The Mississippi Braves franchise dates back to 1966, although it’s only since 2005 that the team has had its current name. The club has been located in five different cities, but the one constant throughout its history is its Major League Baseball parent club. Since 1966, the team has made news headlines for its consistent affiliation with the Atlanta Braves. The minor league team has always carried the Braves name. The team existed in Austin in 1966 and 1967, before moving to Shreveport for the 1968 through 1970 seasons. The team had a longer stay in Savannah between 1971 and 1983, and then spent 1984 through 2004 in Greenville.Ballpark
The Braves play the home games on their schedule at Trustmark Park, which opened in 2005. With an official capacity of 8,480, it’s the fourth-largest park in the 10-team Southern League. The ballpark has a historic appearance comprised of brick and iron, and its features include a 360-degree concourse, a full-service restaurant tucked behind the fence in right field and more than 100 TVs around the park that show the game in progress.
Multiple Southern League Championships
The Greenville Braves won a pair of Southern League championships in 1992 and 1997, winning each series in five games over Chattanooga and Huntsville, respectively. Fans in Mississippi had to wait four seasons for the Braves to share a Southern League title with the community. In 2008, the club was crowned league champs after a five-game win over Carolina.
Mississippi Braves Roster
Over the years, many former players on the Braves roster eventually went on to star for the Atlanta Braves. These names include Yunel Escobar, Jeff Francoeur, Evan Gattis, Jason Heyward, Brian McCann, Martin Prado, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Andrelton Simmons.
Spring Training
During Spring Training, members of the Braves share Champion Stadium with other players from the Atlanta Braves system. The park opened in 1997 and is located in Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World. Champion Stadium has an official capacity of 9,500.
The Ballpark Guide hasn’t visited the Mississippi Braves yet, but hopes to in the near future. If you’re excited to read a fan guide to the Trustmark Park, check out the many ways you can support The Ballpark Guide on future baseball road trips.