Behind the Braves

It's time for another edition of the Braves Historian Tour on Behind the Braves! Braves Historian Sam Wallace joins the show to go position by position and reveal who he believes is the greatest defensive player in Braves history at each position on the field. From legends of the past to modern stars, Sam shares the stories and reasoning behind each selection. Want to learn even more about Braves history? Book a tour at Braves.com/tours. Follow Sam Wallace on X: @BravesHistorian and on Instagram: @braveshistorian

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🎸🤠 Braves Country Fest is almost here! On this episode of Behind the Braves, host Ricky Mast is joined by Braves In-Game Host Mark Owens and Braves Senior Coordinator of Digital Marketing Victoria Rossman to preview one of the biggest summer events at Truist Park. The trio breaks down the star-studded Braves Country Fest lineup featuring Cody Johnson, Ella Langley, ERNEST, Mackenzie Carpenter and the artists performing on the Whiskey Jam Stage. They also share their favorite country artists, discuss live music memories, and offer some "dad advice" for surviving an all-day music festival. If you're headed to Braves Country Fest on June 13, this episode will get you ready for a full day of music, fun and memories in The Battery Atlanta.

🎤 Featured Artists:

• Cody Johnson

• Ella Langley

• ERNEST

• Mackenzie Carpenter

• Scoot Teasley

• Zach John King

• Colton Bowlin

📍 Braves Country Fest

🗓 June 13

🏟 Truist Park & The Battery Atlanta

🤠 Braves.com/bcf

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On this episode of Behind the Braves, host Ricky Mast sits down with Atlanta Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner for an in-depth conversation about his baseball journey, coaching philosophy, and what makes the Braves pitching staff so successful.

Hefner shares stories from growing up in Oklahoma, falling in love with baseball while watching the Braves on TV, and his path from lightly recruited high school pitcher to Major League Baseball. He opens up about getting called up to the big leagues with the New York Mets, battling injuries that ended his playing career, and how he unexpectedly found his way into coaching.

Jeremy also discusses what drew him to Atlanta, working alongside manager Walt Weiss, and the day-to-day life of a big-league pitching coach. Plus, he gives fascinating insight into the development of Braves starter Bryce Elder and explains how communication, trust, and relationships are at the center of his coaching style.

You’ll also hear Jeremy talk about:

-His favorite players growing up, including Ken Griffey Jr.

-The surreal story of being recruited in a McDonald’s parking lot

-Transitioning from player to coach-Balancing analytics with personal connection

-His music taste ranging from grunge and nu metal to country and Christian music

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Greg McMichael joins host Ricky Mast on this episode of Behind the Braves to reflect on the lives and legacies of two towering figures in Braves history: legendary manager Bobby Cox and longtime Braves owner Ted Turner.McMichael shares personal memories from his playing days under Cox during the Braves’ dynasty years, including stories from spring training, Bobby’s loyalty to his players, his unforgettable arguments with umpires, and the leadership style that made players feel like family. He also discusses Turner’s vision for transforming the Braves into “America’s Team” through TBS, his competitive spirit, and the larger-than-life personality that shaped generations of Braves fans across the country.

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Step back into one of the most colorful—and unconventional—chapters in Braves history. In this installment of Behind the Braves: Historian Tour, team historian Sam Wallace joins the show to unpack the story behind the infamous 1976 “nickname” jerseys—an experiment that saw players swap their last names for nicknames on the backs of their uniforms.

Wallace dives into how the idea came to life under new owner Ted Turner, whose bold, outside-the-box approach brought a wave of attention-grabbing (and sometimes head-scratching) promotional stunts to Atlanta. From the inspiration behind the jerseys to why the concept was so short-lived, this episode explores the intersection of baseball, marketing, and personality during a transformative era for the franchise

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