Day Two - "The Best Laid Plans . . ."

I received a tip that the Georgia Sports Hall Of Fame where Murphy was inducted this year would provide me with some more photo opportunities. We headed to W. Peachtree St. where we believed it was located but soon realized we should have researched this a little more thoroughly.

We were soon right there in the middle of Peachtree St., W. Peachtree St., Peachtree Center Ave., Peachtree Ct. and many other Peachtrees. We followed W. Peachtree St. up and got off track on Peachtree St. just as we were approaching "1655" (the address of the HOF). We figured we'd take a right and swing around the other side to catch it but before we knew it we were on the highway being whisked a couple miles away! We got off at the first exit we could and fought our way back there and followed W. Peachtree St. to the "1400" block, "1500" block, "1600 block", . . . wait! W. Peachtree St. stopped in the low 1600s at Atlanta's Fox TV affiliate building. We returned to our hotel via Peachtree St., following the addresses up toward 2000 but did not see the Hall of Fame.

Dale's Number in Monument Grove in front of Turner Field

We consulted a phone book which listed it at "1655 Peachtree St.". We headed back and found "1655" to be an office building several stories high. We learned it was located on the tenth floor and took the elevator there. We got off the elevator and the hall was before us! The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame? Nope, a long hallway with business offices on each side. The first office on the left was the office for the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. It was quickly apparent that this was the office of the museum and we were told by the secretary that the Hall of Fame will be built in Macon next year. BUMMER! Plaques were scattered around the room (I remember seeing Luke Appling's), leaning against every wall. I asked her if there was any way I could get a picture of Dale's plaque. She said there were hundreds of plaques in the back room and they had no idea where he was. But she was nice enough to give us a copy of the program from this year's induction ceremonies which includes a write-up on Murphy. At least we didn't go home empty-handed.

Upon our return to the hotel, I jumped online again and received an e-mail which lifted my sagging spirits. A former Braves batboy has a game-used, autographed Murphy bat and a game-used batting glove of his. Stay tuned for further developments. . .

After watching the funniest movie I've seen in a long time, "Austin Powers", we headed for Turner Field once again. The Marlins had just arrived in town for a big series that could tighten up things in the NL East. This time our seats were called "Skyline" seats and were in the highest row in the park. These nosebleed seats down the first base line weren't actually that bad and provided the perfect opportunity to take a photo of Dale's retired number in left-center field hanging off the railing of the "755 Club" restaurant.

Dale's Place in Scout's Alley

The Braves were casting their spell on the Marlins, leading 2-0 after the third inning when my brother started feeling badly. We went back to the hotel after learning in the car that Charles Johnson had put the Marlins ahead with a home run (the curse returns!). Never leave the room when we leave a Braves game prematurely!

My brother was fine when we got to the hotel but by then the BRAVES were getting sick to their stomachs!