End Of An Era: Greatest Moments in Turner Field History

ATLANTA, GA -- The Atlanta Braves' lease at Turner Field officially ends on Saturday, Dec. 31. That's 20 years of great games, good times, and a few tough losses.

The Braves will spend their foreseeable future at SunTrust Park, a $672-million stadium in Cobb County. The new locale promises a potent mix of old-school ballpark feels with a state-of-the-art fan experience. Amenities include top-shelf shopping and dining options adjacent to residential space.

But the ballclub's fans will always remember Turner Field, the epicenter of so many great moments in Braves history. Although the Braves left the facility some months ago, the actual leasing agreement says that the team's 20-year lease expires on the last day of 2016. End of an era, indeed.

Let's take a look back at some of the milestones that made 755 Hank Aaron Dr. in downtown Atlanta so special.

Circa 1993: Turner Field's history is intertwined with the Olympics: The story of Turner Field began in 1993 when crews broke ground on the site for use in the Summer Olympics three years later. The ballpark, originally called Centennial Olympic Stadium, was used for track and field in the closing ceremony in 1996. The stadium was renovated shortly after so that the Braves could call it home.

April 4, 1997: The Turner Field era began on this day when Braves right fielder Michael Tucker hit the park's first homerun. The Braves went on to defeat the Chicago Cubs 5-4. A tone was set, a spirit awakened.

Oct. 19, 1999: These were the glory days, with Atlanta in the midst of an unprecedented division title run. Braves fans thought the 1999 NLCS series against the Mets would be a runaway. Atlanta went up 3-0 in the series, only to have the Mets storm back in a tense Game 6 at Turner Field when Mike Piazza sent one over the wall. Thankfully, Andruw Jones scored on a walk in the 10th inning for a Braves victory.

May 18, 2004: It was at Turner Field that Randy Johnson, known as the Big Unit, pitched a perfect game as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Atlanta 2-1. The wily veteran in his 17th season struck out 13 Braves batters and went down in baseball lore.

July 7, 2005: Rookie phenom Jeff Francoeur's Major League debut got off to a bang. The 21-year-old hit his first homer in the eighth inning, sending the crowd into pandemonium.

May 24, 2007: John Smoltz reached 200 career wins with a 2-1 Braves victory over the Mets. The opposing pitcher? Ex-Brave Tom Glavine.

June 28, 2013: The Braves retired the jersey of Chipper Jones, the modern face of the franchise and one of the best switch-hitters in MLB history. Jones spent his entire 19-career with the Braves.

Nov. 11, 2013: The Braves announced that the team would be leaving Turner Field and moving to Cobb County. While the news was met with dismay from diehard Atlantans, public officials continued to tout the regional pluses of the move and how the downtown site could benefit from new blood, so to speak. The stadium has gotten heavy interest from nearby Georgia State University, which is eying the site as home for Panthers football.

Oct. 2, 2016: With thousands of fans in attendance for the final game in downtown Atlanta, the Braves ended an illustrious 20-year run at Turner Field with a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Tears were shed, memories were rekindled, but most of all, a much-needed win was earned.

As the Braves embark on a new era in Cobb County, fans are looking forward to new milestones -- and more wins. If the success at Turner Field is any indication, the future for Major League Baseball at SunTrust Park is bright.

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