The Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros at Truist Park 3-2 in game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 30, 2021. Long time Braves fan and UGA student Sellars Lindler captured “Braves Win” flashing across the jumbotron as she celebrated the win in the stadium with her family. (Photo/Sellars Lindler)
About 80 miles from Sanford Stadium, home of the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs lies Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves. On Nov. 2, the Braves won their first World Series title since 1995 after defeating the Houston Astros 7-0 in game 6. According to the university’s 2020 factbook, approximately 79% of UGA students are from Georgia making this a win for Bulldogs and Braves fans alike.
Why It’s Newsworthy: Approximately 43.2% of UGA students are from the Atlanta region and many grew up going to Braves games. The Bulldogs and Braves fan bases are extremely connected and the success of both teams has lifted the spirits of Georgia sports fans.
Like many UGA students from Atlanta, fifth year Sellars Lindler grew up going to Braves games. In the fall of 2017, Lindler was one of 23 incoming freshmen from Riverwood High School according to UGA’s 2017 fact book. At the time this made her one of 4,183 students enrolled at UGA from Fulton county.
“My high school friends and I would go to Braves games a lot,” Lindler explained. “Turner Field was right downtown, so we would go tailgate and get nosebleed seats and go in. It’s something I feel like all Atlanta high school kids would do.”
Fifth year Christian Massey recalled a similar high school experience. “I went to Norcross high school, so Turner Field was a little bit farther away,” he said. “We would take Marta into town to go to the game and there would always be a bunch of other Atlanta kids on the train doing the same thing.”
According to UGA’s 2020 fact book, 43.2% of UGA students are from the Atlanta region. Many of them grew up as both Braves and Bulldog fans.
Massey’s grandfather, Francis “Abit” Massey, graduated from UGA in 1949 and received the UGA President’s Medal on Jan. 27, 2016 for his work strengthening the research, teaching and extension programs of the poultry industry across Georgia. These strong family ties to the university led Massey to grow up cheering on the Bulldogs at countless UGA football games. “Going to those games meant a lot to me,” he said. “My family’s history and Saturdays in Athens are two of the big reasons I wanted to go to UGA.”
Being a Braves fan isn’t limited to being from Atlanta. Many UGA students from states outside of Georgia consider themselves a part of Braves Country.
“The Braves are like the baseball team of the southeast,” said Lindler. “People from Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee are Braves fans, too.”
Alex Aldana is a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn. While walking out of class just a few hours before the first pitch of game six would be thrown, Aldana explained that the first sports game he ever went to was a Braves game with his dad. “Since it’s (Chattanooga, Tenn.) so close, I grew up going to those games,” he said. He walked away wearing a Braves hat, jacket, and t-shirt, eager to get home to watch the Braves win the World Series with his friends.
Over 300 UGA students watched the Atlanta Braves win the 2021 World Series at Athens tapas restaurant Paloma Park on Nov. 3, 2021. The crowd burst into applause and sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, “We Are the Champions” and “Don’t Stop Believing” when the Braves won. (Photo/Ally Gray)
Lindler attended game 4 of the World Series on Oct. 30 at Truist Park where the Braves beat the Astros 3-2. She said being inside Truist Park that night was “insane”. “I’ve been to hundreds of Braves games, but this was so different,” she explained. “I’ve waited my entire life to go to a game like that. Everyone was so happy and excited and the energy was surreal.”
Fifth year UGA student Sellars Linder grinning with her boyfriend, Edward Nitka in the stands of Truist Park on Oct. 30, 2021 as the Braves play against the Houston Astros in game 4 of the World Series. Nitka moved to Atlanta after graduating from UGA in the Spring of 2021 and became a Braves fan when he came to UGA from his hometown in New Jersey. (Photo/Sellars Lindler)
The Braves winning their first World Series in 26 years meant a lot to Atlanta sports fans. “Ever since we won, it feels like everyone everywhere is just so happy. At the grocery store, people would be talking about it and wearing Braves shirts. I feel like it’s brought everyone together,” explained Lindler the evening after the Braves beat the Astros in game 6.
Now it’s Georgia’s turn. The Bulldog’s claimed their last national title in 1980 when running back Herschel Walker led the team to beat Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. It’s been 14,903 days since that win and the energy and excitement of the Braves’ success and Bulldogs’ undefeated season has UGA fans feeling like this could be their year.
“There has never been a more exciting or intense season for Braves and Bulldogs fans,” said Massey.
Ally Gray is a fifth year majoring in journalism with a minor in design and media and a certificate in new media.