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'It's a pretty cool circle': Pilot, former Cobb County Commissioner flies the World Series champs home

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Published  November 5, 2021 12:04am EDT
World Series
FOX 5 Atlanta

Braves pilot also helped move team to Cobb County

The Delta pilot who flew the Atlanta Braves back home from Houston after their World Series win is a former Cobb County commissioner who voted to help move the team from Downtown Atlanta to Cobb County.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves winning the world series is a full-circle moment for former Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott. 

"It's hard to believe it's only been five years since opening day back in 2017," Ott said.

Ott was on the commission when it voted to approve the deal to build a new stadium in Cobb County in 2013. 

The deal was for a $672 million stadium that would move the team out of downtown Atlanta. 

"I had been a commissioner for nine of 10 years. And you hear Cobb County's going to get a stadium and the Battery. There was some contention with the whole thing. I think there were doubts in people's minds that it was going to work. And here we are, five years later," Ott said. 

Braves return home to Atlanta

On Delta jet, being greeted by hundreds of Delta employees, the Atlanta Braves stepped back onto the Georgia clay with the Commissioner's Trophy in tow on Wednesday after winning the World Series on Tuesday.

The Atlanta Braves clutched the world series title in Houston Tuesday night. 

Meanwhile, the fans celebrated at home. At Truist Park and the Battery. 

Ott's and others' visions nearly a decade ago came to life. 

"The entire area has just really come alive. I live about a mile and a half, two miles away, and for example, Friday night fireworks, or the concerts, you can hear them at our house. It really just changed the character of the area," he said. 

Braves greeted at Atlanta's airport

The World Series Champions Braves got off their Delta plane at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport a day after being crowd winners. Freddie Freeman was greeted with chants as he descended the stairs carrying the Commissioner's Trophy.

On Wednesday, Ott's journey with the Braves came full circle.

"The scheduler, I don't think she knew, was like what's the trip? And I said bringing the Braves home," Ott said. 

The team touched down in Atlanta early that evening, on a plane piloted by Ott himself. 

He's been a pilot for decades.

COBB COUNTY PILOT GOES ON MISSION TO HELP AFGHAN EVACUEES

Braves arrive back in Atlanta

The Atlanta Braves have landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, returning home after defeating the Astros in Houston to become World Series Champions for the first time in more than two decades.

Ott said he didn't pull any string, didn't ask for any favor. He simply just put in for the flight just like any other trip. 

He said it's a trip that seems like it was just meant to be.

"It was destiny or whatever. I voted on the stadium, build it, get it open, and then fly them home. It's a pretty cool circle," Ott said.

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