Former Braves Owner Who Moved Team to Atlanta Dies at 91
By Scott Rogust
A day before the 2020 Major League Baseball season was supposed to commence, the Atlanta Braves received some terrible news.
Former team owner Bill Bartholomay, who helped facilitate the franchise's move to Atlanta, passed away "very peacefully" at the age of 91 on Wednesday night, according to his daughter Jamie.
Mr. B was a father figure in my life. I will miss him dearly. Thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/OrcKhmXnTo
— Eddie Pérez 12 (@Eperez1212) March 26, 2020
Bartholomay, a former insurance brokerage executive in Chicago, led a group to purchase the then-Milwaukee Braves in 1962. After two years in the Brew City, Bartholomay made the decision to move the Braves down to Atlanta. It took until 1966 to complete the relocation, as Bartholomay had to engage in numerous court battles in Milwaukee.
His stint as Braves owner was rather short, as he sold the team to Ted Turner for a grand total of $11 million in 1976.
Even though he wasn't the head honcho anymore, Bartholomay's passion for baseball kept him around the organization. Bartholomay would travel to Atlanta to attend games and meetings. In fact, he was the chairman of the Braves' board of directors until 2003. Additionally, Bartholomay received induction into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2002.
Longtime Braves chairman Bill Bartholomay passed away yesterday. Bartholomay brought the Braves to Atlanta and then sold the club to Ted Turner. He remained heavily involved with the team over the past few decades. The world lost a great man and baseball lost a great ambassador.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 26, 2020
Bartholomay lived a long life, and luckily for him, he got to spend a majority of it around the game he loved since he was a child. From Chicago Cubs bat boy at nine years old to Braves owner. What a life.