Atlanta Braves: Braves Play Final Game at Turner Field
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves ended the 2016 season Sunday and sent their stadium out in style. Turner Field has seen its last inning as the Braves closed the doors to the stadium for the final time this past weekend.
The Atlanta Braves turned a chapter in their history this weekend rapping up their final season in Turner Field. The team knocked the Tigers out of the wildcard race this weekend playing the role of the spoiler perfectly.
The last game at Turner field was fittingly, a pitchers duel that ended in a 1-0 Braves win. The season may have been a long one for the Braves but that doesn’t make saying goodbye to Turner Field any easier. It has long been the Braves’ home and holds many good memories for its players and fan base.
Turner Field has been the Braves home since 1997 and while it holds great memories it also holds almost two decades worth of heartbreak for Braves’ fans. The Atlanta Braves seemed to put amazing seasons together only to go out very quickly in the postseason. Despite being annual postseason contenders they could never take the next step and capture another World Series title.
The Braves made the postseason twelve times while at Turner Field and failed to make it to the World Series except once during that time. Losing that Series to a Yankees team in 1999. The Braves were contenders in Turner Field but they failed to bring it home despite enjoying some great moments. They are hoping the move will signal a change in their postseason fortunes.
The Braves posted a farewell video (below) honoring the fans the players and the stadium itself.
The video mentions Freddie Freeman and Chipper Jones in particular as the two faces of the franchise in recent memory. One enjoying retirement and the other getting ready to usher in a new era of Braves baseball.
Next: Atlanta Braves: Bright Spots of 2016
The Braves are set to open their new stadium next season as they look to again become a contending team in the NL East. While moving on from a place with such great memories as Turner Field may seem sentimental for some fans it is a great move by a franchise that is headed in the right direction. Watch for the Atlanta Braves to be very active in the off-season as they gear up to try and take their September improvements into the 2017 season.