Sports
MLB roundup: Cubs overtake Dodgers late for 10th straight win
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) celebrates with Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth as the visiting Chicago Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
The Cubs won their 10th straight game as they came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring all their runs over the final three innings.
Swanson was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, homer and four RBIs. Alex Bregman was 2-for-5 with a solo home run and Moises Ballesteros had two hits and a run.
Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the ninth with a single and was plated on Swanson’s homer off Tanner Scott (0-1).
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan kept the Cubs at bay as he yielded one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts.
Yankees 12, Astros 4
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and drove in four and visiting New York ran its winning streak to seven by taking control early in its victory over Houston.
The Yankees lost Giancarlo Stanton to tightness in his lower right leg in the sixth. Will Warren (3-0) allowed two hits on seven hits in six innings. Chisholm had his first three-hit game of the season and third multi-hit game in four games after not getting a multi-hit game in his first 21 games. Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and Jose Caballero also hit solo homers.
Yainer Diaz homered and had an RBI single for the Astros, who lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
Orioles 10, Red Sox 3
Adley Rutschman hit the first of his two two-run homers in Baltimore’s three-homer first inning and the Orioles went on to rip visiting Boston.
Rutschman, who has three home runs in two games since being activated from the injury list earlier this week, finished with six RBIs. The Orioles blasted six home runs — four of them solo blasts. Gunnar Henderson began the homer parade, and Rutschman and Dylan Beavers joined him with long balls in the inning. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo later went deep.
Wilyer Abreu hit a homer for Boston in the second inning, and he, Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story each finished with two of their team’s 10 hits. The Red Sox have lost four games in a row.
Marlins 9, Giants 4
Liam Hicks and Connor Norby smacked home runs and Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez collected three hits apiece as Miami opened a six-game California swing with a romp over San Francisco.
Benefitting from a season-high-tying 16 hits of support, Sandy Alcantara (3-2) snapped a three-game personal winless streak with six comfortable innings, helping the Marlins win for the fourth time in their last five games.
Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee had three hits apiece for the Giants, who tallied 11 hits but lost their second straight.
Guardians 8, Blue Jays 6
Angel Martinez launched a pair of two-run home runs and visiting Cleveland held on to defeat Toronto.
Daniel Schneemann had a solo shot for the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series. Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto homered for the Blue Jays.
Rockies 4, Mets 3
Michael Lorenzen tossed a season-high seven innings and earned the win for visiting Colorado, which beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Jake McCarthy laced the tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth while Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single an inning later for the Rockies. TJ Rumfield hit a run-scoring groundout in the fifth while Ezequiel Tovar finished with two hits.
Marcus Semien hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the eighth for the Mets, who had won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.
Pirates 6, Brewers 0
Paul Skenes took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning and Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer to pace visiting Pittsburgh over Milwaukee in the opener of the three-game series.
Skenes (4-1) retired the first 20 hitters before Jake Bauers lined a 3-2 pitch for a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the Brewers’ only hit. The Pirates, who played their first game in 1882, have yet to throw a perfect game. Their last no-hitter came in 1997.
Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, struck out seven without a walk in a dominant 93-pitch outing. Mason Montgomery followed with a perfect eighth and Isaac Mattson preserved the one-hitter despite a two-out walk in the ninth.
Rays 6, Twins 2
Junior Caminero hit a pair of tape-measure home runs and drove in three runs and Jonathan Aranda also homered twice to lead Tampa Bay to a victory over visiting Minnesota.
It was the fifth career multi-homer game for Caminero, who has hit six home runs during a nine-game hitting streak. Drew Rasmussen (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings.
Brooks Lee homered and doubled in a 3-for-4 game and Royce Lewis also homered for Minnesota, which took its seventh loss in the last eight games.
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help Atlanta rally for a win and hand visiting Philadelphia its 10th straight loss.
The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games. Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer to pull Atlanta even in the fifth.
Trea Turner hit a solo shot and Bryce Harper smashed a two-run blast to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the sixth. For Harper, it was the 800th extra-base hit of his career as he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.
Mariners 3, Cardinals 2
Josh Naylor hit a tiebreaking home run and George Kirby won his third straight start as Seattle defeated host St. Louis in an interleague matchup.
Naylor’s leadoff homer to right-center field in the sixth was the difference. The Mariners snapped a streak of eight consecutive road defeats.
Kirby (4-2) allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings. Andre Pallante (2-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander fanned a season-high eight, one shy of his career best.
White Sox 5, Nationals 4
Sam Antonacci delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and Munetaka Murakami homered as host Chicago edged Washington.
Seranthony Dominguez worked around a Luis Garcia Jr. double in the ninth for his sixth save, sending the Nationals to their third straight loss.
Garcia had two hits for the Nationals, while Miguel Vargas had a pair of hits for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five.
Royals 5, Angels 3
Veteran Mike Trout set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, but Los Angeles fell to host Kansas City in the opener of their three-game series.
The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3), who allowed five runs on five hits in five innings.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the seventh against left-hander Noah Cameron, who had a shutout going for six innings. Cameron (2-1) got the win with three runs allowed on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Athletics 8, Rangers 1
Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning as the Athletics opened a three-game series against Texas with a victory in Arlington.
Cortes also hit a three-run homer and Zack Gelof slugged a two-run shot among his two hits for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four games. Kurtz also singled, walked and scored two runs. Luis Severino (1-2) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Josh Jung doubled in a run and Corey Seager and Josh Smith had two hits apiece for Texas. Nathan Eovaldi (2-4) gave up six runs on six hits over six innings.
Reds 9, Tigers 8
Nathaniel Lowe belted a two-run walk-off home run, lifting Cincinnati to a victory over Detroit.
After Detroit closer Kenley Jansen (0-1) recorded two quick outs in the ninth, Spencer Steer singled. Lowe then connected on his second homer of the game and the season. Matt McLain also homered twice for Cincinnati, which overcame a 5-0 deficit.
Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter homered in the eighth to give Detroit an 8-7 lead. The Tigers had won 10 of their past 13 entering the Friday contest, which was the opener of a three-game interleague series. Javier Baez and Riley Greene also went deep for the visitors.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ted Turner, former owner of Braves and TV mogul, dies at 87
Oct 23, 1999; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (left) shares the box with Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner and Turner’s wife Jane Fonda during the first game of the 1999 World Series at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves who signed baseball’s first free agent, has died at 87.
Turner Enterprises, in a news release, confirmed Turner died Wednesday surrounded by family and friends.
In September 2018, Turner disclosed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, which the Alzheimer’s Association defines as “progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function.”
Turner, born in Ohio, made his money in media. He took over his father’s billboard business, Turner Outdoor Advertising, upon his father’s death in 1963. In 1970, in the pre-cable days, he bought an Atlanta UHF station and a station in Charlotte, N.C., and renamed the company Turner Communications Group.
In 1976, Turner made two significant moves that affected Major League Baseball. His Atlanta station, which later became known as TBS, was launched nationwide via satellite across the constantly evolving TV industry. And he bought the Atlanta Braves in January of that year; they became known across America because the team’s games were available nationwide.
“Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind — a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves,” the team said in a statement. “Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into ‘America’s Team.’
“… We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community.”
The following season, Turner bought a majority stake in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, saying he made the purchase to keep the franchise in the city.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Ted Turner — a true original, a visionary, and a force of nature whose impact will be felt for generations,” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement. “… For me personally, owning the Atlanta Hawks and following in his footsteps-even in a small way-has been one of the great honors of my life.”
Three months after buying the Braves, Turner signed 30-year-old pitcher Andy Messersmith to baseball’s first contract in free agency: three years for $1 million. Messersmith was 20-6 with a 2.59 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974. In 1975, he finished 19-14 with a 2.29 ERA in 42 games (40 starts), throwing 321 2/3 innings. He had seven shutouts among his 19 complete games.
When Messersmith took the mound for the Braves, his uniform number was 17 –where Turner’s Atlanta station was on the TV dial — and the nameplate read “Channel” instead of his last name. Taken together, Messersmith represented Turner’s TV station: Channel 17.
Eventually, TBS moved to cable.
Turner had a big hand in other sports, too. He was the founder of the Goodwill Games, bought a pro wrestling organization and renamed it World Championship Wrestling and was a yachtsman. He skippered Courageous to an America’s Cup win in 1977.
Turner also founded CNN and TNT to go with TBS. He sold his holdings, including the Braves, to Time Warner in 1996 for $7.5 billion, a year after celebrating Atlanta’s first World Series win.
His final years were devoted to his philanthropy, including a $1 billion pledge to the United Nations.
Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was married three times, including a 10-year union with actress Jane Fonda that ended in divorce in 2001.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Indiana alum Mark Cuban helped fund Fernando Mendoza deal
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; American businessman and television personality Mark Cuban before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Indiana football fans apparently can thank Mark Cuban, one of the school’s wealthiest alums, for playing a key part in the Hoosiers winning the College Football Playoff championship this year.
Cuban donated the remaining money Indiana needed to secure quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the billionaire and former majority owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks told Front Office Sports in an upcoming episode of Portfolio Players.
The exchange resulted from a conversation between Cuban, Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pam Whitten at the school’s first-round College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame in December 2024.
“[Dolson]’s like, we’ve got this quarterback that we really, really like that we think would be great in (coach Curt Cignetti) Cig’s system, we just need a litttttle bit more,” Cuban said, per Front Office Sports. “I’m like, ‘How much is a little bit?’ And so he told me, and I’m like, ‘OK, you know, we’re on a roll, I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.'”
Indiana lost in the first round of the 2024 playoff to Notre Dame, 27-17. One season later, the Hoosiers capped their undefeated season with a 27-21 win over Miami.
Cuban, 67, already had some connections to Cignetti as well as to Mendoza’s brother and Indiana teammate, Alberto, who as a Miami Heat fan would interact with Cuban when the Mavericks visited the Heat.
The extra money helped Indiana lure Mendoza away from Cal, where he reportedly made $1.6 million. His transfer to Indiana netted him $2.6 million, per Yahoo Sports.
Mendoza went on to win the Heisman Trophy. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in April.
The previous philanthropic efforts of Cuban, who according to Forbes is worth $6 billion, had been focused on academics, with his recent donations to Indiana athletics his first forays into the sports side of the university.
Though his first donation was directly related to the Mendoza signing, Cuban said he lets Dolson — a fellow Indiana alum — decide what to do with the finances.
“I just give Scott money, and it’s up to him,” Cuban said. “We talk a lot, we talk about approach, understanding how to put together a team. Because I did it for 20-something years. So it’s not like I have to direct him to something specific. I understand how they’re approaching things.”
Cuban would not reveal exactly how much he has committed to Indiana athletics other than to tell Front Office Sports in a January email, “Let’s just say they are happier this year than last year.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Wings expected to call Mavericks' arena home in 2027
Apr 30, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates during a timeout in the first half against the Indiana Fever at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said the team will play its 2027 games at the American Airlines Center — home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks — though an agreement has not been finalized, according to Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb.
The news comes as the Wings continue to deal with delays in the readiness of their new training facility and new permanent home, the renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium.
“We will be in the practice facility next year to open up training camp,” Fernandez said in response to a question from Front Office Sports. “That is going to happen, and we will be playing all of our games in American Airlines (Center) next year as well.”
However, Bibb told USA Today the team was in “advanced negotiations” to play at the American Airlines Center but a deal was not done, and added the Wings did not yet have the required approval from the WNBA to change venues for a season.
Both the practice facility and the remodeled Memorial Auditorium had been expected to be ready for the 2026 season. Instead, the opening of the new $81 million training facility has been pushed to spring 2027 and games will not be played in the approximately 8,400-seat Memorial Auditorium until 2028.
The majority of the Wings’ 2026 games will be played at the 7,000-seat College Park Center in Arlington, with three games this season to be played at the 20,000-seat American Airlines Center against the Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries. The Wings played just two games at the venue in 2025, both against the Fever.
–Field Level Media
Ted Turner, former owner of Braves and TV mogul, dies at 87
Report: Indiana alum Mark Cuban helped fund Fernando Mendoza deal
Report: Wings expected to call Mavericks' arena home in 2027
Sports
MLB roundup: Cubs overtake Dodgers late for 10th straight win
Apr 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) celebrates with Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth as the visiting Chicago Cubs rallied for a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
The Cubs won their 10th straight game as they came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring all their runs over the final three innings.
Swanson was 2-for-3 with two runs, a triple, homer and four RBIs. Alex Bregman was 2-for-5 with a solo home run and Moises Ballesteros had two hits and a run.
Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the ninth with a single and was plated on Swanson’s homer off Tanner Scott (0-1).
Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan kept the Cubs at bay as he yielded one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts.
Yankees 12, Astros 4
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and drove in four and visiting New York ran its winning streak to seven by taking control early in its victory over Houston.
The Yankees lost Giancarlo Stanton to tightness in his lower right leg in the sixth. Will Warren (3-0) allowed two hits on seven hits in six innings. Chisholm had his first three-hit game of the season and third multi-hit game in four games after not getting a multi-hit game in his first 21 games. Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and Jose Caballero also hit solo homers.
Yainer Diaz homered and had an RBI single for the Astros, who lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
Orioles 10, Red Sox 3
Adley Rutschman hit the first of his two two-run homers in Baltimore’s three-homer first inning and the Orioles went on to rip visiting Boston.
Rutschman, who has three home runs in two games since being activated from the injury list earlier this week, finished with six RBIs. The Orioles blasted six home runs — four of them solo blasts. Gunnar Henderson began the homer parade, and Rutschman and Dylan Beavers joined him with long balls in the inning. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo later went deep.
Wilyer Abreu hit a homer for Boston in the second inning, and he, Marcelo Mayer and Trevor Story each finished with two of their team’s 10 hits. The Red Sox have lost four games in a row.
Marlins 9, Giants 4
Liam Hicks and Connor Norby smacked home runs and Kyle Stowers, Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez collected three hits apiece as Miami opened a six-game California swing with a romp over San Francisco.
Benefitting from a season-high-tying 16 hits of support, Sandy Alcantara (3-2) snapped a three-game personal winless streak with six comfortable innings, helping the Marlins win for the fourth time in their last five games.
Luis Arraez and Jung Hoo Lee had three hits apiece for the Giants, who tallied 11 hits but lost their second straight.
Guardians 8, Blue Jays 6
Angel Martinez launched a pair of two-run home runs and visiting Cleveland held on to defeat Toronto.
Daniel Schneemann had a solo shot for the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series. Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings.
Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto homered for the Blue Jays.
Rockies 4, Mets 3
Michael Lorenzen tossed a season-high seven innings and earned the win for visiting Colorado, which beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.
Jake McCarthy laced the tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth while Troy Johnston had what proved to be the decisive two-run single an inning later for the Rockies. TJ Rumfield hit a run-scoring groundout in the fifth while Ezequiel Tovar finished with two hits.
Marcus Semien hit into a run-scoring double play in the second and Brett Baty delivered a two-run single in the eighth for the Mets, who had won two straight following a 12-game losing streak.
Pirates 6, Brewers 0
Paul Skenes took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning and Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer to pace visiting Pittsburgh over Milwaukee in the opener of the three-game series.
Skenes (4-1) retired the first 20 hitters before Jake Bauers lined a 3-2 pitch for a single up the middle with two outs in the seventh for the Brewers’ only hit. The Pirates, who played their first game in 1882, have yet to throw a perfect game. Their last no-hitter came in 1997.
Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, struck out seven without a walk in a dominant 93-pitch outing. Mason Montgomery followed with a perfect eighth and Isaac Mattson preserved the one-hitter despite a two-out walk in the ninth.
Rays 6, Twins 2
Junior Caminero hit a pair of tape-measure home runs and drove in three runs and Jonathan Aranda also homered twice to lead Tampa Bay to a victory over visiting Minnesota.
It was the fifth career multi-homer game for Caminero, who has hit six home runs during a nine-game hitting streak. Drew Rasmussen (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings.
Brooks Lee homered and doubled in a 3-for-4 game and Royce Lewis also homered for Minnesota, which took its seventh loss in the last eight games.
Braves 5, Phillies 3
Michael Harris II delivered a pinch-hit double to drive in two runs and help Atlanta rally for a win and hand visiting Philadelphia its 10th straight loss.
The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999. The Braves have won all four games against the Phillies and have won nine of their last 10 games. Ronald Acuna crushed a two-run homer to pull Atlanta even in the fifth.
Trea Turner hit a solo shot and Bryce Harper smashed a two-run blast to put the Phillies up 3-2 in the sixth. For Harper, it was the 800th extra-base hit of his career as he became only the 27th player, and 10th left-handed hitter, to reach that milestone prior to his 34th birthday.
Mariners 3, Cardinals 2
Josh Naylor hit a tiebreaking home run and George Kirby won his third straight start as Seattle defeated host St. Louis in an interleague matchup.
Naylor’s leadoff homer to right-center field in the sixth was the difference. The Mariners snapped a streak of eight consecutive road defeats.
Kirby (4-2) allowed two runs on five hits over six-plus innings. Andre Pallante (2-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander fanned a season-high eight, one shy of his career best.
White Sox 5, Nationals 4
Sam Antonacci delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and Munetaka Murakami homered as host Chicago edged Washington.
Seranthony Dominguez worked around a Luis Garcia Jr. double in the ninth for his sixth save, sending the Nationals to their third straight loss.
Garcia had two hits for the Nationals, while Miguel Vargas had a pair of hits for the White Sox, who have won four of their last five.
Royals 5, Angels 3
Veteran Mike Trout set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, but Los Angeles fell to host Kansas City in the opener of their three-game series.
The Royals scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi (0-3), who allowed five runs on five hits in five innings.
The Angels rallied for three runs in the seventh against left-hander Noah Cameron, who had a shutout going for six innings. Cameron (2-1) got the win with three runs allowed on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Athletics 8, Rangers 1
Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit solo homers in the first inning as the Athletics opened a three-game series against Texas with a victory in Arlington.
Cortes also hit a three-run homer and Zack Gelof slugged a two-run shot among his two hits for the Athletics, who have won three of their last four games. Kurtz also singled, walked and scored two runs. Luis Severino (1-2) allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
Josh Jung doubled in a run and Corey Seager and Josh Smith had two hits apiece for Texas. Nathan Eovaldi (2-4) gave up six runs on six hits over six innings.
Reds 9, Tigers 8
Nathaniel Lowe belted a two-run walk-off home run, lifting Cincinnati to a victory over Detroit.
After Detroit closer Kenley Jansen (0-1) recorded two quick outs in the ninth, Spencer Steer singled. Lowe then connected on his second homer of the game and the season. Matt McLain also homered twice for Cincinnati, which overcame a 5-0 deficit.
Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter homered in the eighth to give Detroit an 8-7 lead. The Tigers had won 10 of their past 13 entering the Friday contest, which was the opener of a three-game interleague series. Javier Baez and Riley Greene also went deep for the visitors.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ted Turner, former owner of Braves and TV mogul, dies at 87
Oct 23, 1999; Atlanta, GA, USA; Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (left) shares the box with Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner and Turner’s wife Jane Fonda during the first game of the 1999 World Series at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Ted Turner, the former owner of the Atlanta Braves who signed baseball’s first free agent, has died at 87.
Turner Enterprises, in a news release, confirmed Turner died Wednesday surrounded by family and friends.
In September 2018, Turner disclosed he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, which the Alzheimer’s Association defines as “progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function.”
Turner, born in Ohio, made his money in media. He took over his father’s billboard business, Turner Outdoor Advertising, upon his father’s death in 1963. In 1970, in the pre-cable days, he bought an Atlanta UHF station and a station in Charlotte, N.C., and renamed the company Turner Communications Group.
In 1976, Turner made two significant moves that affected Major League Baseball. His Atlanta station, which later became known as TBS, was launched nationwide via satellite across the constantly evolving TV industry. And he bought the Atlanta Braves in January of that year; they became known across America because the team’s games were available nationwide.
“Our good friend and former owner, Ted Turner, was one of a kind — a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan of his beloved Braves,” the team said in a statement. “Ted’s visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into ‘America’s Team.’
“… We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today, and the Atlanta Braves are forever grateful for the impact you made on our organization and in our community.”
The following season, Turner bought a majority stake in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, saying he made the purchase to keep the franchise in the city.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Ted Turner — a true original, a visionary, and a force of nature whose impact will be felt for generations,” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said in a statement. “… For me personally, owning the Atlanta Hawks and following in his footsteps-even in a small way-has been one of the great honors of my life.”
Three months after buying the Braves, Turner signed 30-year-old pitcher Andy Messersmith to baseball’s first contract in free agency: three years for $1 million. Messersmith was 20-6 with a 2.59 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974. In 1975, he finished 19-14 with a 2.29 ERA in 42 games (40 starts), throwing 321 2/3 innings. He had seven shutouts among his 19 complete games.
When Messersmith took the mound for the Braves, his uniform number was 17 –where Turner’s Atlanta station was on the TV dial — and the nameplate read “Channel” instead of his last name. Taken together, Messersmith represented Turner’s TV station: Channel 17.
Eventually, TBS moved to cable.
Turner had a big hand in other sports, too. He was the founder of the Goodwill Games, bought a pro wrestling organization and renamed it World Championship Wrestling and was a yachtsman. He skippered Courageous to an America’s Cup win in 1977.
Turner also founded CNN and TNT to go with TBS. He sold his holdings, including the Braves, to Time Warner in 1996 for $7.5 billion, a year after celebrating Atlanta’s first World Series win.
His final years were devoted to his philanthropy, including a $1 billion pledge to the United Nations.
Turner is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was married three times, including a 10-year union with actress Jane Fonda that ended in divorce in 2001.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Indiana alum Mark Cuban helped fund Fernando Mendoza deal
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; American businessman and television personality Mark Cuban before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Indiana football fans apparently can thank Mark Cuban, one of the school’s wealthiest alums, for playing a key part in the Hoosiers winning the College Football Playoff championship this year.
Cuban donated the remaining money Indiana needed to secure quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the billionaire and former majority owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks told Front Office Sports in an upcoming episode of Portfolio Players.
The exchange resulted from a conversation between Cuban, Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and university president Pam Whitten at the school’s first-round College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame in December 2024.
“[Dolson]’s like, we’ve got this quarterback that we really, really like that we think would be great in (coach Curt Cignetti) Cig’s system, we just need a litttttle bit more,” Cuban said, per Front Office Sports. “I’m like, ‘How much is a little bit?’ And so he told me, and I’m like, ‘OK, you know, we’re on a roll, I’ll put up the money to get this quarterback.'”
Indiana lost in the first round of the 2024 playoff to Notre Dame, 27-17. One season later, the Hoosiers capped their undefeated season with a 27-21 win over Miami.
Cuban, 67, already had some connections to Cignetti as well as to Mendoza’s brother and Indiana teammate, Alberto, who as a Miami Heat fan would interact with Cuban when the Mavericks visited the Heat.
The extra money helped Indiana lure Mendoza away from Cal, where he reportedly made $1.6 million. His transfer to Indiana netted him $2.6 million, per Yahoo Sports.
Mendoza went on to win the Heisman Trophy. The Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in April.
The previous philanthropic efforts of Cuban, who according to Forbes is worth $6 billion, had been focused on academics, with his recent donations to Indiana athletics his first forays into the sports side of the university.
Though his first donation was directly related to the Mendoza signing, Cuban said he lets Dolson — a fellow Indiana alum — decide what to do with the finances.
“I just give Scott money, and it’s up to him,” Cuban said. “We talk a lot, we talk about approach, understanding how to put together a team. Because I did it for 20-something years. So it’s not like I have to direct him to something specific. I understand how they’re approaching things.”
Cuban would not reveal exactly how much he has committed to Indiana athletics other than to tell Front Office Sports in a January email, “Let’s just say they are happier this year than last year.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Wings expected to call Mavericks' arena home in 2027
Apr 30, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) celebrates during a timeout in the first half against the Indiana Fever at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez said the team will play its 2027 games at the American Airlines Center — home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks — though an agreement has not been finalized, according to Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb.
The news comes as the Wings continue to deal with delays in the readiness of their new training facility and new permanent home, the renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium.
“We will be in the practice facility next year to open up training camp,” Fernandez said in response to a question from Front Office Sports. “That is going to happen, and we will be playing all of our games in American Airlines (Center) next year as well.”
However, Bibb told USA Today the team was in “advanced negotiations” to play at the American Airlines Center but a deal was not done, and added the Wings did not yet have the required approval from the WNBA to change venues for a season.
Both the practice facility and the remodeled Memorial Auditorium had been expected to be ready for the 2026 season. Instead, the opening of the new $81 million training facility has been pushed to spring 2027 and games will not be played in the approximately 8,400-seat Memorial Auditorium until 2028.
The majority of the Wings’ 2026 games will be played at the 7,000-seat College Park Center in Arlington, with three games this season to be played at the 20,000-seat American Airlines Center against the Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries. The Wings played just two games at the venue in 2025, both against the Fever.
–Field Level Media
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