Atlanta Braves say Goodbye Jason, Goodbye Hope

It has taken me quite some time to come to terms with the Atlanta Braves trading Jason Heyward. Before you guys start spewing rhetoric or prepare the “punk” comments let me explain and this may touch a few cords in reference to race so if this isn’t your soapbox, please step off and exit the room.

I am multi-racial. I grew up in the DEEP South where racism never went away, it has and is still very much alive and considered “the norm”.

Mar 25, 2014; Lakeland, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) smiles while he waits to bat against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I am 42.

I was introduced to baseball in 1991 when the Bravos went from traditional doormats of the league to first place and on their way to many many years of consecutive pennants.

I haven’t looked back since. It is and has been a deep passion of mine.

Like with most sports, baseball was my way of tuning out the world and focusing on the task at hand and as a devoted fan, I used baseball as a way of blocking out the harsh reality of the South.

Along the way, I began to pick my own favorite players but I NEVER got too attached to any one specific player.

This is where it get’s a little “iffy”. (follow along…)

Being in the South and my kids having mostly black features is somewhat of a stamp of instant ridicule. If you didn’t grow up in the south or in this type of environment you wouldn’t know the pain and anguish of racism. Here (in the South) it never left and the resentment, hatred and flames of fear are still burning throughout cornfields and former plantation grounds across the southeast.

It was hard.

It was increasingly hard to play sports.

I thought we had role models but once the steroid era reached its climax, most of our greatest baseball idols had been on trial and convicted in the public eye of being guilty.

And yet….

then came this flicker of hope…

A team, IN THE SOUTH, had constructed an all African-American Outfield (1 of 4 at the time).

Aug 31, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) andAtlanta Braves center fielder B.J. Upton (2) celebrate their 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

My team did this.

My team in Georgia.

My team is rebel flag Georgia, did the UN-thinkable.

I was excited beyond belief.

I could now show my kids positive role models that were tangible. They played right up the road and we could go and see them as often as our budget permitted.

The Braves had built THE team for Atlanta. (one of the few things that Frank Wren didn’t screw up directly)

Within the Atlanta Metropolitan area, there were 1.7 Million African-Americans. I thought that they all must have felt the same elation that I had right?

… not.

The seats were not filled with Black folks.

They didn’t come out in support.

It seemed like the same ole same ole in the A.T.L.

But there still stood a light that was brighter than the other two..

There was this kids who was drafted by the Braves, groomed by Bobby Cox and stood taller than the rest at 6 ft 5 inches. His defense was stellar and from his first day, first at-bat he made an impact on the game.

This player was/is Jason Heyward.

FINALLY someone CURRENT to be proud of.

My kids began to get emotionally attached… “this guy is good”

My wife watched the games with me more… “this guy is cute”

I was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, this young fresh Black face could be the face of the franchise.

… not

In Observance of Black History Month: Atlanta Braves Say Goodbye to Jason Heyward, Hope

By Fletcher Batts | Feb 6, 2015