Moving … eventually
After nearly a decade of dominating the National League in attendance, the Milwaukee Braves – by then among the worst attractions in baseball – receive permission 59 years ago today to move to Atlanta.
Of course, there is a condition.
While greenlighting the move to Georgia, the National League tells the Braves they must play out the 1965 season at Milwaukee County Stadium, where in their final season there they will draw only 555,584 fans and finish last in the league in attendance.
Turns out the Braves need 17 seasons in Atlanta before finishing in the top half of the National League in attendance and will not lead the league in attendance until 1992 – 27 seasons after abandoning their once-rabid fans in Milwaukee.