The pivotal game that sent the Braves back to the World Series after more than two decades was over, but a day later fans were back at the stadium sharing their excitement.
At Truist Park on Sunday afternoon, fans formed a line outside the team’s Clubhouse Store waiting to buy gear and memorabilia. Several nostalgic fans at the Cobb County venue said they started supporting the team many years ago when the Braves were playing at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Before entering the Clubhouse Store, Matt Johnson recalled going to a Braves playoff game with his parents in 1995, the year the team won the World Series against the Cleveland Indians in six games.
“It’s a long time coming,” Matt Johnson said of the Braves returning to the World Series after Saturday’s night win over the L.A. Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. “I think the Dodgers are really good. After beating them, now I have confidence that we can beat anybody.”
Chad Taylor said he’s been a Braves fan since childhood and recalled leaving high school on a fall day back in 1995 to go the Braves parade celebrating their World Series win.
“This year, there were times we were afraid to get our hopes up, but now it’s really exciting,” Taylor’s wife, Paula, said. “We’re hoping they will win again this year. We’re raising our kids to be fans.”
While 1995 was the last time the team won the World Series, it was back in 1999 when they made their last appearance in the championship game.
Krista and Mike came out to Truist Park with their children Trent, 10, and Aubrey, 8, who was wearing pearls in honor of right fielder Joc Pederson.
The family — whose last name unfortunately failed to get mentioned amid all the enthusiastic Braves talk with a reporter and each other — said they never gave up on the Braves this year despite the highs and lows.
“With all the players they picked up at the trade deadline, they really turned it around,” Mike said. “We’re at where we are now because of that.”
Krista and Mike said, after the passing of Hank Aaron in January and the injury of Ronald Acuna Jr.’s ACL injury in July, they believe it’s the Braves’ year to cap things with the big win.
Mike said he, too, went to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to see the Braves play as a child. “This is their ballpark now,” he said of kids seeing games at Truist Park.
Krista said the family is looking into getting tickets to attend the World Series.
Hollie and Darrell Giannotti of Cumming said they came out to Truist Park on Sunday with the goal of purchasing team goods.
They couldn’t contain their excitement — nor their shopping to show their support. The couple said they added the Braves’ two-sided towel to their purchase stash when a Clubhouse Store salesperson brought more team items from the stockroom just as they were about to leave the store.
Similar to other longtime fans gathering at the stadium, Darrell recalled Braves games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, where they last played in 1996 before heading to Turner Field, which was their home until the Braves’ move to Cobb in 2017.
“I have still have my T-shirt from when the Braves won in 1995,” said Hollie, who was sporting pearls as a nod to Pederson.
Farther afield from the stadium area, the spirit was also evident.
The Rev. Julie Boone at Marietta First United Methodist Church saluted the Braves during morning announcements.
The Cobb County church has some history with the team. The late Tim Lee, who as County Commission chairman was instrumental in luring the Braves away from downtown Atlanta, was a longtime member of the church. And Braves legend Chipper Jones, who was with the team when it last reached the World Series, attended services at the Methodist church years ago.
Boone said she looked forward to the team’s World Series win. From the congregation, that elicited a hearty “Amen.”
- Staff writer Jennifer Brett contributed to this article.
