Atlanta Braves Baseball

As we frequently try to do, it worked out for us to catch a major league baseball game while we were on vacation.  This year we saw the Cincinnati Reds play the Atlanta Braves at beautiful Turner Field in Atlanta.  The day of the game, we purchased tickets in the first row of the upper deck.

The Braves beat the Reds 11-2.  Kevin Millwood of the Braves pitched a solid game, while Joey Hamilton of the Reds got beat up.  Adam Dunn of the Reds hit the game's only homerun.  

We got to the park a couple of hours before it opened for the game.  We got to see both teams take batting practice and do their pre-game warm-ups.  They open up a section of the outfield for batting practice so fans can try to catch fly balls.  We had quite a few go near us, but none close enough to try to catch.  It was fun seeing a lot of great players up close.  We weren't too far from Greg Maddux, Chipper Jones, John Smoltz and several other players.  Smoltz, a fierce competitor, is even competitive going after fly balls in batting practice.

We had a really good time at the game.  It is a beautiful park with a lot to see and do.  We took plenty of time to look around, eat some good food and see some fun baseball.  

Thoughts and Recommendations

• Go early so you can watch batting practice and walk around some areas of the stadium.
• They have 21 different styles of hot dogs there.  You have to try at least one!
• There is a lot of parking near the stadium for $10 a car.  The worst thing is getting out after the game is over.  There aren't too many exits and traffic is horrible.  Once you get to the freeway, everyone thinks they are a NASCAR driver.