The last time Atlantans crowded the streets of downtown to celebrate a Braves World Series win was in October 1995.
An estimated half-million people lined the two-mile-long parade route to honor the team, who were at that point the city’s first world champions.
“I’ve been waiting 30 years for this,” former Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., the man who brought the Braves to Atlanta, said that day.
The next morning’s edition of The Atlanta Constitution featured a front-page photo of Tom Glavine, the Series’ MVP, in sunglasses and a blazer waving to fans. “A happy ending,” the headline stated.
Credit: AJC archives
Credit: AJC archives
Firetrucks carried Braves players, coaches and executives along Peachtree Street and past City Hall to the team’s then-home, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Marching bands helped set the mood, and thousands of schoolchildren took in the historic scene along with their parents.
On top of one firetruck sat Braves owner Ted Turner with the Commissioner’s Trophy. He was photographed doing the Tomahawk Chop as the parade passed by the state Capitol.
City officials considered the event a success, outside of some looting at Underground Atlanta and a few frantic fans seeking autographs who held up the parade at the staging area.
“I thought it was a great celebration,” Mayor Bill Campbell said after the parade. “It was civil but also euphoric. I’m very, very proud of the fans.”
