Turner Field memories:
Giants reflect on old park upon heading to Atlanta’s new stadium.
DENVER — The start of the Giants’ postseason dominance began in 2010 at Turner Field, a facility built for the 1996 Olympics that the Atlanta Braves made home for only 20 years before moving into their new digs this season, SunTrust Park.
That’s where the Giants will begin a four-game series Monday.
Reflecting on Turner Field, Buster Posey, who grew up a Braves fan in Leesburg, Ga., three hours away, has one memory that stands above all others.
“The last out of the Division Series in ’10 and seeing Bobby Cox waving farewell to everybody,” Posey said. “I watched Bobby Cox manage the Braves my whole childhood, so it was pretty cool for me to be able to be there for his last game.”
Posey was a rookie with the 2010 Giants, the team that sent Cox into retirement. In one of the most memorable and touching moments of the season — and Cox’s career — the Giants delayed celebrating their first postseason-series victory in eight years by gathering in front of the visitors’ dugout to salute Cox. They clapped and tipped their caps, and an emotional Cox waved back.
How much did Posey admire Cox, who led the Braves to 14 straight division titles and the 1995 World Series championship? When they were in New York one offseason for an awards ceremony, Posey found himself in an elevator with him and recalls being “star struck.”
“He always seemed to stay calm, but then obviously. he had the record for most ejections,” Posey said. “So as a fan, you appreciate he has that passion for the game and has the players’ backs and just seemed like a likable guy.”
Posey didn’t make it to Turner Field much as a kid — he was busy playing ball himself — but saw a bunch of games on TV and said, “I vaguely remember Sid Bream sliding into home against the Pirates. My granddad wore a shirt with the picture of Sid Bream sliding.”
That slide was at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, beating Barry Bonds’ throw from left field in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS and sending the Braves to the World Series.
Bruce Bochy also fondly remembered his first postseason-series victory as Giants manager and the Cox tribute.
“Bobby was a manager all the young managers looked up to and revered,” Bochy said. “Not just the success he had but the way his team played the game. They were so professional. And it was all due to Bobby. As much as we were celebrating the victory, we kind of acknowledged one of the greatest managers of all time on the other side. For me, it was special because of how much I think of the man.”
Giants video-replay analyst Shawon Dunston played in the first game at Turner Field. He was the Cubs’ shortstop April 4, 1997. Dunston made an eighthinning error during the Braves’ winning rally.
Dunston was on the Giants’ 2002 team that clinched a Division Series at Turner Field, and he was a coach on the 2010 team that did the same — and then saluted Cox.
“We all stopped,” Dunston said. “We all knew it was his last game. He was kind of embarrassed to come back out. It was kind of awkward because they lost, but you’ve got to pay respect to good baseball people, and he’s an icon in Atlanta.
“His baseball team whupped up on everybody and never bragged. They never disrespected an opponent, so that goes a long way for players. You want to play for a man like him.”
The 2010 Giants beat the Phillies in the NLCS and Rangers in the World Series, their first of three Series championships under Bochy.
The Giants played their final game at Turner Field last season. Madison Bumgarner got the win and hit a three-run homer. Posey homered, too.
The Braves now play in a suburban park in the Cumberland neighborhood of Cobb County. Outside the facility, a statue of Cox was unveiled in April.