FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 2, 2004

GOVERNOR BARBOUR MAKES “MAJOR LEAGUE” ANNOUNCEMENT

(Jackson, Miss.) – The Atlanta Braves announced today its Double-A franchise will be moving to Pearl, Mississippi, beginning with the start of the 2005 season and will be known as the “Mississippi Braves.” A press conference was held in Jackson today formally announcing these plans.

“This new stadium agreement allows our organization tremendous long-term opportunities to continue our leading position in developing future major league players,” said Braves Executive Vice President of Business Operations Mike Plant, “This deal will continue to expand our fan base to the great state of Mississippi.”

The Braves Double-A affiliate has been located in Greenville, South Carolina, since January of 1984. Prior to moving there, the team was located in Austin, Texas (1966-1967), Shreveport, Louisiana (1968-1970), and Savannah, Georgia (1971-1983).

“On behalf of all Mississippians we are very excited to be affiliated with such a world class organization. Having the Braves Double-A affiliate locate in Pearl is a homerun for Mississippi,” said Governor Haley Barbour.

“I am very excited for the state of Mississippi to have the opportunity to host Braves baseball,” said Mayor Jimmy Foster of Pearl. “I also look forward to a long-term relationship with the Braves organization.”

The Atlanta Braves, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is Major League Baseball’s winningest franchise since 1991. Since then, Braves teams have earned a record 12 consecutive division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are carried nationally on TBS Superstation and regionally on Turner South.

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