Atlanta ad executive wants to put an AL team in Turner Field

quote:

---

If the Braves move to Cobb County as planned, then Major League Baseball should put an American League team in Turner Field. At least that's the vision and the crusade -- some might say the wild pitch -- of Mike McDonald, a long-time Atlanta advertising executive and baseball fan.

He has presented the idea to some local politicos and business folks. He has talked to lawyers about how to challenge MLB. He even wrote a letter to the Tampa Bay Rays, asking if they'd be interested in relocating. The Rays haven't responded and McDonald has decided he'd prefer the fresh start of an expansion team.

His position is that the city of Atlanta and Fulton County have invested financially and psychologically in MLB for almost a half century and are owed a team in return.

"Can metro Atlanta be like several other markets with two major league teams?" McDonald asked. "I think I can make that case."

And for all the reasons against it all happening -- not the least of which is that the MLB constitution assigns the Braves the exclusive right and obligation to play home games in a territory that includes the city of Atlanta and Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties -- McDonald offers a list of reasons it should happen.

In fact, he has prepared a lengthy slide show, which he shared with a reporter in his Fulton County (Sandy Springs) home.

One slide offers this slogan from the ad man: "Let's Turner Lemon into Lemonade!"

Another throws down the gauntlet: "MLB's days as a legal cartel are numbered. MLB wants to avoid, at virtually all cost, any challenge to this irrational, obsolete antitrust exception. Atlanta's unique historical relationship with MLB for almost 50 years can be adroitly and/or boldly employed to bring a brand new MLB American League East franchise to Atlanta & Fulton Co."

Asked about the huge obstacle of the Braves' territorial rights, McDonald said he thinks a "hardball" legal challenge could strike it out.

Other than some groups opposed to public funding of a new stadium in Cobb, there has been little organized backlash against the Braves' plan to leave Turner Field after the 2016 season. This is the story of one man who wants to change that.

---