CHIPPER, SMOLTZ, AND GLAVINE TEAM UP TO PROTECT ATLANTA’S BASEBALL HERITAGE
ATLANTA, GA—In a move that feels like 1995 all over again, Chipper Jones is leading a historic charge to ensure the Atlanta Braves’ identity remains rooted in the city forever. In a joint announcement today, a group of former icons—including John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Dale Murphy—unveiled the “Atlanta Braves Community Ownership & Legacy Fund.” This isn’t a traditional corporate buyout. Instead, it’s a pioneering community-centric initiative designed to give former players and local stakeholders a permanent voice in how the franchise’s history and values are preserved for future generations worldwide.
THE MISSION: BEYOND THE BALLPARK
Chipper Jones, who famously spent his entire 19-year career in a Braves uniform, emphasized that this move is about “safeguarding the soul” of the organization against the “relentless pull of time” and shifting corporate ownership.
Protecting the Legacy: The fund will establish a permanent endowment to maintain “Braves Heritage Sites” across the South and fund a global digital archive of the 14-straight division title era.
Loyalty as a Business Model: The initiative includes a “Player-to-Community” mentorship program where legends will actively consult on the team’s community investments, ensuring they reflect the “Braves Way” of discipline and service.
A Global Identity: With the 2025 All-Star Game having just put Atlanta in the global spotlight, the fund aims to establish “Braves Baseball Academies” internationally, spreading the Atlanta brand to underserved youth in the Caribbean and Asia.
THE VOICES OF THE DYNASTY
The “Community Ownership” model allows these former players to act as a Strategic Advisory Council with actual equity-like influence over the team’s charitable and historical decisions.
The Icon
The Role in the Fund
The Strategic Focus
Chipper Jones
Chairman
Infield Development & “Southern Roots” preservation.
John Smoltz
Technical Advisor
Pitching Lab innovation and youth mental health advocacy.
Tom Glavine
Financial Liaison
Managing the endowment’s long-term sustainability.
Dale Murphy
Community Outreach
Ensuring the “Clean Character” legacy of the 80s remains the team standard.
“FAMILY, MEMORY, AND AN ERA”
During the press conference at the Hank Aaron Statue outside Truist Park, Chipper was visibly moved.
“The Braves have never been just a team to me. They are family, memory, and an entire era of my life,” Jones stated. “We aren’t here to manage games; we’re here to manage the legacy. We want to make sure that 50 years from now, the ‘A’ on that cap still stands for the same values it did when we were on the field.”
SAFEGUARDING FOR FOREVER
While the Braves are currently a publicly traded entity under Atlanta Braves Holdings (BATRA), this “Community Ownership” tier creates a protective layer of former-player influence that is unique in Major League Baseball. It signals to the world that while the players change, the “soul” of Atlanta baseball is now under a lifetime guarantee.
The message is clear: the legends are home, and they are making sure the door never closes on the fans who built the dynasty alongside them.
