Yes, I’m a happy camper now that our brutal winter is over and the boys of summer are back on the field. But, as for me, it’s not just any boys, it’s the Atlanta Braves. As the Brave’s sports channel always claims, THIS IS BRAVES COUNTRY! And that’s been my feeling since the Braves came to Atlanta from Milwaukee in 1966. That makes this a milestone year of celebration, their 50th season in Atlanta.
I’ve been fortunate to share in their history, seeing many of their games since Atlanta is only a three-hour drive from my hometown. And I was able to introduce my wife and son to the game when we took a vacation to Atlanta.
My family’s game in Atlanta. I didn’t have a camera when I went in 1973.
On Saturday, September 29th, 1973, I drove down to Atlanta in hopes of seeing baseball history made. The Houston Astros were visiting but I just had a ticket for one game and “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron was sitting on 712 career homeruns, needing two to tie Babe Ruth as the all-time homerun hitter. Still, it was by no means impossible to see him hit two homers in one game; he’d already had five two homer games this season and I was hoping.
The game started out on a positive note for the Braves, scoring two runs in the 1st inning, Aaron getting a single in his first at bat. In his next at bat in the 3rd inning, Hank walked but was wiped out in a double play.
Then came the 5th inning. Marty Perez led off with a double and scored after Mike Lum singled and Lee May, the Astros’ first baseman, committed an error. Darrell Evans then singled, moving Lum to second base. That brought Hank to the plate with one out and two men on and he proceeded to hit his 40th homerun of the season, #713 in his career. The 40th homerun was another historical moment for it made the Braves the first team to ever have three players with 40 homeruns in the same season, the other two being Darrell Evans and Davey Johnson. Dusty Baker followed with a solo homerun, making the score 7-0, and that was the final score of the game. Thing is, I didn’t see Dusty’s homerun because as soon as Hank hit his, I went to the ticket booth to get a ticket for Sunday’s game giving myself a chance to see Hank tie or even possibly break the Babe’s record. At that, I had to stand in line because I wasn’t the only one who had that idea. Hank did have one more at bat this game, getting another single, making him 3 for 3 with a walk on this night.
Unfortunately, Sunday’s game was anti-climatic; no history-making moments occurred. Hank did go 3 for 4 but all three hits were singles. Still, I did see some history made when he hit his 40th the night before and was oh so close to seeing the big event. Hank went on to break the record in the first home game of the 1974 season after tying the record in the first game of the season in Cincinnati. Aaron retired after the 1976 season with a total of 755 homeruns and is by many (me included) still considered the true homerun champion seeing that he never used any PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) which is highly suspected of the now so-called champion.
Those are just two of the many memorable Atlanta Braves games I’ve seen over the years, and Hank Arron is my #1 in a long list of Braves legends I’ve had the pleasure and luck to see play, including Dale Murphy, Phil Neikro and, not to forget, what is probably the greatest pitching rotation in baseball history of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Greg Maddux. But I’ve also been fortunate to see the Detroit Tigers play in old Tiger Stadium, the Yankees in iconic Yankee Stadium and the Cincinnati Reds, that legendary ‘Big Red Machine’ of Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez who won back-to-back World Series Championships in 1975-1976. I do have hopes of someday seeing games in the two classic, oldest parks in baseball, the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field, 101 years old, and the Boston Red Sox home of Fenway Park, 102 years old.
But this past era of the game I just spoke of has passed and there’s a whole new generation of players writing their own story in the pages of baseball lore. And the Braves truly are of a new ilk for over the off season, management traded away all their star players and homerun hitters as well as the best reliever in baseball. As the season began, most sport analysts and baseball writers had written the Braves off as contenders this season. But…SURPRISE! As of today, after eight games, their record is 6 wins and 2 losses and they’re leading the National League East by 1 game. This bunch of Bravos put me in mind of the ’91 Braves who made history by going from worst to first, last place in the National League East in 1990, to division champs in 1991, making it to the World Series for the first time in thirty three years. And that was just the first of fourteen division championships in a row, a feat unmatched by any sport franchise ever. Not bad for a team that to that point had become the laughingstock of baseball.
However, it is a new season and I hope this new version of Braves can continue to show that a team can win the old-school way, playing base-to-base small ball and not living or dying by waiting for the long ball. So far, so good!
But come what may, win or lose, this is Braves country here in the mountains of western North Carolina, and as one of their biggest cheerleaders and fans, I’ll do the tomahawk chop and yell to the top of my lungs GO BRAVES!
Go Braves! We love our Braves down here in Georgia. Yay!
As we love ’em here in North Carolina!
Atlanta Braves rock. We’ve been fans since I moved to Georgia as a preteen with my parents. We’ll be doing the tomahawk chop and yelling right along with you.
Thank, Teri. Yell as loud as you can…(“,)
Baseball season is here. Always like to try to check out a local game here in the area. It’s great to see up and coming stars.
So fun! I’m not a baseball fan but my hubby and son follow some and love going to games together they are thrilled it’s back in season!
I love baseball season! It is hard to believe that it is alwaready that time of year again.
It’s so nice that baseball season has started again! I love going to games and having fun with friends and family!
That’s the thing about baseball: it’s a family thing, a great time for bonding and creating memories.
I am not a sports fan of any sport! My Dad, when he was alive loved baseball so I did get to watch more then a couple of games way back then–unless my Mom took pity on me and we would leave him and go off shopping (she also is not a sports fan!)
As much as Lynndee likes shopping, she’s turned into a Braves’ fan so she sticks around when the game is on.
I used to love going to see the Toronto Blue Jays with my family when i was a little girl. I have not been to a game in years.
Oh, those Blue Jays, they beat the Braves in the first World Series ever played outside the United States. I’m still heartbroken…(: ( Ironically, the Braves are in Toronto this weekend. If you’re still in the area, now would be the time to reacquaint yourself with the game.
me, my family, and everyone I know are partying hard because baseball is back. It’s the best sporty season of the year!!
We love baseball in this house too. Being a former Bostonian, our team is the Red Soxs. I wish everyone a great season!!!
Yeah, the Red Sox. As I said in the post, one of my dreams is to see a game in Fenway. One of the greatest World Series ever played took place there in ’75, Reds VS Red Sox.
We rarely watches sports events like this, we only go to support the high school team that our children’s school supports.
As do we. Our son plays soccer and we miss not one game.
I have to admit I know nothing about baseball and I’m not a sports fan either. Baseball isn’t a popular sport here in Ireland.
Understandable. Baseball is working on becoming international and they do have a team in Canada. And it’s a big sport in Japan. I would think that your sports there would be soccer and cricket. I do have roots in Ireland as I wrote of in one of my posts here on this blog: http://www.athousandcountryroads.com/2011/09/the-saga-of-neely-tweed.html Check it out; you may find it interesting.
Baseball season is the sport that I actually really enjoy, because it reminds me a lot of my childhood with my father. I’m long over-due going to a game and having some good ol’ bonding time.
And that’s what it’s all about; the bonding and memories a good baseball game can create.
Yay! It’s time for outdoor fun. Lets take advantage of it 🙂
Hi Harry and Lyndee, I’ve always so enjoyed playing baseball, and going to the games – watching on TV is a bit slow for me – but my hubby does follow – and those history making moments are soooo exciting! And how exciting your story of seeing Hank Aaron play and sharing the day with us!
I certainly do love going to the games but seeing it’s so far away, I have to settle for TV most of the time. I’ve heard the term football widows about those wives who have to put up with their hubbys watching Sunday football from noon to midnight. I guess you could call Lynndee a baseball widow because I try to watch all the Braves games I possibly can. But…even if it’s a game a day, they’re over in three hours. And she watches them with me – bonding time…(“,) But yes, I was so fortunate to see Hank play several times over the years and getting to see some of those historical moments. I’m glad you enjoyed my nostalgic rememberances.
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I use to love baseball when I was younger! Over the last few years though I’ve kinda forgotten about the sport… Main reason really because we don’t have a local pro team. I really should get back into baseball! It’s a fun sport.
I love Baseball season. We travel to Midland MI to see the Loons and then we head down to Detroit to watch the Tigers. It is a lot of fun. I am not so much of a fan of watching sports on television though. I would rather see it live.
Yeah, live is best, but not practical or affordable on a daily basis. One of my greatest memories is seeing a game at the old Tiger Stadium way back in the day of Al Kaline and that bunch of Tigers.
I’m so glad that Winter is over too. =) It’s great to get outdoors to watch and play sports.
I have never got into sports. However, I have always wanted to visit a baseball game for some reason.
I’m so glad the warmer weather is coming back! I’ve been so tired of being cooped up in the house during winter. It’ll be great to get out and see some of the local games around here. 🙂
So glad winter is over! Summer is just around the corner and its time to watch sports outdoor. Go Atlanta Braves! 😉
Oh, yeah: GO BRAVES!
It must be a lot of fun to have a sports team that you root for and look forward to see playing. I don’t have any right now, but I do enjoy going to various sporting events.
We are big baseball fans in our house. Our local team is the Tampa Rays! We try to go to games when we can.
Cool. The Braves will be playing in Tampa on August 21-22. A great opportunity for you to go.
So fun! I won’t deny that I don’t get into the game as much as my boys but I do enjoy spending time watching!
Baseball season is definitely back! I’ve been watching the St. Louis Cardinal play. My old chemistry teacher from high school is the pitching coach for them.
The Cards have been one of my favorite teams over the years. I especially remember Bob Gibson and Curt Flood and the boys of that era. And who could ever forget the 2011 World Series and the heroics of David Freese. Great memories!
I’ve been to a few games here in L.A. and back home in Detroit. It’s was a good time!
Wow, I forgot about Chavez Ravine when I spoke of parks I’d like to see a game in. Been through LA but never had the chance to go to a game. I did see a game in the old Tiger Stadium, a great memory.
I’m not really a baseball fan but I do enjoy taking my girls to baseballs games. We usually go once a year and they absolutely love it.
I don’t know much about baseball but it sure is nice to give a cheer to the team we wish to win.