This mystery cache is about my favorite MLB team, the Atlanta Braves.
I grew up watching the Braves in the 90's, at a time when Atlanta was a power house in the MLB. In the 90's, the Braves made five trips to the World Series, but were only able to come away with one title. From 1991 (the year I was born) to 2005, the Braves were one of the most successful franchises in baseball, winning division titles an unprecedented 14 consecutive times in that period.
Atlanta's roster boasted many great players during that time including Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Fred McGriff, David Justice, Rafael Furcal, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Steve Avery, Ron Gant, Javy Lopez, Eddie Perez, Brian Jordan, Marcus Giles and many more. The club also had one of the best managers at that time in Bobby Cox.
The Atlanta Braves have been called "America's Team" due to owner Ted Turner broadcasting the games on the nationally available TBS from the 1970s until 2007, giving the team a wide fan base across the country.
The Braves organization is one of the National League's two remaining charter franchises (the other being the Chicago Cubs) and was founded in Boston, Mass., in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings (not to be confused with the American League's Boston Red Sox). They are considered "the oldest continuously playing team in major North American sports."
The team name was changed several times in Boston before the Braves name was selected in 1941.
In 1953, the organization moved to Milwaukee where it remained until 1965. In 1966, the team moved to Atlanta where it remains today.
The Braves use to play in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, before moving to their current home at Turner Field (named after long time owner Ted Turner). The Braves are planning on moving to Sun Life Stadium for the 2017 season, ending their tenure at "The Ted".
One of the most prolific players in franchise history was Hank Aaron. Aaron played for the Braves in both Milwaukee and Atlanta from 1954 to 1974. Aaron (a native of Mobile) played right field for the Braves, but was better known for his bat and breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home runs record. Aaron is listed at fifth on "The Sporting News" list of 100 greatest baseball players.
On April 8, 1974, Aaron launched his 715th career home run off of L.A. Dodger pitcher Al Downing in the fourth inning to break Ruth's record. Aaron would hold the record until Barry Bonds broke the record (amid controversy) in 2007.
In 1990, Atlanta selected Chipper Jones first overall in the MLB draft. Jones would go on to be one of the most successful hitters in Atlanta Braves' history. Jones played all 19 seasons of his MLB career with the Braves, and has been one of the biggest fan favorites in Atlanta in franchise history.
Jones was initially drafted as a short-stop, but took over the roll as third baseman in 1995 and played that position for a majority of his career.
Jones ended his MLB career in 2012 with a .304 career batting average, 468 home runs, 1,512 walks, and 1,623 RBI in 2,499 games with 8,984 at bats. He has the most career RBI for a third baseman in MLB history. Jones is also one of the most accomplished switch hitters in the history of the game, finishing behind only Eddie Murray for career RBI by a switch hitter. He is the only switch hitter in MLB history with both a career batting average of at least .300 and 400 or more home runs. He was the eighteenth hitter in MLB history to accumulate 5,000 at bats and finish with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage, and the only switch hitter to reach all these milestones.
Jones finished his career as an eight time All-Star, the 1999 NL MVP, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the 2008 NL batting champion, a member of the 1995 World Series team and has had his number retired by the Braves.
Growing up in the 90's, Jones was my favorite player, and to this day remains my all-time favorite Braves player. I had the privilege of going to Chipper's last regular season home game as a player for the Atlanta Braves.
In 1995 the Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians to win their first World Series in Atlanta. With this World Series victory, the Braves became the first team in Major League Baseball to win world championships in three different cities (Boston in 1914 and Milwaukee in 1957).
Now to what you came here for.
This cache is hidden at the AUM baseball complex where I grew up playing ball. I spent many days here playing and have many great memories. Please be careful when retrieving this cache, and please put it back securely. Also, please do not attempt to retrieve this cache if there are games going on as there could be a lot of muggles watching.
The cache is not at the posted coordinates (obviously), and to find the coords, you must solve the following puzzle.
N 32 A.BCD W 086 E.FG
A = This dominant pitcher holds the Braves record for career strikeouts with 3,011. On April (##), 2008, he recorded his 3,000 strikeout, becoming one of just four MLB pitchers to do so with one team.
B = The second digit in the number of the player who holds the Braves' record for most home runs in a single season.
C = This famous Braves manager broke the record for most ejections in MLB history in 200(#).
D = This Braves pitcher holds the franchise record for most complete games in a single season with 6(#) games.
E = How many numbers has the Braves organization retired as of 2015? (Including Jackie Robinson)
F = This Braves player holds the franchise record for career triples with 1(#)3 triples.
G = The number of the player (##) who has hit the most home runs in Atlanta-era history.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.