Ted Turner - Former Atlanta Braves Mgr / Dead at 87

[Ope3]

The following year, in 1977, Turner tried to finesse baseball’s free agency again by agreeing to a deal with San Francisco outfielder Gary Matthews before Matthews’ contract with the Giants had expired. Already looked down upon by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and the other club owners, Kuhn suspended Turner for a year and fined him for contract tampering. Turner fought the decision in court and remained in control of the team. The following year, in 1977, Turner tried to finesse baseball’s free agency again by agreeing to a deal with San Francisco outfielder Gary Matthews before Matthews’ contract with the Giants had expired. Already looked down upon by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and the other club owners, Kuhn suspended Turner for a year and fined him for contract tampering. Turner fought the decision in court and remained in control of the team. On May 11, 1977, with the Braves already in a losing streak, Turner further complicated the controversy when he appointed himself manager of the failing Braves. He relieved manager Dave Bristol and stepped into the dugout himself in full uniform. He presented his move as an attempt to get closer to his investment so he could see what the managerial job entailed before choosing Bristol’s replacement. The next day, the National League disallowed the move, reinstating Bristol. Later in the year, the league denied Turner’s appeal regarding his suspension and his sentence began. After Bristol finished the 1977 season, the Braves hired New York Yankees coach Bobby Cox as manager to help rebuild the team., with the Braves already in a losing streak, Turner further complicated the controversy when he appointed himself manager of the failing Braves. He relieved manager Dave Bristol and stepped into the dugout himself in full uniform. He presented his move as an attempt to get closer to his investment so he could see what the managerial job entailed before choosing Bristol’s replacement. The next day, the National League disallowed the move, reinstating Bristol. Later in the year, the league denied Turner’s appeal regarding his suspension and his sentence began. After Bristol finished the 1977 season, the Braves hired New York Yankees coach Bobby Cox as manager to help rebuild the team.

Ted Turner – Society for American Baseball Research

sabr.org

Known for some other stuff too.

 

[Ope3]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/us/ted-turner-death

Ted Turner, the media maverick and philanthropist who founded CNN, a pioneering 24-hour network that revolutionized television news, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a news release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87.

The Ohio-born Atlanta businessman, nicknamed “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken nature, built a media empire that encompassed cable’s first superstation and popular channels for movies and cartoons, plus professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves.

Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States. He played a crucial role in reintroducing bison to the American west. He even created the Captain Planet cartoon to educate kids about the environment.

 

[TNGophfan]

Had a very full, interesting life.

 

[BleedGopher]

I watched hours and hours of Saved by the Bell reruns after school in the 1990's because of that man.

A life well lived.

Go Gophers!!

 

[GophersInIowa]

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

 

[howeda7]

Tough week for the Braves...