After throwing out baseball references, likening a work assignment to a bullpen session, and pretty much talking baseball for 2 weeks, the staff at the Lawrenceville, GA ABF Terminal got the hint. I love baseball, write about baseball, am pretty much obsessed with the game of baseball. I was mentioning the free Braves workout I attended to an ABF supervisor, who was from the area, and he suggested I check out the old Turner Field. Turner Field was home to the Atlanta Braves for 20 seasons from 1997 – 2016. The stadium still exists, except it is now the property of Georgia State University and its new name is Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.
So, I had a short window before heading to the airport on Thursday afternoon and took the drive (it was actually on the way) to downtown Atlanta and the former Turner Field location. Much to my surprise and wonder, I pulled up to the stadium and found out I was driving on Hank Aaron Drive. Very cool. I was hoping the stadium was open to the public, so I parked, and made my way over to Center Parc Stadium.
As I walked the sidewalk adjacent to the stadium, I noticed cars and people walking out of a main gate area so I headed that way. Sure enough, there was an opening and I walked through it and saw a giant Hank Aaron statue right there in the main parking lot area. Just because it is no longer the Braves home stadium, absolutely no need to take the statue down, in my opinion. There was a commemorative plaque under the statue, and I’m pretty sure you could fill up an entire statue stand with Aaron’s accomplishments.
The stadium itself was not open to the public, so I just took in the football field and departed the stadium area. I was just happy to have found the Hank Aaron statue. On my walk out of the parking lot, I spotted another tribute to Aaron – a street lamp with a commemorative plaque. Again, nice gesture here by Georgia State University to continue to honor of the best baseball players of all time.
Hungry for lunch after my Hank Aaron adventure, I stopped in for some ballpark fare at Hot Dog Pete’s, which fittingly had a beautiful mural of #44, Hank Aaron. ‘Works for me,’ I thought and I stopped in for a few hot dogs and a root beer.
I would not be alone to admit that getting to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is an adventure I would gladly pass up, if given the chance. The traffic, wow, is there traffic in downtown Atlanta! Heed this advice if you are traveling to and from the airport in Atlanta, give yourself plenty of time. Then, the fun begins inside the airport, getting through security with half the population of Rhode Island, and then after about 2 hours, ahhhhhh – you made it to your gate.
The former Turner Field still has some baseball history in and around the new stadium, which is now Center Parc Credit Union Stadium. Reading and observing those incredible Hank Aaron tributes was awesome. I love that Georgia State University continues to honor his legacy and contribution to the Atlanta community. My time was limited but I feel that my adventure, my baseball experience seeing those Hank Aaron tributes was well worth the trip into busy downtown Atlanta.
The Rhiter 
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