South Carolina Baseball: Atlanta Braves hosting “USC Night” for fans of Gamecocks, Braves
By Kevin Miller
Many South Carolina baseball fans are also Atlanta Braves fans. “Braves Country” is one of the largest fandoms in professional sports in America as the team is the far-and-away most popular baseball franchise in the southeast and has a national following thanks to the many years that games were broadcast on TBS almost nightly.
Because of that, each season, the Atlanta Braves host several “College Nights” to honor the athletic departments of major college programs from Braves Country.
On Tuesday, September 19th, the Braves will host USC Night for fans of the South Carolina baseball program (and other Gamecock sports teams). The 1st place Atlanta Braves will take on the 2nd place Philadelphia Phillies at 7:20 at home at Truist Park.
With the purchase of the specialty USC Night ticket package, fans will receive a custom garnet tumbler fitted with a Gamecock logo and Atlanta Braves logo on the sides. All ticket sales will also result in a $4 donation back to the Gamecock Student-Athlete Promise Fund. It is also Ronald Acuña “Batflip Bobblehead” giveaway night for the first 15,000 fans at Truist Park.
For those interested, the tickets are almost sold out, but the television broadcast on Bally Sports South will be sure to have a few things on the Gamecocks.
For South Carolina baseball fans, there is hope that the Gamecocks can emulate some of the recent success of the Braves. Atlanta has won 6 straight NL East Division championships, won the 2021 World Series, and has been the best team in all of Major League Baseball during the 2023 season. The Gamecocks have not won the SEC East since 2016, the SEC since 2011, the national championship since 2011, or the SEC Tournament championship since 2004.