The Braves finished their inaugural year in Atlanta in fifth place in the National League with a record of 85–77, ten games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
[7][8][9] With the game tied at one in the top of the 13th, future hall of famer Willie Stargell hit a two-out, two-run home run to put Pittsburgh ahead 3–1.
Braves president and GM John McHale remarked that Richards, 57, was poised to assume greater responsibilities within the Atlanta organization if called upon,[10] leading to speculation that he would replace embattled field manager Bobby Bragan.
On August 9, with the Braves still mired in the second division at 52–59 (.468), 12+1⁄2 games behind and in seventh place,[11] fourth-year skipper Bragan was dismissed and replaced by bench coach Billy Hitchcock,[12][13] like Richards a former teammate of McHale's with the Detroit Tigers.
On August 31, he was named director of player personnel at both the Major and minor-league levels, effectively becoming general manager of baseball operations without the formal title, which McHale temporarily retained.