Remembering Jimmy Carter: former president was Braves' ‘No. 1 fan’

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves are joining Georgia and the rest of the nation in paying tribute to one of their biggest fans -- former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter died Sunday at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia.

For years, it was not unheard of to find Carter and wife Rosalynn in the stands at the old Turner Field as well as Truist Park.

Upon his 100th birthday, the Braves even created a special jersey “for their No. 1 fan.”

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“President and Mrs. Carter frequently caught games when they were in Atlanta, and he now watches nearly every Braves game from his home in Plains,” the Braves said in a Facebook post at the time.

President and Mrs. Carter occasionally would get caught on the “Kiss-cam” at the games.

On Sunday, the team passed their condolences along to President Carter’s family and to the rest of Braves Country.

“While the world knew him as a remarkable humanitarian and peacemaker, who knew him as a dedicated Braves fan and we will miss having him in the stands cheering on his Braves,” the team said in a statement.

Major League Baseball also released a statement, saying, in part:

“As Governor of Georgia, he was in attendance when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium on April 8, 1974. “Over the years, President and Mrs. Carter would often be seen cheering on the Braves in many Postseason contests.”

Funeral arrangements are still being finalized for Mr. Carter. He leaves behind three sons, one daughter, nine grandsons (one deceased), three granddaughters, five great-grandsons, and nine great-granddaughters.

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