Can you feel it? Ever since the championship celebration concluded last November, the momentum around Braves Country has been rebuilding.
Despite the ongoing lockout that has already delayed spring training, loyal fans are counting the days until the umpire commands “Play ball!” We can’t wait for professional baseball’s reigning world champions to return to home field play at Truist Park.
Yes, bring on the Braves, our very own Cinderella team whose surprising 2021 postseason run secured their first World Series title since 1995. A new season — whenever that gets underway — of possibilities awaits.
The Braves are scheduled to host their home opener
at Truist Park on April 7.
As of this writing, the Bravos are still scheduled to host their home opener on Thursday, April 7, against the Cincinnati Reds. First pitch is at 7:20 p.m.
Ticket holders will get a chance to once again celebrate last year’s championship along with enjoying the normal ballpark fun. Count on mascot Blooper, Hammerin’ Hank and the Home Depot tools, the Heavy Hitters drumline and the always-hyped Tomahawk Team to welcome fans back with plenty of between-inning entertainment.
On the diamond, the celebrating will be brief because the Braves will be getting back to business and focusing on a new goal. They’ll attempt to make history by becoming Major League Baseball’s first repeat world champions in 22 years.
Check out our fun ideas for counting down the days
until the 2022 regular season begins.
Can’t wait until the season begins to get your chop on? The customer service team at Walton Gas has compiled a list of ways you can spend the remaining days before it’s time to head back to the ballpark.
- Get a selfie with the Commissioner’s Trophy. They probably won’t allow you to hoist it in the air, but you can get your photo made with the 2021 World Series trophy. The team is taking it on tour with 151 stops, one stop for every year of Braves baseball. There are stops throughout Braves Country. To find one near you, visit mlb.com/braves/fans/trophy-tour.
- Tune up the TV. If you didn’t do it in time to watch the Bulldogs win the college national football championship, take care of any television upgrades you’re planning. You’ll want to be ready to watch the Braves’ road games. Get that done before opening day when the regular season schedule calls for a six-game road trip to Miami and New York before returning home to start Truist Park’s sixth season with a four-game set against Cincinnati.
- Dust off your bobblehead collection. Yeah, we know you have one. Who doesn’t? According to Douglas Acker at StadiumGiveawayExchange.com, the Braves handed out the first 12,000 of these fan freebies on Sept. 28, 2001. The initial giveaway featured the likeness of Andruw Jones. A few days later, on Oct. 6, the first Chipper Jones bobbleheads were handed out.
- Check out spring training. Though it’s delayed, spring training — at least some of it — will eventually happen. When it does, why not take a road trip to Florida to check out CoolToday Park, the Braves’ spring training (https://www.mlb.com/braves/spring-training) facility. In 2019, the club began playing at this new, $100 million state-of-the-art training complex near Sarasota on the state’s Gulf Coast. And in case you’re curious about the origin of the stadium’s name, CoolToday is an HVAC contractor based in Sarasota.
- Think of a question for Walter. Walter Banks is the longest-serving gameday usher for the Braves organization. The 82-year-old has been on the job since the very first Braves game in Atlanta in 1965, and he even has his own official bobblehead. Perhaps even more impressive is his head full of numerical trivia associated with the team. He’s sure to be at Truist Park on opening day, so look him up and put his knowledge to the test. And don’t forget to request a selfie with this Braves legend.
We can hardly wait for baseball season to officially arrive. Go Braves!