Ted Turner dies at 87: Former Braves, Hawks and WCW owner shaped sports in Atlanta, nationwide

Turner’s death marks the end of an era for a figure who fundamentally reshaped the landscape of broadcast television, sports ownership, and professional wrestling, leaving an indelible impact on Atlanta’s cultural identity and global media. His influence extended far beyond sports, encompassing groundbreaking ventures in news and environmental philanthropy.

The Atlanta Braves, the Major League Baseball franchise synonymous with Turner’s ownership for two pivotal decades, released a poignant statement acknowledging his profound legacy. "Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind – a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves," the statement read. It highlighted Turner’s "visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television [that] transformed the Braves into ‘America’s Team.’" Under his stewardship, the ballclub experienced "one of the greatest runs of sustained excellence in Major League Baseball history and brought a World Series championship to Atlanta in 1995." The Braves’ statement concluded, "Ted was also a legendary philanthropist whose compassion and generosity extended across the globe. We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community."

An Ohio native who became a fixture of the Atlanta business and social scene, Turner was a true media mogul and cable-television pioneer. His most revolutionary creations included CNN, the world’s first 24-hour cable news station, launched in 1980, which fundamentally altered how news was consumed globally. He also founded TBS, the first cable "superstation," which broadcast local programming nationwide, and TNT, another major cable network known for its diverse entertainment offerings and sports coverage. These ventures laid the groundwork for the modern cable television industry, expanding choice and accessibility for audiences across the United States and beyond.

Turner’s foray into sports ownership began in 1976 when he purchased the Atlanta Braves for a reported $12 million. This acquisition was not merely an investment in a baseball team; it was a strategic move to provide content for his fledgling WTBS cable network. By broadcasting nearly every Braves game, Turner turned a struggling regional franchise into a national phenomenon, branding them "America’s Team." This innovative approach leveraged the nascent cable infrastructure to create a vast, loyal audience, making the Braves a household name in markets far removed from Atlanta.

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In the early years of his ownership, the Braves often struggled on the field, frequently ranking among the worst teams in Major League Baseball. However, Turner’s relentless and often unconventional promotional efforts kept the team economically viable and culturally relevant. His showmanship was legendary, exemplified by his brief and controversial stint managing the team for one game in 1977, an experiment quickly halted by the National League. This episode, while short-lived, underscored his hands-on, maverick style and his deep personal investment in the team.

The Braves’ on-field fortunes began to improve with Turner’s astute managerial decisions, most notably his hiring of Bobby Cox. Cox first served as manager from 1978 to 1981, but it was his second tenure, beginning in 1990, that saw the Braves transform into an unparalleled dynasty. Turner also made another pivotal move in 1990 by hiring John Schuerholz away from the Kansas City Royals to serve as general manager. Schuerholz, along with Cox, constructed a team built on an impressive homegrown talent base, including future Hall of Fame pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, alongside star third baseman Chipper Jones. This core was supplemented by shrewd trade and free-agent acquisitions.

The Braves’ ascendancy began dramatically in 1991, making a remarkable worst-to-first turnaround to reach the World Series, where they fell in a legendary Game 7 to the Minnesota Twins. This marked the beginning of an unprecedented run of sustained excellence, as the Braves went on to win 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005, a feat unmatched in professional sports history. Their almost nightly presence on TBS solidified their status as a national brand, captivating fans across the country. Turner’s efforts with the Braves culminated in the ultimate prize: the 1995 World Series title, a momentous victory over the Cleveland Indians that brought Atlanta its first major professional sports championship.

Just one year after the World Series triumph, in 1996, Turner sold the Braves to Time Warner as part of a massive merger deal valued at roughly $400 million, a testament to the growth and value he had instilled in the franchise. The sale marked the end of his direct ownership of the team, but his legacy as the architect of "America’s Team" remained firmly in place.

Beyond baseball, Turner also owned the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1982. During his tenure, the Hawks achieved limited playoff success, winning only a single playoff series. While his impact on the Hawks was less pronounced than with the Braves, his ownership nonetheless provided a period of stability for the franchise in Atlanta.

Turner’s entrepreneurial spirit also extended into the realm of professional wrestling. In 1988, he founded World Championship Wrestling (WCW) after acquiring the assets of Jim Crockett Promotions. WCW rapidly grew into the chief rival of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF), sparking what became known as the "Monday Night Wars." WCW’s flagship cable program, "Monday Nitro," famously beat McMahon’s "Monday Night Raw" in the television ratings for an astonishing 83 consecutive weeks, a period marked by innovative storylines, the introduction of the New World Order (NWO) faction, and the signing of major stars like Hulk Hogan, Sting, and Goldberg. This fierce competition drove an era of unprecedented popularity and creative output in professional wrestling. However, WWF (now WWE) ultimately regained its ground, and in 2001, Turner’s successor company, AOL Time Warner, sold WCW’s assets to the WWF, concluding another significant chapter in his sports and entertainment empire.

Turner’s competitive drive and visionary leadership were not confined to media and sports ownership. He was also an accomplished yachtsman, famously winning the prestigious America’s Cup race in 1977 as skipper of the yacht "Courageous," demonstrating his prowess and determination on the open seas. His contributions to Atlanta’s infrastructure were also recognized when Turner Field, the stadium where the Braves played from 1997 to 2016, was named for him. The facility was rebranded following its use as Centennial Olympic Stadium during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

His influence on a global scale was acknowledged in 1991 when Time Magazine named him its "Man of the Year" for his groundbreaking leadership in cable news and his broader impact on the media landscape. Beyond his business ventures, Turner was a renowned philanthropist, dedicating significant resources to environmental conservation and international relations. He famously pledged $1 billion to establish the United Nations Foundation in 1997, supporting the UN’s work in global health, climate change, and poverty reduction. He also established the Turner Foundation, focusing on environmental causes, and was a major landowner, managing vast ranches primarily for conservation and sustainable agriculture.

Ted Turner is survived by his five children, Laura, Rhett, Beau, Jennie, and Sarah, along with 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly impacted sports, media, and global philanthropy. His life was a testament to a relentless pursuit of innovation, competition, and a deep commitment to the causes he championed.

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