Rome Braves
Encyclopedia
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league
affiliate of the Atlanta Braves
. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon
, Georgia
, to Rome, Georgia
, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta
.
Home games are played at State Mutual Stadium
, which was built entirely from a SPLOST tax before State Mutual paid for the naming rights, opened April 11, 2003 and seats 5,105. In addition to three levels of regular seating, the stadium also features a lawn seating area known as "Applebee's Home Run Hill." There are also 14 suites for VIP fans.
, who moved to the other Class-A farm team for the Atlanta Braves, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
. According to the official Rome Braves Website, 2008 marks Ingles' 30th year with the Braves organization.
As the team's general manager, Michael Dunn is in charge of the front office staff, while Jim Jones is the assistant general manager.
.
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...
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....
. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, to Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Home games are played at State Mutual Stadium
State Mutual Stadium
State Mutual Stadium has been the home of the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League since its completion in 2003. It seats 5,105 people. The playing field dimensions are a mirror of the parent club's Turner Field, which is a mere away. The naming rights were sold to Rome-based State Mutual...
, which was built entirely from a SPLOST tax before State Mutual paid for the naming rights, opened April 11, 2003 and seats 5,105. In addition to three levels of regular seating, the stadium also features a lawn seating area known as "Applebee's Home Run Hill." There are also 14 suites for VIP fans.
Team management
Randy Ingle was appointed manager of the team in 2006, replacing Rocket WheelerRocket Wheeler
Ralph Norman "Rocket" Wheeler is a former minor league infielder and the current minor league manager for the Class AA Mississippi Braves of the Southern League. Wheeler attended the University of Houston where he obtained his nickname "Rocket" for his speed and hustle.Wheeler was drafted by the...
, who moved to the other Class-A farm team for the Atlanta Braves, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
. According to the official Rome Braves Website, 2008 marks Ingles' 30th year with the Braves organization.
As the team's general manager, Michael Dunn is in charge of the front office staff, while Jim Jones is the assistant general manager.
Team mascots
The Rome Braves have two mascots, Romey and Roxie. Romey is a tall (six-foot-three-inch), blue, furry humanoid male mascot with yellow hair, while Roxie, who was added to the team after the 2005 season, is five-feet-five-inches tall, humanoid, a lighter blue, and has a large yellow ponytailPonytail
A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. It gets its name from its resemblance to the undocked tail of a...
.
Records
Season Records| Season | First Half Record | Second Half Record | Overall Record |
| 2003 | 36-33, 4th place South | 42-28, 1st place South | 78-61, 2nd place South |
| 2004 | 40-30, 3rd place South | 30-40, 7th place South | 70-70, 3rd place South |
| 2005 | 39-29, 3rd place South | 33-36, 6th place South | 72-65, 4th place South |
| 2006 | 42-28, 1st place South | 29-40, 6th place South | 71-68, 5th place South |
| 2007 | 29-41, 7th place South | 37-33, 6th place South | 66-74, 6th place South |
| 2008 | 22-47, 8th place South | 34-34, 6th place South | 56-81, 8th place South |
| 2009 | 35-35, 5th place South | 31-38, 6th place South | 66-73, 6th place South |
Notable former players
- 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:...
- Kyle Davies
- 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...
- Julio FrancoJulio FrancoJulio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....
(Played 4 games for the team in 2007 - 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:...
- Tom GlavineTom GlavineThomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
(Played 1 game for the team in 2009) - Tommy HansonTommy HansonThomas J "Tommy" Hanson is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Hanson was considered by Baseball America to be the top prospect in the Braves farm system going into the 2009 season...
- 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....
- Omar InfanteOmar InfanteOmar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently on the Miami Marlins...
(Played 3 games for the team in 2009) - Chuck JamesChuck JamesCharles Hamilton "Chuck" James is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-Atlanta Braves:...
- Kelly JohnsonKelly Johnson (baseball)Kelly Andrew Johnson is a Major League Baseball second baseman.-Atlanta Braves:Johnson was drafted in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves...
(Played 5 games for the team in 2006) - Brandon JonesBrandon Jones (baseball)Brandon Lamon Jones is a Major League Baseball left fielder in the Milwaukee Brewers organization...
- Chipper JonesChipper JonesLarry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
(Played 1 game for the team in 2004 , 3 games in 2005 and 2 games in 2011) - Brian JordanBrian JordanBrian O'Neal Jordan is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and National Football League safety. In the NFL, he played for the Atlanta Falcons, while he played in the MLB for the St...
(Played 1 game for the team in 2006) - Jason MarquisJason MarquisJason Scott Marquis is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks....
(1997) - Brian McCann
- Martín PradoMartín PradoMartín Manuel Prado is a professional baseball player who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves....
- Jo-Jo ReyesJo-Jo ReyesJoseph Albert "Jo-Jo" Reyes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball...
- 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...
- John SmoltzJohn SmoltzJohn Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
(Played 2 games for the team in 2008)