Braves News World

Respect   Determination   Tradition   Pride

These are four fundamental concepts that symbolize the Atlanta Braves organization. Accordingly, the Atlanta Braves Foundation, the team’s non-profit arm that raises funds to support charities and other worthy organizations in the city’s community, has chosen to introduce four different “Braves Bands” bracelets featuring those words on them. The white collectible wristbands will be sold at the Clubhouse Stores in CNN Center and Turner Field. “Livestrong” wrist bands are so 2004!

Braves broadcaster Don Sutton is scheduled to sign autographs from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm this Sunday 2/27/05 at Machinist Hall (12365 St. Charles Rock Rd.) in Bridgeton, MO. Autograph ticket prices at the show range from $35 - $50. You can contact the promoter, St. Louis Sports Collectors, Inc., at (618) 281-6014. Admission tickets are $4 per person per day and free for children ages 5 and under.

Sutton is also slated to sign autographs at 12:00 pm on Saturday 3/5/05 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza (111 North 3rd St.), Hall C, in Phoenix, AZ. Advance autograph ticket prices range from $39 - $79 (and are subject to price increases at the show) and photo opportunities are $39 each. You can contact the promoter, Tri-Star Productions, at (713) 666-9595. Admission tickets at the door will be between $8 and $10 per day for those age 6 and over and free for ages 5 and under.

The official monthly magazine of the Atlanta Braves for the past 11 years, ChopTalk, will return in April after a three-month hiatus. After being unable to reach an agreement with their prior publisher in December the Braves were forced to discontinue the fan magazine. Current subscribers were refunded for all unfulfilled issues. At the time, the Chop Talk website cited “changing conditions in the publishing industry, including rising costs,” as reasons for the action.

Wonderdog Publishing, Inc., led by the former editor of the magazine, Gary Caruso, will take the reins in late March (though the issue will be dated April 2005). A new, more expansive format featuring columns by Bobby Cox, John Schuerholz, and various Braves players will go a long way toward bringing both old and new subscribers into the fold.

Fans wishing to subscribe can send a check or money order for $34.95 (for one year / 12 issues) payable to “ChopTalk” to: Chop Talk, P.O. Box 922847, Atlanta, GA 30010-2287. Subscriptions can also be had by calling 800-268-6942. Long live the Chop!

This year the Braves won’t be able to hold their annual FanFest at Turner Field because of the construction going on at the stadium. Instead, the team will be staging a two-day caravan whereby players, coaches and broadcasters interact with Braves fans in the Chattanooga, Birmingham, Columbus, and greater Atlanta areas on February 4th and 5th. Radio stations 640 WGST and 96 Rock, which will broadcast Braves games this season, are sponsoring the events.

Among the Braves personalities who have agreed to participate are Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Johnny Estrada, Horacio Ramirez, Nick Green and both Skip and Chip Caray. The locations and times of their appearances have yet to be announced. Each player or broadcaster will appear at their own separate location for a couple hours. The players and broadcasters will be signing a limited number of autographs and only one per person.

The Braves Community Caravan stops in the greater Atlanta area are listed below. The details of the Birmingham, Columbus and Chattanooga stops have not yet been announced.

Friday, February 4
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Highland Plaza (3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Dunwoody Hall (5550 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Sandy Springs (6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. N.E., Atlanta)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Coweta Crossroads (100 Glenda Place, Newnan)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at The Peach (2900 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta)

Saturday, February 5
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Promenade (1625 Pleasant Hill Drive, Duluth)
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Merchants Walk (4101 Roswell Road, Marietta)
Publix at Dacula Village (720 Dacula Road, Dacula)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Alpharetta Commons (4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Rose Creek Plaza (4403 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock)

Since the best-selling book about Billy Beane was titled “Moneyball” I think John Schuerholz’s forthcoming book ought to be called “No Money Ball"! Today Warner Books (big surprise there) acquired the rights to a book to be authored by the Braves GM. The book will be co-written by best-selling sports writer Larry Guest and will be published in hardcover at a date to be determined.

The book will cover the successful executive’s career, baseball philosophy, and views on management. Stories about baseball inner dealings and player insights will also comprise a good portion of the book.

Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz will be featured guests at a dinner honoring the Double-A Mississippi Braves (formerly Greenville Braves) on Jan. 24. The event, dubbed “A Celebration of Champions” (though the Greenville team finished in the cellar of their division last year), will start at 6 p.m. CT at the Hilton-Jackson in Jackson, MS. The dinner itself will start at 7 p.m. CT.

In addition to dinner, speakers and presentations, the Mississippi Braves will be holding a silent auction and raffle for prizes and autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from those activities will benefit Jackson Metro Area charities.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 each (or $300 for a table of 10) at the M-Braves offices (226 Saint Paul St. in Pearl, MS) or by calling (601) 932-8788 or 888-BRAVES-4.

Braves great Phil Niekro and announcer Don Sutton are scheduled to sign autographs this Sunday 12/12/04 in the Exhibition Hall at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, VA. Niekro will be signing from 11:30 - 1:30 pm while Sutton will be signing from 12:00 - 2:00 pm. Advance autograph ticket prices range from $35 - $60 each. You can contact the promoter, Collector’s Showcase of America, at (540) 456-6877. Advance admission tickets for Sunday are $5 for those age 12 and over and free for ages under 12. The status of these appearances is subject to change at any time. Call the promoter for further information.

Braves catcher Johnny Estrada will be signing autographs this Saturday 12/11/04 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at the Braves Clubhouse Store in CNN Center in Atlanta. He’ll sign in exchange for either blankets or $20 cash donations to the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless program. Fans who donate a blanket anytime during store hours that day will receive 20% off purchases at the Clubhouse store during that time. Go congratulate Johnny on his exceptional season!

Braves greats Hank Aaron and Dale Murphy are scheduled to sign autographs this Saturday 12/4/04 at the Garden State Exhibit & Convention Center (50 Atrium Dr.) in Somerset, NJ. Aaron will sign from 12:00 - 2:00 pm eastern while Murphy will sign from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. For Aaron, autograph fees range from $195 - $295. Autograph fees for Murphy range from $40 - $60 with one free inscription per ticket. You can contact the promoter, Triumph Sports, Inc., at (866) 662-3786. Admission tickets are $15 per day. The status of these appearances is subject to change at any time. Call the promoter for further information.

Former Brave Dave Justice will sign at the same show from noon - 2:00 pm eastern Sunday the 5th.

The Braves will be conducting an online holiday auction on their official site to benefit the Atlanta Braves Foundation. The auctions will run from November 22 - December 8. Featured items that will be auctioned are listed below. Let the bidding begin!

John Smoltz autographed baseball
Chipper Jones autographed baseball
Andruw Jones autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
J.D. Drew autographed baseball
Marcus Giles autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Rafael Furcal batting practice-worn jersey
Mike Hampton autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Mike Hampton autographed game-worn home jersey
Julio Franco batting practice-worn jersey
Mark DeRosa batting practice-worn jersey
Bobby Cox signed 2003 NLDS Game 5 lineup card
Bobby Cox autographed game-worn jersey
Leo Mazzone game-worn away jersey
Terry Pendleton batting practice-used jersey
2004 NLDS Game 1 game-used base

Braves should-be Hall-of-Famer Dale Murphy is scheduled to sign autographs from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm this Saturday 11/20/04 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Road) in Rosemont, IL. Autograph ticket prices are $39 for flats/balls and $59 for bats/jerseys/numbers. You can contact the promoter, Mounted Memories, at (800) 749-7529. Admission tickets are $10 per day ($5 per day for children age 7 and under). The status of this appearance is subject to change at any time. Call the promoter for further information.

I’ll be posting the dates and details of upcoming autograph signings by current Braves players and notable former Braves. Of course, this will not comprise an all-inclusive of all Braves player appearances and the status of these appearances are subject to change at any time. Call the promoter for further information.

Braves great Phil Niekro is scheduled to sign autographs at 12:00 pm this Sunday 11/14/04 at the I-X Center (6200 Riverside Dr.) in Cleveland, OH. Advance autograph ticket prices range from $40 - $80 and photo opportunities are $40 each. You can contact the promoter, Tri-Star Productions, at (713) 666-9595. Admission tickets at the door will be between $8 and $10 per day for those age 6 and over and free for ages 5 and under.