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Chief Noc-A-Homa

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Chief Noc-A-Homa
The Chief taking the mound.
TeamAtlanta Braves
DescriptionNative American
First seen1966

Chief Noc-A-Homa was a mascot for the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1985 that was primarily played by Levi Walker.[1] After being a mascot for the Braves franchise for two decades the Atlanta Braves retired the mascot before the 1986 season.

History

Origin

The mascot's tradition started in 1964 while the franchise was in Milwaukee.[2] The first recorded instance of the concept came when a 16-year-old high school student named Tim Rynders set up a tepee in the centerfield bleachers.[3] He danced and ignited smoke bombs when the Braves scored.[3] When the franchise moved to Atlanta the mascot was named Chief Noc-A-Homa.[4]

Chief Noc-A-Homa's teepee in the 1980s

During the 1966 season, the Atlanta Braves held a contest to name their mascot.[5] Mary Truesdale, a Greenville, SC resident was one of three people who entered "Chief Noc-A-Homa" the winning name chosen by the Braves.[5] The first Chief Noc-A-Homa was portrayed by a Georgia State college student named Larry Hunn.[6] During the 1968 season, after training from Hunn, Tim Minors took over as Noc-A-Homa.[6]

In 1969, Levi Walker approached the Braves about having a real Native American portray the chief.[7] Walker got the job, having grown weary of life as an insurance salesmen, warehouse worker, and plumber.[7] He served as the mascot until it was retired before the 1986 season.[2] Walker an Ottawa native and an Odawa Native American, was the most famous version of Noc-A-Homa.[2]

Chief Noc-A-Homa could be found at every home game in a tepee beyond the left field seats.[2] There were the times when the tepee was taken down to add more seats.[2] Superstitious fans sometimes blamed losing streaks on the missing tepee.[2] In 1982, when the Braves opened the season with 13 wins, owner Ted Turner removed the tepee to sell more seats.[2] The Braves lost 19 of their next 21 games and fell to second place.[2] Turner told team management to put the tepee back up and the Braves went on to win the National League West.[2]

Princess Win-A-Lotta

The Chief and the Princess
conferring before a 1983 game.

In 1983, Chief Noc-A-Homa was joined by "Princess Win-A-Lotta" who was portrayed by Kim Calos.[8] After suffering a serious back injury in a car accident that cut her season short, the Braves chose not to bring Princess Win-A-Lotta back in 1984.[9]

Retirement

In 1986, Walker and the Braves mutually agreed to end their relationship due to disagreements about pay and missed dates.[1] Walker made $60 per game and received $4,860 for 80 appearances.[10]

Controversy

In 1972, Russell Means filed a $9 million lawsuit against the Cleveland Indians for their use of "Chief Wahoo."[11] Means also objected to the Braves use of Chief Noc-A-Homa.[11] Means said "What if was the Atlanta Germans and after every home run a German dressed in military uniform began hitting a Jew on the head with a baseball bat?"[11] Means was unaware that Chief Noc-A-Homa was portrayed by a Native American.[12] For a week, controversy raged.[12] Walker went on radio talk shows to defend Noc-A-Homa. Walker said "I think Indians can be proud that their names are used with professional sports teams.[12] Ultimately Noc-A-Homa survived the controversy.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Mascot Won't Return". The New York Times. January 19, 1986. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rosenberg, I.J. (September 30, 2015). "Whatever Happened To … Chief Noc-A-Homa (Levi Walker)". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Braves Keep Hopping". Oshkosh Northwestern. May 25, 1964. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Milwaukee Origin of Chief Noc-A-Homa". Milwaukee Public Library. August 7, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2020. The Braves didn't have a formal or informal name for the mascot until the Rover Boys broke Milwaukee's heart, relocated the franchise to Atlanta for the 1966 season and named the mascot Chief Noc-A-Homa.
  5. ^ a b Anderson, Jim (July 29, 1966). "Top of the Morning". The Greenville News. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, Charlie (April 9, 1968). "Braves on Reservation Plan Tepee Party". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Sheeley, Glenn (August 20, 1983). "Tepee tempest baffles Chief". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Hudspeth, Ron (September 22, 1983). "Cooling trend breezes on in". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Hudspeth, Ron (October 27, 1983). "3 dog 'Stooges' fail to amuse cop arresting woman". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Howard, Susan (January 18, 1986). "Braves decide Noc-A-Homa won't be back". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Indians on the Warpath". The Charlotte News. January 19, 1972. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d Hudspeth, Ron (January 19, 1977). "Good News for Kiddies: Noc-A-Homa Returning". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
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