741 games is not just durability. That’s iron-clad baseball toughness and durability. Matt Olson isn’t just playing first base for the Atlanta Braves; he’s etching his name into the annals of baseball history one day at a time.
Let’s break this down. On Thursday night, in a tight 4-3 win over the Mets, Olson didn’t just show up — he officially passed Braves legend Dale Murphy for the most consecutive games played in franchise history. We’re not talking about some role player from the ’90s. This is an icon.
And now Olson has 741 consecutive games under his belt — 13th longest in MLB history and, get this, the longest such streak by anyone since 1969. Pete Alonso is in second with 375. That’s not even close. That’s like watching someone halfway up a mountain you already climbed.
What Olson Has Done With the Braves
Of those 741 games, 607 have come in a Braves uniform. And if he keeps this going for another 134? He’ll own the franchise record. Circle game 93 of the 2026 season because that could be a very, very special day in Braves history.
Now, the reason this streak matters isn’t just because Olson shows up — it’s because he shows out. He’s an All-Star again, leading the team in RBIs with 71, holding a solid .262 average, 19 homers, and a team-leading 4.1 bWAR. His .814 OPS and 128 OPS+? Both near the top of the team, trailing only Ronald Acuña Jr. That’s elite company, and Olson is earning every bit of it.
And don’t even get me started on his glove. Fourteen defensive runs saved? That’s the best at first base in the entire league. It’s Gold Glove-caliber defense, and honestly, it’s not even a debate at this point. The man is a vacuum at first, and he’s already got two Gold Gloves to prove it — with a third looking more and more likely.
Sure, his career has had its ups and downs. Who hasn’t? But Olson is that steady, veteran anchor in the middle of the lineup that championship teams are built around. He doesn’t chase headlines — he just shows up, hits, saves runs, and keeps stacking games.
Iron men don’t ask for days off. They earn the right to never need one. And right now? Matt Olson is baseball’s modern-day Iron Man — and the streak is far from over.
