Fansided

Each state’s nominee for America’s Team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys former player George Teague carries an American Flag on to the field before the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. New York won 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) during the sixth inning of the first MLB game at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte (11) celebrates his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) during the sixth inning of the first MLB game at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta doesn’t have a great reputation as a sports city. However, the Atlanta Braves made a strong case to be America’s Team. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s career home run record in 1974, then the team blossomed under Ted Turner’s ownership, because the club’s games were televised nationally on Turner’s TBS Superstation.

For much of Turner’s ownership, which ran from 1976 until Time Warner sold the club in 2007, the Braves were the only major league baseball team in the southeast. Until the Florida Marlins debuted in 1993, the Braves were the closest MLB team for fans in the Sunshine State, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Many baseball fans living in those states developed a fondness for the club, and many of those ties remain.

Even when geography didn’t play a factor, Braves fandom blossomed. There are pockets of the country with large Braves followings thanks to TBS and the string of 14 division consecutive titles the Braves won from 1991 to 2005, which set an MLB record. During that time period, Atlanta played in five World Series and captured the 1995 World Championship. Many across the country prefer to root for a winner, or the seeds of their fandom are sown during an upswing in the franchise, which coupled with the availability of watching the Braves a foundation for a mountain of momentum in the fanbase.

The Braves are in a rebuilding mode now, and haven’t been to the postseason since 2013. Since then, the city has landed an MLS franchise, Atlanta United, which has quickly developed into a fan force, and the city’s National Lacrosse League franchise, the Georgia Swarm, recently won the first pro sports title for the city since ’95. But the Braves are still the king of Atlanta, as well as Braves Country, which thanks to TBS and winning, has no official borders.

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