ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Braves’ 2024 campaign for a World Series title ended in San Diego.
Six months later, a new season begins again at Petco Park on Thursday.
In fact, 2025 marks the sixth time ever these two teams have opened the season against one another.
But that’s only scratching the surface of the history between the Braves and Padres.
There’s more history than you might think. And no one knows better than the guy who’s been there to watch it first-hand.
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Bill Swank has been San Diego’s go-to guy on baseball history for decades.
As for those Braves and Padres connections, he’s got plenty. Including one that may surprise Braves fans — Jimmy Carter. The late former president was a lifelong fan of the Braves.
RELATED: Atlanta’s sports community remembers ‘dedicated’ fan Jimmy Carter
But then, there’s what’s on the field.
Last year’s Wild Card series was the first playoff meeting between the two teams since the 1998 NLCS.
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Braves’
A series Swank remembers well because he was there.
San Diego won in 1998 and again last year. For as successful as the Braves have been, it’s the Padres who’ve had their number in the postseason.
But that was then – and in 2025, it’s an Atlanta team recharged and ready for a deep playoff run.
How to watch Braves on Gray
In Atlanta, fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.
If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, click here to see how you can catch the action.