While all owners have a lot of influence on their teams, there are not many who can legitimately lay claim to being one of the people who completely changed the game. Former Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner was one of those precious few who pulled it off.
In addition to making sure the Braves had the resources they needed to put a winner on the field every year, Turner also revolutionized how baseball interfaced with TV broadcasts and made the Braves arguably the most well-distributed team in terms of watching games through TBS. For many, Atlanta is still "America's Team" because of Turner.
Turner did eventually sell the Braves after his media empire began to crumble, but most Braves fans still hold him in high esteem. For that reason, it is particularly heartbreaking to share the news that Turner just passed away at age 87.
Breaking news: Ted Turner, the visionary media mogul who founded CNN, helped redefine 24-hour news, owned the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, and became a leading philanthropist and environmental advocate, has died. He was 87.
— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (@ajc) May 6, 2026
Come back to https://t.co/RZFwRTByea for… pic.twitter.com/fjm56KOL2x
Beloved former Braves owner Ted Turner just passed away, and fans are showing his legacy in real time
In addition to his age, Turner has dealt with some real health challenges in recent years. Not only did he battle mental health issues for years, but Turner revealed in 2018 that he was also diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, which is irreversible, progressive, and incurable. While a cause of death has not been released yet, fans have been bracing for this day for a while, and the outpouring of love has been great to see on what is a really sad day.
I’m sittin’ here feelin’ mighty low today. The man who built the @braves into real contenders, who birthed @cnn and changed the world’s news forever—he had fire in his belly like few others. And that fierce commitment to stoppin’ climate change? Pure vision and guts.
— Captain Augustus McCrae (@CaptainGusMcRae) May 6, 2026
We’ve lost a…
Ted turner is the sole reason I became a Hawks and Braves fan. Which lead me to the Falcons.
— iwake up wavy, baby(WE TALK HAWKS TV) (@ToneGully) May 6, 2026
Superstation TBS channel 7 in cable in the 757, was 804 area of VA.
I watched the whole worst to first season in 1991 on TBS thanks to Ted turner.
He is an icon to me. https://t.co/42VCGr0TAj
The Braves have already released a statement that trumpeted Turner's accomplishments as owner, along with his lifelong commitment to philanthropy. Understanding the weight of this moment, the statement fittingly ended with, "We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community."
Our thoughts are with Turner's friends and family, as well as all of Braves Country right now. Hopefully, we can take this feeling of sorrow and use it to celebrate the life of a man who did so much for the Braves and their fans. They don't make them like Ted anymore, and the world is lesser for it.
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