photo by Joseph Dycus
With Atlanta Braves emblems surrounding Miller Park, team employees scurrying around the premises, and large letters spelling out “Chop On” situated on the steps, it was almost as if SunTrust park had been transported to Chattanooga. The usually-serene Miller Park was transformed into a Braves-themed fair of sorts on Wednesday afternoon. The third city in the Braves’ five stop “Country Road Trip,” Chattanooga’s residents didn’t let the 90 degree temperatures stop them from coming out in large numbers to support the South’s most popular baseball team.
Fans of all ages had the opportunity to partake in a multitude of activities. Children competed in a wiffle-ball home run derby every half-hour for a chance to win tickets to a Braves home game. Older fans partook in a trivia contest, trying to answer questions such as “How many gold glove awards did Greg Maddux win in his career?” or “How many World Series did the Braves play in during the 1990s?” for their shot at some signed Braves memorabilia. In one of the tents, fans could take a virtual reality tour of the Braves’ SunTrust Park.
According to Brad Meriwether, the Braves’ director of Marketing, the Braves Country Road Trip was “all about the fans. It’s an opportunity for them to play some baseball, and it’s all about bringing SunTrust stadium to our fans outside of Atlanta.”
Meriwether spoke of how the Braves are incredibly popular in the South, and that the Braves Country Road Trip was a way for the team to interact with fans throughout the region.
Drums provided the soundtrack for these events, courtesy of the Braves drum company, also known as “The Heavy Hitters.” In between activities, these talented drummers would perform intricate routines on the stage in the eastern side of Miller Park. The Braves dance crew members were also present, often alternating with the Heavy Hitters' pounding performances.
After a few hours, fans had the opportunity to interact with a former Braves player from the glory years of the 1990’s. Marvin Freeman, an imposing six foot, seven inch relief pitcher for two of the Braves’ World Series teams of 1992 and 1993, enthusiastically signed autographs and posed for pictures with those in attendance. Freeman also had advice for some of the aspiring baseball players at Miller Park that afternoon.
“You need to have fun. That’s the most important thing,” said Freeman, “If you’re not having fun, then you won’t continue to play. But if you love it, you’ll want to keep playing and get better.”
Marvin Freeman played from 1986-1996
The event went on from 3-7. After finishing in Chattanooga, the Braves Country Road Trip will visit Nashville on Friday and will conclude in Birmingham on Saturday.