Major League Baseball recently announced that Truist Park in Atlanta would host the all-star game in 2025. Atlanta hadn’t hosted the game since 2000 when the Braves home stadium was Turner Field. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp deserves all the praise for keeping the dream of hosting the game alive. It’s been a long time coming for the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Atlanta would finally host the game four years after it was wrongfully taken from them due to Georgia’s controversial voting law. This is a very rare instance where Commissioner Rob Manfred made a situation right. The state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta are finally vindicated and Manfred really has courage and a brain.

The Atlanta Braves Were Wrongfully Robbed In 2021

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Truist Park was originally slated to host the game during the 2021 season. With the ballpark having a $400 million entertainment district, “The Battery Atlanta” and a state-of-the-art stadium, it was a no-brainer to have the game in Atlanta. However, after Georgia passed the controversial Election Integrity Act of 2021, there was a major outcry. In typical Rob Manfred fashion, he broke like a plate under pressure and moved the game to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Manfred said at the time it was “the best way to uphold our values as a sport.” The city of Atlanta and baseball fans everywhere were robbed of what would’ve been a great game along with its festivities.

While Coors Field hosted a terrific all-star game, nothing would ever ease the pain of Atlanta’s loss. It was all because Rob Manfred let outside distractions impact how he runs baseball. Making matters worse, Hank Aaron passed away in January of that year. It would have made for a terrific opportunity to have the game in the state where he became the all-time home run king. The pregame tribute would have been unmatched. Manfred botched this one worse than anyone could imagine. One could argue he was putting his political beliefs ahead of what was best for the sport. This has been a running theme during his time as the commissioner of baseball. He always cracks under pressure when baseball needs him to be at his best. Rob Manfred is just incapable of separating the sport from the distractions that surround it.

One Of The Rare Times Rob Manfred Did Something Smart

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No more than two years after the events of 2021, Rob Manfred did something that he rarely has been able to do during his time as commissioner. He righted a wrong. Manfred announced that Truist Park would host the MLB all-star game in 2025. Atlanta finally got what it deserved all along, which was a chance to host the mid-summer classic. I guess even the weakest people have their moments of strength.

Time To Show How Wrong Rob Manfred Really Was

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I hope the Braves put on an all-star game to remember. With its beautiful ballpark and entertainment district, it should be memorable. They also can show Manfred just how wrong he was to take it away in the first place. Odds are Manfred will be there in person, making it an opportunity they shouldn’t squander. I know fans will have no problem letting him know how they feel about him.

A Wrong Was Righted

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At the end of The Wizard of Oz, the scarecrow and lion both find out that they have a brain and courage respectively. By awarding the 2025 all-star game to the city of Atlanta, we’ve come to discover that Rob Manfred has courage and a brain as well. MLB is doing the right thing by awarding Truist Park the mid-summer classic. After being robbed in 2021, the baseball community finally gets to see or experience everything Truist Park has to offer. This is the Braves to time show Manfred just how wrong he was in 2021.

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Eric Katz

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