Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets
The countdown is officially over. On Friday, July 3, Truist Park officially became the 30th and final stop on my quest to visit every single Major League ballpark. With the Atlanta Braves hosting the New York Mets, I couldn’t have picked a more meaningful place to cross the finish line.
- 1st visit to Truist Park
- 2nd different ballpark watching the Braves
- 4th different ballpark watching the Mets
Dale Murphy MVP Experience
Before I was a Twins fan, I was a Braves fan and Dale Murphy was my favorite player.
To make this massive milestone truly unforgettable, I booked the Dale Murphy MVP Experience, a day-long event to spend time with the two-time MVP, Braves legend, and fan favorite.
The festivities kicked off in the early afternoon when our group gathered in a conference room at Truist Park to finally meet the legend himself. Dale took the time to sign our personal items; I brought a baseball, my Dale Murphy Braves jersey, and my Ballpark Pass-port for him to sign, and he graciously obliged.
We moved into a Q&A session where we could ask him anything. I had to ask about the legendary, marathon Braves vs. Mets game from July 4, 1985, that went 19 innings. Dale laughed and brought up Rick Camp’s unbelievable 18th-inning home run that extended the game even longer. He also shared a hilarious memory of his wife calling the ballpark because he still wasn’t home, and reminisced about the postgame fireworks finally going off at 3 a.m.
Later, we took a quick VIP tour through Monument Garden to soak in some Braves history and marvel at the incredible memorabilia on display.
Seat Selection
Section 250 (The Home Depot Clubhouse)
As part of the MVP Experience, our group sat in Section 250 in center field, inside The Home Depot Clubhouse. We actually got to watch the game alongside Dale Murphy in the suite, which was entirely surreal. At one point, The Home Depot racing mascots even stopped by the Clubhouse to hang out with us! Our time with Dale eventually came to a close with everyone taking one final picture with him overlooking the beautiful field.
Ballpark Food of Choice
For dinner, we were treated to a fantastic buffet of classic ballpark fare: hot dogs, hamburgers, and salad for those who wanted it, followed by cookies, brownies, and ice cream for dessert.
Game Highlights
The Braves secured a 5-3 victory over the Mets. Atlanta’s offense relied heavily on the long ball, producing an impressive four-homer outburst.
- Michael Harris II launched a two-run homer in the second inning, and Ozzie Albies added a solo shot in the third.
- Matt Olson earned Player of the Game honors by crushing two solo home runs, hitting one off A.J. Minter in the fifth and another off Kodai Senga in the eighth.
- The Mets’ offense was highlighted by a two-run home run from Juan Soto.
- Raisel Iglesias sealed the win for Atlanta by locking down his 17th save of the season.
Friday Night Fireworks
Following the final out, the Braves held their Friday Night Fireworks. I made my way to a spot on the other side of the ballpark so I could fully take in the postgame show.
Not only had I just completed my 30-stadium journey, but I would be returning to Truist Park the very next day, July 4, to celebrate America 250.