian Snitker is Hall of Fame bound

Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk announced that Brian Snitker will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame next season, a no-brainer for a plethora of reasons.

Snitker spent nearly five decades with the organization, yet he was never viewed as a serious candidate to manage the big-league club. That changed in 2016 when he was handed the interim job, and star players — most notably Freddie Freeman — pushed for him to keep it permanently. That decision altered the course of the franchise.

His success as manager is only part of the story. Snitker’s influence has stretched across generations of players, coaches, and staff. He’s one of the most respected and beloved figures not just in Braves history, but in baseball as a whole.

Perhaps Cooperstown will come calling one day, though that’s a conversation for another time. What’s certain is that Snitker’s impact on the game goes far beyond wins and losses. He’s changed lives, shaped a franchise, and left the sport better than he found it. At the end of the day, that’s the highest legacy anyone in baseball can hope to leave.

“Hopefully I’m leaving this thing better than I got it,” Snitker said. “Our players created a culture. Guys wanted to be a part of that.”

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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