I figured I would switch it up today. Instead of boring, old athletes, I’m going to enlighten you on the different stadiums the Braves played in (even though the “Braves” did not play in all of them). Every Braves fan knows that Turner Field is the Home of the Braves today, and more knowledgeable fans know that Fulton County Stadium was the stadium before that. Before scrolling down, go ahead and guess the name of the stadium before that. If you got it, I’m thoroughly impressed. Well, as promised, here are the stadiums of the Braves.
Turner Field (1997-Present)
Turner Field, named after then-owner Ted Turner, is the current Home of the Braves, but it wasn’t always that way. In 1996, it was the home to the Summer Olympics when they were held in Atlanta. Later, the field was converted into a baseball-only stadium, and baseball was played on it in the next spring. The field surface is called Prescription Athletic Turf and is the best natural grass available. Located next to where Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium used to be, Turner Field saw the last half of the magic division streak that was begun in AFC.
Fun Fact- The turf for the stadium is grown just beyond center field in the gap between the stands.
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (1966-1996)
AFC was built in 1964-1965 to accommodate the move that the Braves franchise was making as they moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. It took only twenty months to build, and it held 2,000 more people than Turner Field currently holds. The last game played there was a tragic one as the Braves lost Game 5 of the World Series to Yankees ending the chance to be back-to-back champions. The dimensions of the stadium were quite standard, but the fence stood a good ten feet off the ground. One of the most important events in baseball history occurred at this stadium as on April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th homerun. AFC is now the parking lot for the current stadium. How things can change.
Fun Fact- A fire broke out in the press box before the July 20, 1993 game. This was the night Fred McGriff joined the team, and an announcer said that the Braves would “catch fire” after this. The rest my friends is history.
Milwaukee County Stadium (1953-1965)
The answer to the trivia question is … Milwaukee County Stadium. Built to house the team moving from Boston, Milwaukee County Stadium was the first stadium built with public funds only, starting a trend that hasn’t ended. In only the 13th game of the season, the Braves passed the previous season’s attendance of 281,278 people, and it would finish the season with a then-NL record 1,826,397 fans coming to the ballpark. Patients of the Veterans Hospital could watch the games from their rooms beyond right field until bleachers were built. After the World Series victory in 1957, fans came out in declining fashion, which caused the move to Atlanta.
Fun Fact- Milwaukee County Stadium was the first baseball stadium with lights.
Braves Field (1915-1952)
Oh, how original. Even with its lack of imagination for a name, Braves Field was considered to be the “last word in major league parks” by then-NL President John Tener. It was the largest stadium in America at that point, and its dimensions weren’t any smaller. Ty Cobb said that no one would be able to hit the ball out of the ballpark, and it wasn’t until 1928 that someone hit one over the left field fence. Bigger than Fenway Park, the Red Sox used Braves Field for their World Series in 1915 and 1916 and on Sundays from 1929-1932.
Fun Fact- Because of the fresh coat of green paint just applied before the first game ever at Braves Field, about 5,000 fans had green spots on their clothes, and the Braves had to pay $6,000 for cleaning fees.
South End Grounds (1871-1914)
The longest-tenured park of the Braves, the South End Grounds was also the first. While here, the Braves were called the Boston Red Stockings, Beaneaters, and finally, the Braves. In 1894, the stadium was destroyed by “The Great Roxbury Fire”, and the team had to play at the Congress Street Grounds while the stadium was rebuilt. The new stadium was smaller because it had been underinsured, and there was no money left to build the stadium any bigger.
Fun Fact- Their original “Red Stockings” nickname lives on in three ways: in the Boston Red Sox, in the Cincinnatti Reds, and in the perennial red trim that the Braves wear in their uniforms.