Ted Turner, CNN Founder and Former Atlanta Braves Owner, Dies at 87

Ted Turner, founder of CNN and former owner of the Atlanta Braves, died Wednesday at 87.

Turner hosted wet T-shirt contests during college nights at Braves games in the 1970s. On one such night, a crowd of 11,451 watched the Braves face the Chicago Cubs. General admission cost 50 cents. Rain delayed the game by two hours, but no one left. Around the sixth inning, the Braves announced registration for the contest in full view of fans. The first woman signed up after some hesitation, followed by 42 others.

Turner owned the Braves and the Atlanta Hawks. In 1977, he fired the manager during a 16-game losing streak and managed the team himself for one day. The Braves lost that game. Later that year, he loaded the entire team onto a yacht so they could watch him compete in America's Cup trials in Rhode Island.

Turner created the TBS superstation, which broadcast Braves games nationwide. TBS aired games at 7:05 p.m. before streaming services existed. The wet T-shirt contests ended before the 1990s.

People across political lines remembered Turner for his media work and Braves promotions. The Atlanta Hawks canceled a "Magic City" promotion this year after the NBA deemed it inappropriate.