DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Douglas County Museum of History and Art unveiled an extensive collection of Atlanta Braves memorabilia Tuesday, marking the team’s 60th season in Atlanta.
“This is where it really gets going,” said Museum CFO Joseph Hamilton. “60 years’ worth of jerseys.”
The collection, donated by board member Jim Popham, includes jerseys, bats, Hank Aaron memorabilia, championship rings, and even a throwback jersey from the Atlanta Black Crackers jersey worn by former Braves pitcher John Rocker.
Atlanta is a Braves town, and the baseball squad won the hearts and minds of residents long before Rick Camp hit an Independence Day home run in the early morning of Jan. 5, 1985.
“Their successes over the years have both cheered us and broken our hearts,” Hamilton said.
The history is personal to Hamilton, who has watched the Braves since they moved to Atlanta in 1966.
“I came over with a Western Union ticket, got a ticket at will call, and saw Sandy Koufax beat them,” Hamilton said.
The Braves won their first World Series in Atlanta in 1995, with players like Fred McGriff, whose bat is prominently displayed alongside many of his teammates in the museum.
There is also a section of professional players with ties to Douglas County, some of whom played for the Braves.
Hamilton believes the collection serves as a kind of sports culture calling card to people who pass through North Georgia.
“It’s a calling card for us with people from other places. Like, ‘Hey, we have the Braves!’” Hamilton said.
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