Remembering Ted Turner: The one night he took over as Atlanta Braves manager

The Braves were in the middle of 16-game losing streak, so he gave the manager a vacation

Obit Ted Turner FILE - Ted Turner, owner of the Atlanta Braves, took over as manager of the Braves prior to the game, May 11, 1977, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo, File) (RCG/AP)

By Courtney Martinez

ATLANTA — Atlanta lost a legend on Wednesday morning. Ted Turner, a media mogul and founder of CNN, died at the age of 87 with his family at his side.

Among his numerous business ventures, Turner, an avid sports fan, owned the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and World Championship Wrestling league.

And for one night only in 1977, he wasn’t just the owner of the Braves. He took over as the team’s manager for a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Turner had only purchased the Braves the year before in 1976 and it would be years until they became “America’s Team” with the TBS Superstation era. But the 1977 season did not start off well.

Just two months into the season, the Braves were on a 16-game losing streak. After they lost a doubleheader on May 10, Turner called then-manager Dave Bristol and told him to take a few days off.

But who would manage the Braves? Well, Turner himself. And later that night, he walked into the visitors dugout at Three Rivers Stadium - wearing the No. 27.

REMEMBERING TED TURNER:

In his autobiography “Call Me Ted,” Turner wrote that he didn’t do much in the dugout.

“I didn’t know the signs, so I had to sit next to one of the other coaches, and when I thought we should steal or bunt, I’d have to tell him so he could relay the signal,” he said, referring to then-third base coach Vern Benson and bullpen coach Cannizzaro.

The Braves would lose that night, 2-1, to extend their losing streak to 17. Turner’s stint as manager was short-lived. Why? League rules didn’t allow for a team’s owner to also be the team’s manager.

Turner wrote that he received a telegram from the National League that he couldn’t manage the team going forward. Bristol would return to the team and finish out the season.

The next manager that Turner hired? Future Baseball Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. The two would eventually win the 1995 World Series together.

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Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten, general manager John Schuerholz, owner Ted Turner and manager Bobby Cox hold the 1995 World Series trophy. (AJC photo/David Tulis)