Olympic Stadium Is Now Turner Field

Turner Field opened Friday with a nod to its Olympic roots and a bit of the mystery and drama that marked another opening ceremony nine months ago.

The same place where Muhammad Ali ignited the Olympic caldron and Michael Johnson made track and field history is now baseball’s newest park, a 49,000-seat monument to the Atlanta Braves and opened with them beating the Chicago Cubs, 5-4.

In a moment that was reminiscent of the Olympic torch relay and Ali’s dramatic appearance at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Games, the home plate used next door at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was brought to Turner Field by a group of neighborhood children.

After a few minutes, Hank Aaron, whose role in the Turner Field ceremony was kept secret, emerged from behind the center-field wall and carried the plate onto the field.

The old plate was taken away to be preserved as a reminder of the stadium that served as the Braves’ home for 31 years; it is scheduled for demolition at the end of this season.

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Chicago first baseman Mark Grace went on 15-day disabled list before the Cubs’ game at Atlanta. He strained his right hamstring running out a triple against Florida on Thursday night. . . . The Cubs also placed pitcher Kevin Tapani on the 60-day disabled list after he had surgery on his right index finger Friday. . . . The Padres held center fielder Steve Finley out of the lineup because of a sore left elbow that has bothered him since near the end of spring training. . . . Colorado reliever Curtis Leskanic, on the disabled list since March 24 because of offseason surgery on his shoulder and elbow, is scheduled to pitch Sunday and Monday at Class-A Salem.