Mississippi Braves
Encyclopedia
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball
team based in Pearl, Mississippi
, a suburb of Jackson
. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
, and plays in the Southern League
. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media
, which also owns the Atlanta Braves. Liberty purchased the Braves from Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting unit in 2007.
, and known as the Greenville Braves
. Due to the condition of Greenville Municipal Stadium
, and the failure to reach an agreement with the Greenville County council for a new ballpark, the team pursued relocation. Before the 2004 season, the Braves announced their intentions to relocate to Pearl, Mississippi, after the season's conclusion.
The Mississippi Braves first season began on April 18, 2005. The Braves opened their inaugural season in Trustmark Park
with a loss against the Montgomery Biscuits
.
, went on a tirade against the umpires during that night's game against the Chattanooga Lookouts
at AT&T Field. He protested a series of unpopular calls by covering home plate with dirt. Wellman then traced a significantly larger home plate around the actual home plate. He continued his tantrum by uprooting bases and throwing them, low-crawling across the infield like a soldier and hurling the rosin bag at an umpire as if it were a grenade. Wellman concluded his tirade by making a hand gesture that hinted at throwing the third-base umpire out of the game, then blowing a farewell kiss to the crowd while taking a bow. Wellman received a three-game suspension as a result. The episode was broadcast on many sports syndications across the United States and Canada.
3-2 in the 10th inning of the decisive Game 5 of the Southern League Championship Series. This was the Braves first championship since relocating to Mississippi and was the first Southern League title for Atlanta's Double-A franchise since 1997.
* Promoted directly to Atlanta
.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Pearl, Mississippi
Pearl, Mississippi
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,961 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, a suburb of Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, and plays in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media
Liberty Media
Liberty Media Corporation is an American media conglomerate and the control is exercised by company Chairman John C. Malone, who owns a majority of the voting shares....
, which also owns the Atlanta Braves. Liberty purchased the Braves from Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting unit in 2007.
Team history
For 21 years, from 1984 to 2004, the Mississippi Braves were based in Greenville, South CarolinaGreenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, and known as the Greenville Braves
Greenville Braves
The Greenville Braves were an American minor league baseball franchise, based in Greenville, South Carolina, that served as the Class AA farm team of the Atlanta Braves between 1984 and 2004...
. Due to the condition of Greenville Municipal Stadium
Greenville Municipal Stadium
Greenville Municipal Stadium is a stadium in Greenville, South Carolina that was built in 1984 and holds 7,048 people. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Greenville Bombers minor league baseball team prior to West End Field opening in 2006. It was also home to the...
, and the failure to reach an agreement with the Greenville County council for a new ballpark, the team pursued relocation. Before the 2004 season, the Braves announced their intentions to relocate to Pearl, Mississippi, after the season's conclusion.
The Mississippi Braves first season began on April 18, 2005. The Braves opened their inaugural season in Trustmark Park
Trustmark Park
Trustmark Park is the home of the Mississippi Braves, Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and is located in Pearl, Mississippi, USA. The ballpark, which opened April 18, 2005, has capacity for nearly 7,500 fans. There are 5,500 chair-back seats in the reserved seating areas. The grass berm...
with a loss against the Montgomery Biscuits
Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a minor league baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and plays in the Southern League. The 2004 season was the team's first in Montgomery...
.
Phillip Wellman
The Mississippi Braves received some notoriety on June 1, 2007, when the team manager, Phillip WellmanPhillip Wellman
Phillip Wellman , is an American hitting coach and former manager who currently works for the Springfield Cardinals, the Texas League AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Wellman entered minor league baseball as a player in and began coaching in...
, went on a tirade against the umpires during that night's game against the Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
at AT&T Field. He protested a series of unpopular calls by covering home plate with dirt. Wellman then traced a significantly larger home plate around the actual home plate. He continued his tantrum by uprooting bases and throwing them, low-crawling across the infield like a soldier and hurling the rosin bag at an umpire as if it were a grenade. Wellman concluded his tirade by making a hand gesture that hinted at throwing the third-base umpire out of the game, then blowing a farewell kiss to the crowd while taking a bow. Wellman received a three-game suspension as a result. The episode was broadcast on many sports syndications across the United States and Canada.
Championships
On September 13, 2008, the Mississippi Braves beat the Carolina MudcatsCarolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
3-2 in the 10th inning of the decisive Game 5 of the Southern League Championship Series. This was the Braves first championship since relocating to Mississippi and was the first Southern League title for Atlanta's Double-A franchise since 1997.
Notable Players
- José AscanioJose AscanioJosé Eleazar Ascanio is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
* (2006-2007) - Blaine BoyerBlaine BoyerBlaine Thomas Boyer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets.-Baseball career:...
* (2005) - Román ColónRomán ColónRomán Benedicto Colón is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds...
(2005) - Joey DevineJoey DevineJoseph Neal "Joey" Devine is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Atlanta Braves:...
* (2005-2007) - Yunel EscobarYunel EscobarYunel Almenares Escobar is a professional baseball shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-Early life:Escobar was born in Havana, Cuba...
(2006) - Jeff FrancoeurJeff FrancoeurJeffrey Braden Francoeur , nicknamed "Frenchy", is a Major League Baseball right fielder who now plays for the Kansas City Royals. Francoeur is known for a strong throwing arm.-Minor league career:...
* (2005, 2008) - Jason HeywardJason HeywardJason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
(2009) - Chuck JamesChuck JamesCharles Hamilton "Chuck" James is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-Atlanta Braves:...
(2005) - Macay McBrideMacay McBrideJoseph Macay McBride is a former Major League baseball relief pitcher.- High school :McBride attended Screven County High School in Sylvania, Georgia, and made his mark as a power pitcher with a fastball in the low 90s...
(2005-2006) - Brian McCann
* (2005) - Jay PowellJay PowellJames Willard "Jay" Powell , is a former American baseball pitcher, who last played for the Atlanta Braves. He graduated from West Lauderdale Knights in 1990Mississippi State University....
* (2005) - Martín PradoMartín PradoMartín Manuel Prado is a professional baseball player who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves....
* (2005-2006) - Jarrod SaltalamacchiaJarrod SaltalamacchiaJarrod Scott Saltalamacchia , nicknamed "Salty" is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.His last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history...
* (2006-2007) - Clint SammonsClint SammonsClint Joseph Sammons is a professional baseball catcher. Sammons was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 43rd round in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft. He did not sign with them however, and instead attended the University of Georgia, where he was starting catcher in baseball...
* (2007) - Scott ThormanScott ThormanScott Robert Thorman is a professional baseball first baseman. Thorman was drafted in the first round, 30th overall in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves...
(2005) - Jorge VásquezJorge VásquezJorge Luis Vásquez is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He currently plays for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League.-Career:...
* (2005) - K. Brandon Ruh (2001)
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.