Books and articles about Ted Turner

Ted Turner's career in baseball, marked with controversy but little on-field success, began with his 1976 purchase of the Braves, which kept the team in Atlanta. His creation of the first superstation, TBS, distributed Braves games to cable systems nationwide and propelled the Braves to a self-proclaimed position as America's Team.

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Turner attended (but did not graduate from) Brown University. While still in his twenties, he became an advertising and communications mogul in Georgia. He also purchased the NBA Atlanta Hawks and was a four-time Yachtsman of the Year. In 1977 he skippered Courageous to the America 's Cup.

Turner's aggressive pursuit of Gary Matthews following the 1976 season led to his one-year suspension from baseball for tampering. A risk taker and showman, he put on a uniform in 1977 (during a short period when his suspension was lifted while it was appealed) and managed the Braves for one game, the last contest in a 17-game losing streak. Coach Vern Benson made the strategic moves that night. Turner was then ordered out of the dugout by NL president Chub Feeney. Turner has been a free spender with free agents, but his major purchases, Andy Messersmith and Bruce Sutter, had arm problems and proved to be busts. (PB)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » November 7, 1928: The Cubs get Rogers Hornsby from the financially strapped Braves in exchange for $200,000, IF Fred Maguire, P Percy Jones, C Lou Legett, former A's P Harry Seibold, and P Bruce Cunningham. Braves owner-president Emil Fuchs also decides to be his own manager. He'll be the last manager with no pro playing experience until Ted Turner's one game, in the 1970s. Under Fuchs, the Barves will finish 56-98, good for last place. » December 4, 1975: Ted Turner enters a tentative purchase agreement to buy the Atlanta Braves. » January 14, 1976: Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. » January 2, 1977: Commissioner Kuhn suspends Braves owner Ted Turner for one year as a result of tampering charges in the Gary Matthews free-agency signing, but the Braves are permitted to keep the outfielder. » May 11, 1977: Braves owner Ted Turner gives manager Dave Bristol a 10-day paid leave and takes over as field manager. After the Braves lose again—for the 17th straight—to the Pirates 2–1, with Phil Niekro going to 0–7, Turner is relieved of his new job by NL president Chub Feeney. A league rule prohibits a manager from owning a financial interest in his club. Turner then makes a public plea claiming harassment, but names 3B coach Vern Benson the manager for the May 12th game. » October 1, 1984: Braves manager Joe Torre is fired by owner Ted Turner and replaced by Eddie Haas. Atlanta was 80-82 this season, 12 games behind the first-place Padres. » July 7, 1996: The Marlins fire manager Rene Lachemann. Florida vice president John Boles replaces Lachemann, although he has not managed at any level in 10 years; except for Ted Turner's one-game stint in the 1970s, Boles is the first manager since Emil Fuchs in 1929 with no professional playing experience at any level. He wins his first game today, 7–4, in 10 innings over the Phils.