As my sweet wifey mentioned in her November Recap, I’ve been a bit remiss in continuing the saga of our 2012 vacation in Atlanta. As she puts it, I’d been a little bit lazy, but truth be said, I’ve been a busy boy between work, chores at home and the Thanksgiving holiday. But now I’m ready to share what I consider to be the grand finale of our first full day in the capital of the Peach State.
And what a full day it was! As I’ve already shared, we began the day at The World of Coca-Cola, followed by a visit to the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, then we made a mad dash to the CNN Center to take the final tour of the day through the CNN World Headquarters. Most folks would think that was enough for one day but…NOT ME! I was ready to indulge in one of my greatest loves: Baseball! And not only baseball, but Atlanta Braves baseball.
I’ve been a baseball fan (look fan up in the dictionary and you’ll see my picture) since I was a little boy but my world changed forever when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966. Finally, for us in the south, we had a team to call our own. A team led by future Hall of Famers “Hammerin” Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and ol’ “Knucksie,” Phil Niekro, dubbed so because of the nasty knuckleball he threw, baffling so many hitters. Still, it wasn’t until 1973 that I finally got to go see a game in Atlanta. After that, though, I kept the road hot over the following years, making the three-hour journey as often as I could. For sure, I’m not just a fan but truly a fanatic! I have quite a history with not only Atlanta baseball but baseball as a whole. That is, however, another story to share at another time. This is the story of my wife and son’s introduction to the great American pastime.
Before coming to the US to marry me, Lynndee already knew about me and my Braves. And during her first full year here, she really found out because as soon as the season started, I was glued to the TV every possible time I could watch a game. I’ve heard of the term football widow so I guess Lynndee could be called a baseball widow. Fortunately for her, I care nothing about football. The cool thing is, she came to love the game. It was entirely new to her; though played in the Philippines, it’s not a major sport there. But after watching so many games on TV with me and listening to me explain all the ins and outs – pardon the pun – of the sport, she was excited and ready to experience the real deal.
So off we went that Saturday eve, though me calling it the grand finale is a wee bit anticlimactic seeing that we had actually went to a game the previous eve. Still, after the busy day we’d had, it was a fitting finale.
We had arrived mid Friday afternoon. And after checking into our hotel and freshening up, we immediately made our way to Turner Field, dressed in our best Braves garb. After arriving and parking, we took in all the sights outside the stadium. So many memorials and memorabilia of the Braves 136-year history. Then it was off to the concessions so we could chow down. We didn’t have the quintessential peanuts and Cracker Jacks, though. We were hungry after our hours on the road and had a nutritious meal of hot dogs and nachos. Of course, being at the ball park, I had to have myself a cold brewski.
Then it was game time! And what a game it was, a Braves romp over the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-1, highlighted by Brian McCann’s 3-run homer and the stellar pitching performance of Ben Sheets, who three weeks earlier had been coaching his son’s baseball team before signing a minor league contract with the Braves, hoping to make a comeback after being out of baseball for two years after what was thought to be career-ending elbow surgery. But after this game, he had a 3-0 won-loss record and had given up only one run in 18 innings pitched. No elbow problems this night. Sheets just elbowed the Phillies right out of the park!
Happy fans we were; our Bravos were winners!
As always, after a Friday night home game, there were fireworks sponsored by Atlanta-born Coca-Cola. So went Lynndee and Yogi’s first taste of America’s game.
But that was just a precursor to the exciting Saturday night excursion. This game by no means was a romp. It was a nail biter, the type of game all fans love, which we certainly loved because the Braves won 2-1. What made this game so special was the work of the Braves’ young pitcher, Mike Minor. Minor had had a lackluster start the first half of the season, having 5 wins and 7 losses with 6 no decisions. But this game marked a run of going 6-3 the rest of the way with only 3 no decisions, an important cog in helping the Braves make it to the playoffs as a wild card entry, though they lost that play-in game due to a controversial call by an umpire late in the game. So, as the old Brooklyn Dodgers used to say after losing the World Series to the Yankees, again, “Wait till next year.”
Thus ended our cram-packed day of adventure. Yet, we still had another full day to spend in Atlanta which I will share with you in Part 5 of this tale of a family’s journey to the heart of Georgia. And as we say down here in the southland, “I’ll see y’all later!”
How fun! Baseball games are always fun. I went to a few Red Sox games this past summer and had a blast.
Baseball isn’t really a thing here in Ireland so it was great to read about it and see the stadium. I can’t believe how popular it is and how big the stadium is for a game either – amazing!
Yeah, no baseball there. Cricket’s your game. I’d sure love to learn about it.
Aww, looks like you had a wonderful day out in Atlanta. I do have to admit I am not a fan of baseball but I LOVE going to their games. It is so much better than watching it on TV. The fans make it worth it.
Ahhh I LOVE baseball! Looks like a fun time!
Looks like you had a great time! I don’t follow baseball but you can’t help to get into it at a live game. At my old apartment I could see the fireworks from the field on Fridays when they had game but no noise. perfect spot 🙂
Nice holiday, I want to do this with the children, but I am very busy. Maybe this weekend I will plan to watch football with them.
How fun! I love going to baseball games, it looks like you guys had an great time!
‘Twas a fantastic experience.
What a great story. It’s always great to introduce loved ones to something you’re passionate about.
That was the most fun of all, sharing the game I love with the new love of my life and my new son. It gets no better than that.
Sounds like you had a great day out as a family! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure to share. Thanks for checking my post out…(“,)
Great story 🙂 What a fun time. Baseball stadiums are so beautiful!
I love hotlanta and I’ve got some photos in Turner Field as well. Your photos reminded me that I’m missing The Varsity. Goodness they have the best “dogs”. 🙂
That’s the one thing we missed: The Varsity. I planned for us to go there but, the day was so hectic that it totally slipped my mind. And though we were there another busy day, I forgot all about my plans. It was only on the way home that wifey reminded me. Oh well, ya snooze, ya lose. But I do remember all the times I eat there; the best drive-in in America.
I have never been to a baseball game like that before, looks great!
Looks like a great time. And I totally LOL’d at your title – my mom always calls it Hot Lanta and we make fun of her because, well, hearing my mom say that is too funny. I can’t wait to bring it up to her tomorrow 😉
That’s too neat. Sounds like you’ve got a cool mom. Be sure when you talk to her to tell her I said hi.
Awwwww… Looks like y’all had a fabulous time!!! Atlanta is always a blast ❤
That looks like SO much fun!! I love going to games with my family.
It was fun. And that’s the only way to do it, as a family.
Nothing like a summers night baseball game. Looks like you all had a great time.
Looks like you had a great time at the game. I am so glad they won.
yay! go braves! 😛
Looks like it was a great day! I remember going to ball games with my dad as a kid – nothing beats it!
Looks like you must have had an awesome time, such a good place to bring the family!
I have been to Atlanta for a conference and of course I have also passed through their giant airport. I would love to spend some time just exploring Atlanta.
Looks like you had a great day. I love the photos. Fireworks are always fun.
What an amazing experience, I love going to baseball games!
Oh my goodness how much fun. I would do anything to take my boys there to watch a game.
Looks like a lot of fun! That’s one thing I haven’t done yet…gone to a Major League Baseball game. I love going to the local Minor League clubs around here when they have fireworks on Friday nights.
We love going to baseball games! They’re so much fun to attend!
This looks like such a fun time. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience there. I wish I was closer to visit!