The Braves are the background music to my life. I was born in 1974 the year Hammering Hank hit that historic number 715. Of course, I was oblivious to it then but it is something I can appreciate now. I remember long summer days growing up in a small Georgia town playing whiffle ball in my neighbors yard. Mom would be at home watching the Braves faithfully throughout the woesome 80's with the windows up to let in the fresh summer breeze. We would know how each game was going by the cheers or growns that came from my house several houses down the street. We knew if mom was yelling Woo Hoo good Ol' Murph must have gotten hold of one. We heard a lot of other things too, and it usually wasn't woo hoo back in those days. I would go to my grandparents house every summer for about 2 or 3 weeks. Every night my grandfather would watch the Braves from his trusty old chair after spending all day working in his yard and garden. Back then I knew the Braves but only through them. They only player I knew or cared anything about was Dale Murphy. I would be in the other room playing around with my brother or cousins and Papa would say Jason, Murph is up. I would stop every thing and watch to see Murphy's at bat. I remember a lot of strike outs and quite a few HRs.
The first game I remember going to was in the early 80's. I went with my uncle and cousin, it was a true braves experience. I remember sitting up in the upper deck on the third base side in old Atlanta Fulton Co. Stadium. I was in awe as my cousin and uncle named off all the brave's players as we gazed down on the field with a pair of binoculars. I don't remember who they played, who won or lost, or any other detail from the game. What I do remember is the car ride either before or after the game and hearing Earnie, Skip, or Pete on the radio while we went to the Varsity in my uncle's stationwagon. I went several other games with my parents in the 80's. I remember going one July 4th probably around 1983 or 84. It was hot as Hades. I had brought my glove with me...you know, just in case. My brother and I were losing interest in the game so mom took us over to Chief Noc-a-Homa's Tee Pee and I got my glove signed by the Chief himself.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet my childhood idol when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. One of my friends went to a Morman Church and Dale Murphy was speaking. He invited me to go, mom let me go despite that we were Baptist. I must have begged and begged. I was probably the only person walking in the church with a baseball glove...I wanted to get his autograph. After he spoke, everyone in the congregation lined up to meet Murph and shake his hand. I lost my nerve and left my glove in my seat. I settled for a hand shake, but what a hand shake it was. I was star struck and couldn't speak and don't know when I finally washed my hand.
I think i started getting serious about baseball probably around 1988 or 89 about the time the baseball card craze started heating up. Initially the only cards I cared about getting were braves. I would open pack after pack looking for my braves but I soon took noted that none of them were worth any $$$...even my beloved Murphy (unbelievable). I soon found myself scouring packs of upper deck looking for that illusive Griffrey Jr. rookie card. Finally in 1990 the Braves had a rookie of there own who was garnering attention and began to peek mine...David Justice. 1990 was a weird season Murph got traded, I repeat MURPH GOT TRADED!!! The only reason I watched the Braves was traded. Then the Miracle Season hit...1991. I still had not gotten to the point where I could sit through watching a full game not to mention a season. But then the Braves made the Playoffs this was new. This had the whole town a buzz. Everyone was Tomahawk'n. I was hooked I watched every inning of every game of the World Series. It was amazing, nail biting close, back and forth. Edge of your seat excitement every second.
When the 1992 season started I had good intentions to watch regular season games. I would be lying tho if I said I watched every game of the 1992 season. I started the season watching but lost interest not long before the season got started. But when the playoffs were on so was I. I had a friend who was from Pittsburg we had made a wager on who would go the NLCS. I was fully vested in the team...if the Braves won I won. I remember standing watching the Bream Slide and turning away slamming my fist on the couch because I thought he was going to be out. And then jumping in excitement as I realized he was safe. From that moment on I never looked back. I was checking the standings in the paper everyday to see how many games the Braves were in the lead by, or behind, who was leading the league in HRs, Wins, and ERA. It became a daily ritual, I was addicted. I began watching every game, if the Braves were going to make the playoffs every year I needed to be vested so I could fully appreciate their success.
When 1993 season started I was fully vested from the get go and enjoyed watching the last great pennant race. We had an amazing team and should have made it to the Series that year...Stupid Phillies! Then the Strike hit in 1994 and like many others baseball began to lose it's luster. The baseball card shops began to close. Baseball tried to start the season with replacement players...no one watched, I didn't watch. Luckily the Braves had a great team again in 1995 and were favored to go back to the World Series. I again had to be vested to savor victory. I remember not really being worried about any of the NL teams...but the Indians, that team looked unbeatable. Albert Bell, Kenny Lofton, Eddie Murray, Jim Thome, Manny Ramierez. That was an offensive like none I had ever seen. It would certainly be a short series.
The Braves made the Series again that year. I had to go to the World Series...the Braves missed it in '93 they may not get another chance...I had to go. I saw on the news late one night that world series tickets were going on sale the next day. I was in school at GSU just a short walk from the Stadium and had afternoon classes the next day. I could buy tickets and still make classes. So I made my mind up that I was going to Atlanta-Fulton Co. Stadium that night so I could be first in line. I got to the stadium around 12:30 that night. To my surprise I wasn't the only person with that idea...people were camping out in tents and chairs. There was no organization to know where the line started or ended. So I just picked a spot and sat with a blanket. That morning all of a sudden people began to frantically pack up tents and chairs and a make a mad dash for the ticket office. People were running everywhere. In the chaos, as I stood up I saw a wad of $20s on the ground in front of me. I snatched it up as I started towards what was quickly becoming a very long line. Now let me clarify I am a honest person if there was any way of knowing who dropped the $ I would have gladly given it to them, but it was bedlam and no possible way of knowing. I stood in line all day and got to the ticket window probably around 3pm that day. Sadly all the tickets for games 1 and 2 were sold out...I was heart broken. I just wanted to go to a world series game...I had to SETTLE for game 6 or 7. I was expecting a short series since we were going up against the mighty Indians (Oh ye of little faith, right?!). So I got 6 tickets to game 6 so my family and their friends could go with me. I got 2 tickets FREE thanks to the wad of $20s I had found. Not to mention I was forced into going to THE game that the Braves won it ALL. It was AWESOME!!!! There is no better feeling than seeing your team dog pile on the mound with "We Are The Champions" Blaring on the PA system. The people in the crowd was high fiving and hugging complete strangers. Tomahawks were chopping everywhere! I still have 2 of my tickets one signed by Dave Justice (HR hero of game 6) and the other signed by Bobby Cox.
The Braves made a habit out of winning, 14 straight divisions in fact. I made a habit out of watching them. They were my team, no matter what was going on in my life I could always count on the Braves to come through with a winning season. They helped me go through a difficult time when my parents got a divorce, something that took me by complete surprise and I was completely devastated. The Braves won that year and several years after that as well. It gave me something positive to focus on.
Now I am older now and the Braves have stopped their winning ways at least for right now. I have spent many years collecting autographs of all of my braves heros and game room dedicated to my Braves. I have shared my love of the game with my daughter. I have taken her to many games such as Chipper's # retirement game, the last game at Turner Field, and a game at Sun Trust Park among many others. I am deeply entrenched in the Braves rebuilding efforts and found a new love in the draft and international signings. Just when you think you know everything about this great game it changes and in the same sense it stays the same. It is cyclical, it is poetic and it perfectly echos life. This is truly americas game and the Braves are America's Team. That is why I am a Braves Fan.
