Are the Atlanta Braves for real again? It sure looks like it.
When Ted Turner began his cable TV networks, Atlanta Braves’ game were available across the nation. Over the course of the 1990s, when they began an amazing run of eleven straight National League East titles, they cultivated fans from all over the South, where at that time there was no other major league clubs.
But when the Braves could only win one World Series during that time, and cable TV became a way of life around the country, the Bravos settled in as more of a regional franchise. Millions of Southerners still root for them, and that number grows exponentially when the Braves are winning.
Well, they are right now, leading the NL East by three and half games over the equally surprising Phillies and by seven over the division favorite Nationals. The Braves ran their current road streak to four straight Monday night with a thrilling win at Yankee Stadium, were the Pinstripes have the best home record in baseball.
With the All-Star game two weeks away and well over half the season in the books, the Braves look as good as they did in the days of Bobby Cox and Chipper Jones. They have two of the best hitters in the National league in first-baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielder Nick Markakis. They also have pitching league leaders in wins and ERA.
And the LOOK like contenders. They trailed the Yankees Monday night, took the lead and were tied again going into extras. The Bombers loaded the bases in the 10th, but could not walk it off, and the Braves scratched out two runs in the 11th for their 49th win of the season – best in the National League.
The Braves are still on cable TV, but now you can get them on so many different formats over every device imaginable. And their fans are beginning to congregate again at road games, waving those arms and humming that familiar, rhythmic chant.
They never made it to becoming America’s team because the Braves fell short so many times during their glory years of winning division titles, except for 1995.
But, if you tune them in and listen, the Tomahawk Chop is still very much a song of the South.
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