North America’s longest continually operating major league sports franchise is marking its 60th season in Atlanta, and its history here is full of some of its biggest milestones. 

On April 12, 1966, the Atlanta Braves’ first-ever game was played at Atlanta Stadium (as it was then known) against the Pittsburgh Pirates before more than 50,000 fans. 

The Braves’ history in Atlanta would see a Black baseball player demolish a long-cherished sports milestone in the heart of the deep South; thrill a city and a region with an unthinkable turnaround in fortunes; field a remarkable roster of future Hall of Famers; and win Atlanta’s first-ever major league championship.

Award-winning broadcast reporter Adam Murphy and Tim Darnell look at the history of baseball in Atlanta and the Braves.