Flying through ATL airport? Visit gate dedicated to Braves legend

Irene Wright, USA TODAYMon, July 20, 2026 at 7:42 PM UTC·2 min read

There are a few things that are quintessential to Atlanta — a cold Coca-Cola, a warm Chick-fil-A sandwich, lemon pepper wings, Falcons football, the Atlanta airport Plane Train, the Atlanta Braves and flying Delta Air Lines.

Now, one spot is putting a few of these pieces together.

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Celebrating his induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, Delta Air Lines honored former Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones by dedicating a gate inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday, July 17.

Jones is "one of the most beloved players in Atlanta baseball history," according to Delta, and now a commemorative plaque will sit at gate A25, Jones' jersey number, to honor his legacy.

Andruw Jones and the Atlanta Braves

Born in Willemstad, Curaçao, Jones signed his first contract with the Atlanta Braves in 1993 as an international free agent at the age of 16. He spent time working his way up through the minor league levels before starting with the Braves in August of 1996.

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Jones hit two home runs in his first World Series game that year, and became the youngest player to ever hit a homer in the World Series at just 19 years old, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Jones started the next year with the Braves technically still a rookie, and would finish as the fifth-place National League Rookie of the Year with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and 20 steals.

He would go on to win 10 Gold Gloves between 1998 and 2007, becoming known as one of "the greatest defensive center fielder(s) in baseball history," Delta said.

By the end of his career, Jones played 2,196 games for five MLB teams, including 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Jones played his last season with the New York Yankees.

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Terminal A honors Braves legend

"Andruw Jones is a legend in our city and in baseball history," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a news release. "We are proud to be Atlanta's hometown airline and to honor Andruw's career with this permanent tribute."

Delta and Atlanta Braves memorabilia from the 90s and early 2000s can now be found at gate A25, along with a throwback to Jones' career and a commemorative plaque which will be a permanent addition to the gate.

Irene Wright covers Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA TODAY'S Deep South Connect Team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flying through ATL airport? Visit gate dedicated to Braves legend