ATLANTA - If you're of a certain age, and you grew up in Atlanta or pulled for the Atlanta Braves, you almost certainly remember their mascot Chief Noc-A-Homa.
While the Braves of the 70s and 80s struggled on the field, for over a dozen years the flamboyant Native American showman helped generations of fans survive the sub-par baseball when the Braves only made a mere two playoff appearances in a quarter-century.
For 16 seasons, Levi Walker Jr., aka Chief Noc-A-Homa, was a highlight on many a night at the old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. From his pre-game dance and ritual on the pitcher's mound to his teepee in left field, Walker, a native of the Odawa tribe, took his craft very seriously and is still beloved by generations of long-suffering Braves fans.