Georgia football has enjoyed several celebrations that have come with being national champions on Jan. 11. From the incredible celebration in Athens to individual players being honored in their hometowns, fans can’t get enough of the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, another reigning championship team from the state of Georgia will honor the Dawgs — the Atlanta Braves.
Former Georgia defensive lineman and projected first-round NFL Draft pick Jordan Davis is also scheduled to throw out the first pitch before the Braves take on the Washington Nationals. Davis famously showed off a Braves jersey at Georgia’s championship celebration in Athens back in January.
Georgia football keeps the title celebrations going with its friends from Atlanta.
The Braves had a memorable run to the 2021 World Series Championship, like Georgia’s College Football Playoff performances. Despite being 44-45 at the halfway point of the season and, among other things, losing National League MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. to an ACL injury, general manager Alex Anthopoulos pulled off arguably the best trade deadline moves of all time.
He acquired outfielders Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, and pitcher Richard Rodriguez. The team went 44-28 the rest of the way to finish with an 88-73 record and winners of a fourth straight National League East Division title.
Then the real fun began in the postseason.
SOLER HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. pic.twitter.com/IOc5wXreRb
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021
The Braves outpitched the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS and followed that up by taking down their version of Alabama in the Los Angeles Dodgers to win their first National League Pennant since 1999.
With momentum on their side, Atlanta took down the Houston Astros in six games to win their first World Series since 1995. By the way, Jorge Soler’s home run still hasn’t landed.
Following the World Series victory, Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart invited the Braves to Georgia’s home game against Missouri to celebrate. Pederson and Blooper, the Braves’ mascot, accepted the invitation. Manager Brian Snitker would narrate the trailer for the Georgia-Georgia Tech game later in the year.
Smart used the 2021 Braves as an example for teaching his players about perseverance through long stretches of the season. Even though baseball and football are two different sports, they can be physically and mentally taxing on players and coaches.
Fans can catch the celebration tomorrow at Truist Park in Atlanta. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:20 p.m., but the festivities will likely take place before the game starts. The game will air on Bally Sports South/Southeast.