Happy Birthday Delta! 80 years. Wow, you guys are getting up there!

I just wanted to wish you a very happy 80th birthday and thank you for not only everything that you’ve done for me and my family, but also for what you guys continue to do for all of your customers.

It’s crazy to think how far everything has come…I mean, now we have mobile boarding passes, Wi-Fi on the plane, online booking, TV screens on the back of headrests, movies, music…I could go on and on. One of the first things I do when I sit down is to flip to the back of the in-flight magazine to see what movie will be playing on my flight! Delta never ceases to amaze me and you guys continue to make flying more and more enjoyable. And considering how much flying I do over the course of a year, I love all of the little extras that Delta provides.

I’m up in Cincinnati right now in the middle of our series with the Reds. This weekend we’ll be in Boston and then home next week to start three exciting series against the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies. Not a bad lineup of games! We actually had an off day this week, in between our games in Baltimore and Cincinnati. Days off on the road can be great and they can also be pretty boring. Sometimes our wives make the trip with us, but that’s usually to somewhere like California or New York – where there’s plenty of shopping available, of course. It’s fun when they come because a bunch of us will go out to eat before or after the game, do some sight-seeing, or just hang out in the room watching movies.

My favorite off day pastime on the road is golf. I love playing the area’s best courses and have had the chance to play some great ones in the past! I’m always looking for recommendations, too. We’ll have a day off in Miami this year as well as in Washington D.C., so if you know of a great course, or even a good restaurant or mall, let me know.

Other guys on the team spend their time playing cards, sleeping, going out to eat, reading magazines, getting some extra batting practice and hitting the gym in the hotel. If any of you have seen the old movies like Rookie of the Year and Little Big League, there are definitely some pranks pulled on teammates while on the road. But I won’t get too specific on those.

I’m excited to play in Boston this week, and then even more excited to get back to Atlanta to host the Yankees and Red Sox at Turner Field. Don’t forget about Delta Day at Turner Field on June 24th!

Jeff Francoeur
Atlanta Braves