House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Walter’s New Ride

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general view of the field prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

He’s been a fixture in Atlanta for both Braves and Georgia Tech games for… well, forever, as far as the Braves’ tenure in the South is concerned.  He’ll be 77 years old next year, but Walter Banks is coming to SunTrust Park.

The concern was mostly the nighttime driving… that distance from his home in Atlanta out to the suburbs of Cobb County where MARTA doesn’t reach.  But a way to fix this problem had to be found. It’s just not an Atlanta Braves baseball game without Walter.

The AJC ran a special on Walter Banks last Summer… at a time when it was thought his days patrolling Section 107 might be done.  In it, they outlined both Walter’s passion … and the problem:

"He’d like to continue ushering, if he can figure out transportation and if the team will have him. “I don’t take anything for granted,” said Banks, whose job security seems as solid (maybe more so) as just about anyone’s in the Braves organization, if not all of Major League Baseball. “Just because you’ve been here a long time, that doesn’t guarantee you anything. No matter how long you’ve been with a business, you still have to earn it.” The distance to the new stadium and the current one from his home are nearly identical in terms of miles, but Banks is unsure how he’d get to SunTrust Park, the Braves’ home starting next season. He doesn’t like to drive at night and MARTA rail lines don’t reach Cobb County."

The way has been found.  It’s called Uber.

A bit cynically, I’ll note for the record that the offer to get Walter back and forth from SunTrust Park was made for just the 2017 season… but that said, this is something that clearly will continue for as long as Walter wants it to continue.

It has to continue.  It needs to continue.  Because we expect Walter to be there.  And it’s a fine thing done for him in this announcement as the Atlanta Braves and Uber teamed up to make it happen for him.

And for us.

Well done.

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