Here's everything you need to see from Sunday's Marlins-Braves game at Fort Bragg
Sunday night on ESPN, the Marlins and Braves made history: On the eve of America's birthday, the teams closed out their four-game set with a one-game showdown at Fort Bragg, the first regular-season game played on an active military base in the history of major professional sports. The spanking-new stadium was ready:
Getting set up for BP. #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/gaBEIBLNk6
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 3, 2016
The players were ready:
This is what a Freddie Freeman BP smash looks like from #MLBFortBragg #ChopOnhttps://t.co/T4ZOxEXc4j
— FOX Sports South (@FOXSportsSouth) July 3, 2016
The fans were ready:
#BravesCountry representing at #MLBFortBragg! https://t.co/ZhQBe0cRK6
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 3, 2016
The troops were born ready:
What it's all about. #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/fKS9QeL5Vy
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 3, 2016
Even the 82nd Airborne Division were ready:
#USArmy air crew members from @82ndcab @82ndABNDiv prepare for the #MLBFortBragg flyover pic.twitter.com/tb4uzUij44
— 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn Div (@PantherBrigade) July 3, 2016
(Their band's not too shabby, either):
The @82ndABNDiv band is ready for #MLBFortBragg. Are you? pic.twitter.com/5UFoEmGkAe
— Drew Brooks (@DrewBrooks) July 3, 2016
Jose Fernandez had a great view of the flyover:
But the 82nd Airborne had a slightly better one:
Sure we gave it to @espn first - but here's the shot from the @82ndCAB's perspective! #MLB pic.twitter.com/jVIcO36zOc
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
There were some special bases and uniforms for the occasion, of course:
Sneak peek at the bases we will use tonight for #MLBFortBragg! pic.twitter.com/hrb3xipKPD
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 3, 2016
Tonight's uniforms = ???#MLBFortBragg ?? pic.twitter.com/fXeC7KlRSI
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 3, 2016
While Giancarlo Stanton decided he needed a little more America in his outfit:
Decked out in ??! #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/22X6oVVfks
— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2016
For an occasion this big, you just knew some baseball dignitaries would be in the house:
Glory daysˇ Me and Joe @Braves #FtBraggGame @JoeTorre @JoeTorreCharity pic.twitter.com/ZrGulSWjPm
— Dale Murphy (@DaleMurphy3) July 3, 2016
All that was left was to play ball. And after a jaw-dropping National Anthem ...
... Sgt. First Class Corey Calkins did the first pitch honors:
Cardinals pitcher Mitch Harris had a bird's-eye view of the scene, and you need to see it to believe it:
Even Braves mascot Homer was pumped up:
Someone GIF this ASAP. @Braves #Homer #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/7bqqplHVNO
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
And Staff Sgt. Adam Keith was on hand to keep Braves fans up-to-the-minute with all the action from the game:
#MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/8uuOrZmDMj
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 4, 2016
His favorite Brave? Julio Franco, of course:
Staff Sgt. Adam Keith tells us about his favorite #Braves of all time. #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/5f05FnvsWG
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 4, 2016
Meanwhile, a couple members of the 82nd came ready to play themselves:
All American 6 and 9 sitting together with their custom jerseys for tonight's #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/zSis1JwVLc
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
And one lucky fan even got herself a souvenir:
Nothing like snagging a souvenir at #MLBFortBragg pic.twitter.com/hZvPAYt3a1
— All American Division (@82ndABNDiv) July 4, 2016
Actually, make that two lucky fans:
When you're 10 years old and u get your baseball signed by @Braves players. Night made! #MLBFortBragg @MLB pic.twitter.com/CqnOcNEyRT
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
Along with flyovers and first pitches, the members of the 82nd Airborne Division also have pretty good singing voices:
The @82ndABNDiv chorus sings God Bless America @ the #MLBFortBragg game & they did amazing! @MLB @MLB_PLAYERS pic.twitter.com/1Nom7hkVQ1
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
And that'll do it:
It's a wrap! It's been incredible. Thank u @MLB @MLB_PLAYERS 4 the #MLBFortBragg game 4 our soldiers & families! pic.twitter.com/NzObl54zX3
— Fort Bragg (@FtBraggNC) July 4, 2016
