When a proud eastern North Carolina baseball culture melded with Ted Turner’s seemingly infinite pile of money in the early 1970s, a region’s allegiance to the Atlanta Braves was, like much of the area’s economic means, grown, cherished and nurtured.

From the baby boomers to the millennials, baseball connoisseurs feasted on the only televised baseball (other than the callous Cubs on WGN) available, up until TBS aired its last nationally televised Braves game on September 2007.

And what quality baseball it was.

From 1991 to 2005, the Chipper Jones-led Braves won 14 of 15 National League Eastern Division Titles, the untouchable pitching rotation of the ‘90s and consistent offensive production of the 2000’s being a playoff roadblock for teams like the Mets, Phillies and Marlins.

But 2005, fittingly, was the inaugural season of the Washington Nationals, the refurbished product of a Montreal Expos franchise that was postseason eligible just once in 35 years. Awakening the ghost of former Senators Most Valuable Player Walter Johnson, baseball was back in D.C. and the excitement surrounding the team, initially, was plentiful.

But while some in the region shifted loyalty, most stuck by the Braves, in part because changing a franchise’s name doesn’t (and didn’t) guarantee success. Plus, the Braves’ extensive, unrivaled regular season resume could never be matched. Right?

Fast-forward to 2015. On the eve of Opening Day (Monday), the now general manager-less Braves traded away Craig Kimbrel, regarded as the best closer in baseball, to the new-look San Diego Padres. It’s the most recent transaction in an offseason centered around unloading, a winter that had Atlanta fans shaking their heads, looking at their television with bewildered expressions.

Despite a second-half drop off costing them of a playoff bid (finished 79-83, tied for second place), the Braves seemed to have it all — youthful building blocks, franchise corner stones and the capacity for a bounce back season. Now, on Opening Day, it’s Kelly Johnson instead of slugger Justin Upton in left field and the consistent but bland Nick Markakis is setting up shop in right, rather than Jason Heyward.

Some trades have made sense, while others have prompted double takes, but Atlanta appears to be headed in the direction of rebuilding its team from the farm system up.

Washington, on the other hand, is far from the troublesome days of Livan Hernandez and the perennially unexceptional Esteban Loaiza. Now, it’s the nation’s capital that is home to one of the most complete teams in baseball, boasting a pitching rotation that resembles that of the 1998 Braves, which went on to feature three hall of famers — Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

Today, it’s Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister make up the best rotation in baseball. Last season, the quintet posted four winning records and all five hurlers posted sub-4.00 earned run averages, two of which were under 3.00. Scherzer and Strasburg, the No. 1 and No. 2 options, respectively, each tallied over 240 strikeouts.

With names like Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond, Anthony Rendon, Jason Werth and the Washington, N.C.-born Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals’ roster blends a nice mix of youthful exuberance and veteran prowess, enough to make the team favorites to take the division crown for the third time in four years.

With last season’s disappointing finish and the recent transactions, Atlanta will continue its downward spiral for at least the next few seasons, until all the prospects develop. Washington, however, is nearing its peak, primed to make a playoff run this season.

Neither team having a regional cable television stake in eastern North Carolina, interest in Major League Baseball is, like the Braves, declining. But for those die-hard youngsters who are passionate for America’s pastime, local fandom may be in the midst of a makeover in the coming years, as more and more baseball enthusiasts become drawn to Nationals Park, about three hours closer than Atlanta’s Turner Field.