BASEBALL DIGEST WORLD SERIES EDITION A Special Publication by Abe J. Schear of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP October 2018 Johnny Isakson “Fun Baseball Memories” When comparing baseball to other Traurig, suggested that he would Schear: I’m here with Senator sports, baseball has many unique introduce me to Senator Johnny Isakson. What are your first characteristics. Baseball is played Isakson, I jumped at the chance. memories of baseball? (largely) without a clock and without In fact, I had met Senator Isakson Red Parks, Ponce de Leon Park, the free substitution. A nine inning game on numerous occasions and have Atlanta Crackers, and a nickel. could end at a predicted time but, so always appreciated how he could Red Parks was the catcher for the too, the game could be 5 innings or 12 answer a difficult question in a civil, Atlanta Crackers. My father bought innings. It is undeniably a team sport, yet clear, manner. He uses stories to season tickets for, I think, $25 for the and its stars come in every shape and explain why something is important whole season from Mr. Mann, who was size. (or not). Currently, amongst other the owner of the Crackers. Red Parks Politics has many similar appointments, he is the Chair of the was the catcher, and the seats we had characteristics. Each “campaign” Senate Select Committee on Ethics were right behind home plate. I was involves a lot of players, some highly- and the Senate Committee of Veterans such a big fan of Red Parks that one visible, many who are very necessary Affairs. He also serves on the Senate time Red Parks came up to me, I was but much less known. Each campaign Committee on Foreign Relations. a little boy as I remember. He gave has one or more distinctive voices and It was hardly surprising that me a nickel. I swallowed it. I put it in faces, has many different positions, my short questions were met with my mouth and swallowed it and then and carefully analyzes wins and losses. wonderful answers, unvarnished and I had to eat bananas for 2 days to pass To play on the baseball or political personal. The time spent with Senator it. That’s my first memory of baseball field is to know drama, opposition and Isakson went by in what seemed like in Atlanta. challenges. a split second. He reminded me why Well, that’s why you ask the This series of interviews has these interviews have been so much questions without knowing the included many politicians – Mayor fun – the answers have texture and answers. Did you save the nickel? Sam Massell, President Carter, feeling (unlike a text message) and Fortunately, I passed it. Congressman Lewis, Governor Barnes they allow me to better appreciate the I didn’t have that down as one of my and Senator Miller. So, when my interviewee. I am confident you will questions. long-time friend from my hometown as well. I’m not giving it to you, so don’t of Dayton, Gary Snyder of Greenberg worry. And how old were you when you swallowed the nickel? Five or six years old. Did you go to the ball games a lot with your dad? I did. The Crackers played in the old Abe J. Schear is an attorney with Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and is a Ponce de Leon Park and we would go member of the firm’s Real Estate Group. Contact Abe at 404.873.8752 down there and walk down St. Charles or [email protected]. Avenue over to Ponce de Leon and go A r n a l l G o l d e n G r e g o r y L L P | October 2018 in and watch the games. I probably If I was, I don’t remember it. your dad? Did he teach you to play saw 10 or 12, maybe 15 or 20 games There was a lot of that there. baseball? a year from the early ’50s to the mid I was 5 to 15 – those were my years I played baseball in Bagley Park in ’60s when the Braves came. with baseball. But I don’t remember. Buckhead. And I played in high school And you lived in Marietta then? Did you know Mr. Mann? at Dykes High School. I was a walk- No, we lived in Brookhaven. I grew Oh yeah. The old man would come on at the University of Georgia for one up in Brookhaven. by and say hello to my dad. He’d year. My grades went to hell and I Did you drive to the ballpark? come by and say hi to all of us season had to give up something, so I gave up With my dad, yes. ticket holders. He was a good owner/ baseball. What were your memories of the manager, even entrepreneur, really a Good choice. ballpark? great one, Minor League Executive of It was the smartest decision I ever The magnolia tree in center field the Year many times. Hank Morgan made. I always loved baseball. I knew and the terrace, which was unique to was a radio announcer if I’m not batting averages. I knew the whole everyone. That’s number one. The mistaken. nine yards. I just loved it. It’s a great three tiers of signs in right field, which I’d listen to the Crackers on the radio sport. was number two. I played football at night – he would sit in the studio and Did you follow baseball in the in high school, and they used Ponce the ticker tape would come in telling newspaper? de Leon Park as a third football field him wherever they were playing the I did. for city of Atlanta football games. game and say ball one, ball two. He’d And knew all the box scores? Then you had Grady and Cheney announce it as if he was watching it Oh yeah. Followed the batting stadiums and they converted Ponce when he was just reading it. He had averages, followed who got the hits, de Leon after the baseball season to two sticks that he hit together. When what the pitchers’ ERA scores were. football for the high school games. I they said there was single, he would Whole nine yards. Of course, back still remember those signs. And I pop it just a little bit. If it was a home then you had the Southern Association, remember also the home run that was run, he’d crack it so it sounded like which is where the Crackers played. It hit where the ball landed in the coal car a long one. And I remember all that had eight teams if I remember correctly and went to Tennessee. The longest stuff. The Birmingham Barons, New – Nashville Volunteers, Birmingham home run ever hit. I’m not saying Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Chicks. Barons, New Orleans Pelicans, I was there for that home run, but I All the teams that came and went. Memphis Chicks, Atlanta Crackers, remember the folklore about it. Bob Montag, who was a great player, hit “The great thing about being a catcher is the ball. My fondest memory is probably of you’re in every play of every pitch of every the magnolia tree, which is probably the most unique thing in any park in game.” the world. A huge tree growing in the center field on the terrace with Somebody told me once that the Mobile Bears, Chattanooga Lookouts no fence between the right field post Crackers really did great until and the Little Rock Travelers. But and no fence in center field. So it just Lake Lanier came into being and anyway, it was always a great league went forever and that tree was in the air conditioning became common and the Crackers usually won. They outfield. And then I remember the because, before that, you needed to were the Yankees of minor league signage in the right field bleachers, and go outside. Then all of a sudden you baseball in the ’50s and fairly early remember the nickel from Red Parks. could go to the lake or you could stay ’60s. I remember how excited I was I really enjoyed those days. And the inside and be air conditioned. It’s when the Braves announced they were Orange Crush, which I loved to get, kind of interesting. coming to Atlanta. and the popcorn. That’s what I always I guess you named who your favorite When you were a little boy, did liked to eat. Crackers were. Did you remember the Black Crackers still play at the That was my next question. What the Sears across the street as well? stadium? did you like to eat. Oh yes. Yes. Of course they had the blacks Nehi orange crush and popcorn. I can It’s still part of Atlanta. Ponce City only section in right field and you had still almost taste it. Market. to – well here’s the picture. In the left Were you sitting in the section where And your mom and dad were big field you had the stands, center field everyone was gambling pennies and baseball fans? you had the magnolia, right field you nickels on pitches and outs and all My dad was into it. had the billboards. To the right of the that kind of stuff? And did you play baseball with billboards in right field you had the 2 BASEBALL DIGEST by Abe J. Schear black only section. I think they called don’t know when it happened, but What Major League team did you it colored back then.