Page 387 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

Turner Field (1997-2016) FRONT OFFICE

Originally built to serve as the heart of the 1996 Summer Olympics, Turner Field became the home of
the Braves in 1997. The team played there through the 2016 season, going 951-667 (.588) in the regular
season at the park, while winning 10 NL East titles. The park sits between Ralph David Abernathy Boule-
vard to the north, Hank Aaron Drive to the east, Bill Lucas
Drive to the south and Pollard Boulevard to the west. The
$209-million stadium began construction in 1993 and
opened three years later as Centennial Olympic Stadium. MANAGER & STAFF
The 85,000-seat structure served as the centerpiece of
the 1996 Summer Olympics, housing the opening and
closing ceremonies, along with track and field events.
After the completion of the Paralympic Games in August,
the stadium was retrofitted into a baseball only, open-air,
natural grass facility over the course of seven months
from September until April of 1997. Much of the north end
of the stadium was taken out to install the outfield walls, PLAYER BIOS
while Entry Plaza, the main entrance to Turner Field, was
built after 35,000 seats and part of the track-and-field
complex were removed. The Braves played their first
game at Turner Field on April 4, 1997, beating the Chicago
Cubs, 5-4. The club drew 3,464,488 fans in their first sea-
son, the second-highest single-season total in franchise
history. Over their 20 seasons at the ballpark, the Braves
welcomed 52,439,513 regular season fans to Turner Field, SEASON IN REVIEW
while surpassing two million fans in every year.
The Braves beat the Detroit Tigers, 1-0, in Turner Field’s
final game on October 2, 2016. The club moved their
offices out of the ballpark in December of that year, with
Georgia State University taking control after purchasing
the stadium for $22.8 million. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Turner Field Firsts turner Field Lasts
First Game: April 4, 1997 vs. Chicago Cubs Last Game: October 2, 2016 vs. Detroit Tigers
Attendance: 45,044 (first sellout) Attendance: 51,220 (last sellout)
TOG: 2:54 Score: 5-4, Braves TOG: 2:47 Score: 1-0, Braves
WP: Brad Clontz LP: Terry Adams WP: Julio Teheran LP: Justin Verlander
Save: Mark Wohlers Save: Jim Johnson
First Pitch: by Denny Neagle, 7:47 p.m. Last Pitch: by Jim Johnson, 6:00 p.m. BRAVES HISTORY
First Batter: Brian McRae, Chicago Last Batter: Justin Upton, Detroit (strikeout)
First Braves Batter: Kenny Lofton Last Braves Batter: Freddie Freeman (strikeout)
First Hit: Chipper Jones (single) Last Hit: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit (single)
First Double: Javy Lopez Last Braves Hit: Adonis Garcia (single)
First Triple: Brian McRae, Chicago Last Double: Jose Iglesias, Detroit
First Home Run: Michael Tucker Last Triple: Rio Ruiz (September 28)
First RBI: Michael Tucker Last Home Run: Justin Upton, Detroit (October 1)
First Run Scored: Michael Tucker Last RBI: Freddie Freeman
First Braves Stolen Base: Chipper Jones Last Run Scored: Ender Inciarte OPPONENTS
First Braves Error: Fred McGriff Last Stolen Base: Adonis Garcia
First Strikeout: Mark Lemke Last Error: James McCann, Detroit
First Walk: Chipper Jones Last Strikeout: Justin Upton
First Intentional Walk: Sammy Sosa, Chicago Last Walk: Nick Markakis
Last Intentional Walk: Nick Markakis

2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE 387 MISCELLANEOUS