During the Braves’ championship ceremony at Truist Park, there were three recurring themes: gratitude for the fans, pursuing a repeat and “re-sign Freddie.”
The Braves’ World Series championship parade Friday concluded with a red carpet and presentation at Truist Park. Each player and coach entered through center field on a red carpet leading to a stage just beyond second base.
A video recapping their championship run was shown on the scoreboard with My Chemical Romance’s “The Black Parade” as the soundtrack. Broadcaster Joe Simpson was the master of ceremonies.
Among the speakers were Billye Aaron, Hank’s widow; Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Braves chairman Terry McGuirk; general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who was quarantined with his family in an outfield suite; manager Brian Snitker; and a bevy of players.
“Braves Country, we did it,” Snitker said to a packed Truist Park. “We are world champions. I’m sure myself and every one of these guys up here want to thank you for your support, the energy that you provided us all year long. I’ll reiterate like I told these guys the other night, boys (Snitker looked at his players), you are world champions for the rest of your life. Congrats. Congratulations. And thank you Braves Country.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman spoke immediately after Snitker, complimenting the front office and his teammates for a “team effort.” He likewise thanked the fans for supporting them when the team was treading water earlier in the season – the Braves didn’t obtain a winning record until Aug. 6.
Freeman continued, crediting the fans’ attendance as part of the reason for the team’s destiny-altering trade deadline. The Braves added four outfielders – Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall and Jorge Soler – in July, with each proving pivotal to their title run.
“Little did you (the fans) know you were contributing to the greatest trade deadline in the history of baseball, in my opinion,” Freeman said as “Fred-die” chants filled the ballpark. “Your guys’ support came out and got the World Series MVP (Soler), the NLCS MVP (Rosario), the RBI leader (Duvall), “Joctober” (Pederson), (catcher) Stephen Vogt. And we got Charlie Morton, extended (catcher) Travis d’Arnaud, and that’s because you guys supported us all season long. So when you say, and people talk to you about the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series championship. It’s not us. You guys stop that. You say, ‘we did it,’ because you guys are the reason we’re standing on this stage. So thank you. We love you all. Champions forever.”
Speaking of extensions, Freeman’s contract status wasn’t lost on his teammates. Freeman, the face of the franchise, is set to become a free agent in a few days. His situation will be the storyline of the Braves’ offseason until he signs a contract.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson on stage: “I really don’t have many words to describe (this feeling). I’ve been waiting 26 years for this, and I only have a couple things to say: First thing is this trophy. This is ours, Atlanta. This is everybody’s. And the other thing, it might get me in trouble, but re-sign Freddie.”
Not long afterward, d’Arnaud said: “Braves Country, we did it. We are World Series champions. And lastly, Dansby said it best: Re-sign Freddie.”
The crowd spoke: Its loudest reactions throughout the day were in response to Freeman speaking or after his teammates suggested re-signing him. It also erupted when Pederson, wearing Coca-Cola shorts, again proclaimed that the Braves “are those (expletive).”
Freeman and the July outfielders are all free agents. The Braves certainly have a busy offseason ahead, but they put a bow on their championship with Friday’s festivities.
And some of them even looked ahead to October and November of next year.
“Atlanta, the crowd you brought today was unreal,” third baseman Austin Riley said. “I’m thinking Round 2 next year. What do you say?”
Simpson later led the crowd’s “re-peat” chant. Welcome to the new Braves era. It’s no longer about “finally” winning a postseason series; it’s about repeating as world champions. And Friday, Atlanta celebrated its long-awaited title in front of its team for the final time until they start a new season in March.
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