Ted Turner could be getting one of baseball’s biggest honors six months after his death. The former WCW owner and media mogul has been named among eight candidates for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027, recognizing his years as owner of the Atlanta Braves.
Turner, who passed away on May 6, 2026, at the age of 87, owned the Braves from 1976 to 1996. During that time, he helped turn the franchise into a national attraction through TBS, with Atlanta eventually winning the World Series in 1995.
Major League Baseball announced that Turner is being considered by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, which evaluates managers, executives, and umpires for Hall of Fame induction. Candidates must receive at least 75 percent of the vote from a 16-member panel to be inducted. MLB recognized Turner’s contributions to both sports and television while announcing his nomination.
“Turner, who passed away on May 6, was a legend in the fields of media and sports. He founded the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) in 1976, and the Cable News Network (CNN) in 1980, revolutionizing cable television. He also owned the Braves from 1976-96, seeing his franchise become the ‘team of the ’90s’ and bring Atlanta its first major sports championship with a World Series victory in 1995.”
Turner’s ownership also saw the Braves build one of baseball’s most successful pitching rotations, featuring Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. All three eventually entered the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Turner wasn’t afraid to get personally involved with his baseball team, either. In 1977, he actually managed the Braves for one game after becoming frustrated with a losing streak. Atlanta lost 2-1, and Major League Baseball subsequently ruled that he couldn’t continue managing his own club.
Of course, wrestling audiences remember Turner for something completely different. His support of World Championship Wrestling helped turn WCW into WWE’s biggest competitor during the 1990s. With WCW programming airing on his television networks, the promotion eventually overtook Vince McMahon’s WWF in the ratings during the Monday Night Wars.
Turner’s influence on professional wrestling didn’t disappear when WCW went out of business in 2001. TBS and TNT eventually returned to the wrestling business through AEW, continuing the connection between Turner-owned television networks and professional wrestling.
Turner is joined on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot by Dusty Baker, Bruce Bochy, Joe Maddon, Lou Piniella, Sandy Alderson, Brian Sabean, and Bill White. Voting results will be announced on December 6 on MLB Network, with successful candidates entering the Hall of Fame in 2027.
Turner built an empire that changed television, baseball, and professional wrestling. Now, six months after his passing, he has a chance to receive another major honor for what he accomplished with the Braves. Wrestling audiences may always remember him as the man who gave WCW the resources to challenge WWE, but his impact went far beyond the wrestling business.
Do you think Ted Turner deserves a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and how do you remember his impact on WCW and the Monday Night Wars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
