That time Ted Turner got suspended so he could captain the America's Cup Team
Former Braves public relations director Bob Hope spills the beans about how Ted Turner got himself suspended just in time for him to Captain an America’s Cup team.
Turner mouthed off to Giants owner Bob Lurie that he would sign Gary Matthews when the outfielder became a free agent. Well, that was tampering, and it got Turner in big trouble.
Turns out it was all an act. Turner wanted to not make Braves fans believe he had given up on the team, so he did something stupid to get suspended.
Matthews wound up signing with the Braves in time for the 1977 season. He hit 17 home runs and drove in 64 runs that first season. Then in 1978, Matthews hit 18 home runs and had 64 runs batted in. In 1979, Matthews was an All-Star, as he hit 27 home runs and drove in 90.
In Matthews’ final season in Atlanta, he hit 19 home runs and drove in 75. Matthews would be traded by the Braves in the spring of 1981 to the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Bob Walk.
Matthews would later go on to play for the Chicago Cubs before finishing his career with the Seattle Mariners in 1987.
But when Matthews came to Atlanta, the man who signed him had to stay away from the game, at least for a little while.
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