Major League Baseball announced last week that the Atlanta Braves will host the 2025 All-Star Game. Atlanta was supposed to host the event in 2021 but MLB took it away from the city in response to the passage of a voting law that was dubbed by left-wing critics as “racist” and a form of voter suppression. With that same law still on the books and voting numbers rising year over year, Republican state officials were quick to get their shots in following the announcement.
“Georgia’s voting laws haven’t changed, but it’s good to see the MLB’s misguided understanding of them has. We look forward to welcoming the All-Star Game to Georgia. Go Braves!” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp wrote in a post on X.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones took aim at former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, one of the fiercest critics of Senate Bill 202. “Stacey Abrams cost Georgians over $100M due to her lies about Georgia’s common-sense election reform law. Four years delayed, I’m happy to see the MLB seeing through her lies and bringing the All Star Game back to Georgia. I’ll hold my breath waiting on an apology,” he wrote.
The last time the Braves hosted the game was in 2000, amid a heated rivalry between the then-perennial World Series competing Yankees and Braves. Future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter won Most Valuable Player honors that year. The first game took place in 1972, highlighted by a two-run home run from 38 year-old veteran Hank Aaron.
The event is an economic development win for the region, with visitors from across the country flying in to see their favorite players. The Braves and the region will undoubtedly roll out the red carpet for the league and visiting fans. “Time and time again, Atlanta has proven to be a world-class destination for the most exciting entertainment and sporting events,” said Terry McGuirk, chairman of the Braves. “I am excited that baseball fans will have the opportunity to experience Truist Park and The Battery Atlanta along with all this area has to offer. Over the coming months, we look forward to working alongside MLB to create memorable experiences that will showcase and support our community.”
The announcement comes two years after the MLB made the decision to pull the All-Star Game from Georgia amid controversy over voting law changes meant to shore up security for elections. Many Democrats claimed it was a form of voter suppression heading into the 2022 elections. Record turnout that year would seem to indicate any suppression attempts were either not true or overcome. The choice to move the game that year put Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in some national crosshairs over elections, as well as the governor and legislature.
Raffensperger took a bit of a victory lap on social media after the announcement. “In the longest instant replay review of all time, MLB’s head office finally overturned a bad call. Georgia’s elections are safe, secure, and accessible to serve our voters,” said Raffensperger.
