29 Thursday Mar 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Mark DeRosa at Baseball Nation interviews Chipper. DeRosa was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 7th round (212th overall) of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1998 as a shortstop.
From 1998 through 2001, DeRosa spent much of his time as a backup utility player, playing both infield and outfield. In 2002, though still playing as a backup, DeRosa was starting to play more and more, and enjoyed a successful batting average of .297.
15 Thursday Mar 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
The Cardinals, in the first NL one-game winner-take-all wild-card playoff on October 6, 2012, beat the hometown Braves, 6-3, in a game that will be best remembered for a disputed infield fly rule call in the eighth inning.
The irate Turner Field fans show their displeasure with the umpires’ decision on what appears to be a key Redbird error on a dropped pop fly in the outfield by littering the playing field with debris, causing a 19-minute delay while the ground crew cleans up the assorted trash.
Dan Uggla, always a home run threat, comes up representing the tying run with two outs in the ninth. Uggla fouls off Motte’s first offering. 0-1. Motte’s second pitch? Slider outside. 1-1. Motte throws a strike right at Uggla’s knees. 1-2. The Braves are down to their last strike again. Uggla hits a routine ground ball to first and it’s over!
It was Chipper’s last game. Chipper didn’t want to go out this way. He made a crucial throwing error and never hit a ball out of the infield, his brilliant career ending with a 6-3 loss’
Don’t blame the umps, Jones said. “I’m the one to blame.” In the fourth inning, with the Braves leading 2-0 on David Ross’ homer, Carlos Beltran blooped a single to right for the first hit of the game off Kris Medlen. But the Braves got what they needed from Matt Holliday, a hard-hit grounder to third base that Jones fielded with a nifty backhanded grab.
20 Tuesday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones—one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history—shares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. His new book, “Ballplayer,” takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves’ extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 “Baby Braves.”
The National League MVP also shares pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, while also delving into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds.
From his overnight rise to superstardom to the personal pitfalls that came with fame, “Ballplayer” immerses readers in the best of baseball. Interview at 692 Broadway in NYC for BUILD Series.
In my opinion, Chipper is the best switch hitter ever. You can buy the book here.
15 Thursday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
I am a big fan of the Atlanta Braves. What they did by winning 14 division championships is stunning. I agree with John Smoltz. I don’t think it will happen again.
This documentary sounds great.
“All these years later, it is still incredible to think that the Atlanta Braves won 14 straight division titles from 1991-2005. The Braves won the World Series in 1995, played in the Fall Classic five times in the 1990s and had a roster that featured four Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame manager. Yet this was a dynasty that was supposed to win multiple championships. The Braves lost in extra innings of Game 7 of the 1991 World Series and blew a 2-0 series lead against the New York Yankees in 1996.
“A new documentary “Atlanta Rules: The Story of the ’90s Braves,” produced by MLB Network, includes interviews with Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Bobby Cox and several others who helped transform Atlanta from one of the worst teams in baseball into a perennial championship contender.”
Source: John Smoltz: ‘The Success Of The Atlanta Braves Won’t Be Duplicated’ « CBS Boston
09 Friday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
The Braves show a Chipper Jones tribute video which showcases various highlights from his illustrious career
07 Wednesday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
If there is ever any doubt that Chipper Jones is one of the greatest hitters to ever pick up a bat, consult weighted runs created plus.
Only 21 players in MLB history have hit 40 percent above league average (140 wRC+ or better) in 10,000 or more plate appearances.
Needless to say, it’s a Who’s Who of hitters.
05 Monday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
It is generally accepted as fact in 2018 that sluggers do not typically exhibit flawless plate discipline. During the 2017 season, 117 MLB players hit at least 20 home runs but only five of them — Joey Votto, Mike Trout, Anthony Rizzo, Anthony Rendon and Justin Turner — walked more than they struck out. Only one active player with 50 or more career home runs (Albert Pujols) has walked more than whiffed over the course of his entire career.
Chipper Jones joins Pujols in that rarified air. Over the past 30 seasons, only Jones, Pujols, Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas, Edgar Martinez, Gary Sheffield, Todd Helton and Rafael Palmeiro have hit 300 homers, slugged .500 and claimed more career walks than strikeouts.
03 Saturday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Blame Chipper Jones 14.2 career walk rate, which ranks 12th all-time among players with 10,000 or more plate appearances.
Blame his career .300 batting average from both sides of the plate.
Blame his ridiculous age-36 campaign in 2008 — the only players to post a higher single-season OPS after turning 36: Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Ty Cobb — which pushed his career mark to .408 to safeguard it from the inevitable late-career decline.
Either way, Chipper is one of 35 Live-Ball Era players to reach base at least 40 percent of the time in 5,000 or more plate appearances.
01 Thursday Feb 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Hall of Fame, Hank Aaron, John Evers, MVP, Robert Elliot, Terry Pendleton
Dale Murphy. Terry Pendleton. Chipper Jones. With John Evers, Robert Elliot and Hank Aaron claiming their Most Valuable Player honors in other cities (Milwaukee or Boston), Atlanta’s four MVP Awards arrived in a 17-year span.
Jones’ 1999 season still stands out for his torrid finish — he was not named an All-Star that season as Matt Williams and Ed Sprague represented National League third basemen — as he slugged .693 and reached base in more than 46 percent of his plate appearances. And by at least one measure, it was the most impressive campaign of the group (FanGraphs’ wins above replacement):
1982 Murphy: 6.0
1983 Murphy: 7.0
1991 Pendleton: 6.3
1999 Jones: 7.3
30 Tuesday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
The wheels eventually rusted, but Chipper emerged as a 21-year-old prospect with five tools in 1993.
Before his 30th birthday, Chipper collected 227 career homers, 106 stolen bases, five top-10 MVP finishes and five All-Star nods. (Take away his torn ACL during the team’s 1994 spring training and that stolen base number likely doubles.)
He finished his career as one of 21 members in the 400 Homer-150 Steal Club.
28 Sunday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Chipper Jones owned better numbers from the left side of the plate (.947 OPS vs. .889 OPS as a right-handed batter), but he remains one of the most balanced switch-hitters — or hitters in general — in the game’s history.
Here are his career slash lines:
LHB: .303/.405/.541
RHB: .304/.391/.498
Hitting .300 from both sides of the plate is incredibly rare: Only Hall of Famer Frankie Frisch, who retired in 1937, joins Chipper on the list among switch-hitters with at least 5,000 career plate appearances.
In the age of bullpen specialists and pitching-change-happy managers, Jones’ feat stands out in the crowd.
27 Saturday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Constructing a roster worthy of “Team Of The Decade” distinction extends beyond one player — even one of the best players ever. Still, Chipper Jones made a clear difference for Atlanta over the course of 18 full seasons.
Atlanta posted a 1497-1094-1 record when Jones was in the lineup, winning 57.8 percent of the games he played including a 48-45 playoff record.
Without him? From 1995 to 2012, the Braves won 53.2 percent of their games in Jones’ absence (214-188) including a 1-3 playoff mark when he missed the 2010 NLDS against the Giants. Over the course of 162 games, that win percentage gap is the approximate difference in winning 94 games and 86 games … every season for 18 years.
26 Friday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Two years ago, Ken Griffey Jr. became the first former No. 1 overall draft pick to be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction ended a strange streak for the sport. Since 1965, only one of the 53 top picks in the draft reached Cooperstown, and only four have even reached 50 career wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference).
Jones will join “The Kid” on the abbreviated list — with Alex Rodriguez’s numbers warranting a spot in a few years.
And after that? Joe Mauer has a quiet case and Bryce Harper is building one, but it could be a long time until Griffey and Jones have company here.
25 Thursday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Chipper Jones (Hall of Fame) unquestionably finds himself among the top seven third basemen in baseball history — the order relies on debates over the accomplishments of Jones, Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews (a Brave), Wade Boggs, George Brett, Adrian Beltre and Brooks Robinson — but he’s also in the top tier of the sport’s switch-hitters.
His 468 career home runs are the most in National League history and rank third all-time behind only Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. The only other switch-hitters to reach 400 homers? Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira.
24 Wednesday Jan 2018
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Well … I never had any doubts. I am sure I will have much to say over the next few weeks. The most impressive thing about Chipper, in my mind is:
Chipper Jones was drafted by Atlanta, played every game for Atlanta and retired in Atlanta. That’s rare for a superstar in the modern game. Fifty-one Hall of Famers played for a single team, largely due to the draconian reserve clause practically making athletes franchise property.
Once the reserve clause was struck down and the 1976 collective-bargaining agreement went into effect, however, only 16 Hall of Famers played for just one team (technically Brooks Robinson played his final season in the post-reserve clause era, which would make 17) in the modern free-agency era.
Jones will likely be the final installment in a run of Braves Hall of Fame announcements, but he’s the only one of the group — including John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox — who never donned another uniform.
Chipper Jones
14 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
Chipper Jones in the Dugout
I really appreciate Chipper Jones. I agree wholeheartedly that he is the best of the 2000’s.
No doubt about it.
Perhaps the most beloved Braves player of all time, depending on who you ask, Chipper Jones is the epitome of a team player and someone just about every Braves fan is going to miss once he retires after this season.
During the decade, Jones has hit .306 with 301 home runs and 1,037 RBI. He also has 1,744 hits, 360 doubles, 1,019 runs scored and a .406 on-base percentage.
He’s been named to four All-Star teams.
In 2002, he even gave up third base, moving to left field so the Braves could bring in Vinny Castilla to play third base.
After that experiment was over a few years later, Jones moved back to third base.
He’s restructured his contract countless times to help sign guys like Hudson, and has been a leader in the clubhouse for as long as I can remember.
Chipper Jones is everything Braves fans could ask for and is someone we’ll truly miss.
Source: Atlanta Braves History: Greatest Players of the 2000s | Bleacher Report
03 Wednesday May 2017
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2003, Andruw Jones, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Gary Sheffield, Miami Marlins, Montreal Expos
Andruw Jones
In one inning, the Atlanta Braves wiped out three games’ worth of frustration. The Braves scored seven runs in the seventh, highlighted by Andruw Jones’ three-run homer, and went on to beat the Florida Marlins 12-7 on April 4, 2003.
It was Atlanta’s first victory after an 0-3 start — the team’s worst since 1988.
We relaxed and did our thing. We’ll be OK. We got the jitters out. Now we can play our game. That was obvious in the seventh inning. ~Marcus Giles who had three of Atlanta’s 16 hits
The Braves were swept by Montreal in the first series of the year, getting outscored 17-2. Atlanta, which had won 11 straight division titles, had not started so poorly since going 0-10 in 1988. All that changed in the seventh, when the Braves pounded on Marlins relievers Blaine Neal and especially Vladimir Nunez (0-1).
Trailing 5-2, Atlanta started the inning with five straight hits. Gary Sheffield had a run-scoring single, Chipper Jones hit an RBI double off the center-field wall and Andruw Jones followed with a three-run homer into the center-field stands off Nunez.
15 Saturday Apr 2017
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2017, April 14, Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Carter, John Smoltz, Phil Niekro, Tom Glavine
It was a great day in Atlanta Braves history. Once again, a new stadium.
Chipper Jones sat in the Atlanta Braves dugout Friday afternoon, a few hours ahead of the Braves’ first regular-season home game at their new stadium, SunTrust Park, the future Hall of Famer fielded a question about what fans might be saying as they entered the ballpark for the first time.
“I would venture a guess the word mumbled the most — maybe not even mumbled — would be ‘Wow,'” the Braves’ icon said.
“I mean, look at that video board. Look at the LED lights, the incredible green grass, this incredibly orange clay. They watch how balls fly out of here and they see the skyline and everything, and they say, ‘Wow.’ I said it. Everybody else is going to say it. …This is very impressive.”
In addition to Jones, Braves legends Hank Aaron, Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, John Smoltz were present. They were honored as theirs and other retired numbers were unveiled. Aaron threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Cox. A prominent fan, former President Jimmy Carter, also was in attendance.
And the Braves beat San Diego 5-2.
14 Monday Nov 2016
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
You have to love Larry “Chipper” Jones. Chipper spent his entire 19-year career playing for the Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves.
In 2002 and 2003, Jones 
played left field before returning to third base in 2004. He currently holds the Braves team record for career on-base percentage (.402), and on July 5, 2007, he passed Dale Murphy for third place on the Braves all-time career home run list.
Jones ended his career in 2012 with a .303 career batting average, with 468 home runs, 1,512 walks, and 1,623 RBIs in 2,499 games with 8,984 at bats.
I miss the game, but I’m loving retired life. After seven knee surgeries and two ACL replacements, it was time to go. It was starting to get to the point where I’d be on the road and didn’t want to be there. I had my time. I played 19 years in the bigs. How many people can say that? I had a lot of success and great memories, but it got to a point where I didn’t know every morning if I’d be able to play that day or not, and that’s a lot of undue pressure on the manager and team if I won’t be able to play. And when it got to the point where it got to me only playing 100 games a year, I felt like I was doing more harm than good.
I have no regrets, no urges to go back. People have asked me about coaching, and I have absolutely zero desire to get back in uniform right now, because the lifestyle is still part of it. I lived out of a suitcase for 23 years as a professional athlete, and I like my life right now. I like being rooted down and not having to pack my suitcase every three days.
Chipper Jones, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft, played for the Atlanta Braves from 1993-2012. He won the 1999 National League MVP award, made eight NL All-Star teams and helped the Braves make the postseason 13 times.
via Chipper Jones on state of the Braves, NL East race and retirement – MLB – SI.com.
20 Wednesday Jul 2016
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2012, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla, Danny Espinosa, Fredi Gonzalez, July 20, Paul Janish, Washington Nationals
After trailing the Nationals by nine runs after five innings of play on July 20, 2012, the Braves take the lead, 10-9, when the team plates two runs in the top of ninth.
Washington will knot the score in the bottom the frame on Danny Espinosa’s home run, but Atlanta will complete its amazing comeback with an unanswered run in the eleventh inning.
Atlanta was down 9-0 after five innings with Washington Nationals star pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the mound. The Braves came back to take the lead in the top of the ninth. After the Nationals tied it, Atlanta pulled out a wild 11-10 win on Paul Janish’s run-scoring bloop single in the 11th.
Chipper Jones
“I don’t even know where to start,” said Chipper Jones, who drove in two runs with a single in the Braves’ four-run eighth inning. “I still can’t believe it. I mean, 9-0. That’s never happened to me since I’ve been here.”
In the top of the 11th, Dan Uggla led off with a single against Tom Gorzelanny (2-2), advanced to second on Ryan Zimmerman’s throwing error and then went to third on a passed ball before scoring on Janish’s bloop that just barely fell in past shortstop Ian Desmond’s outstretched glove.
“A really crazy game, but it counts, right?” Janish said. “All that matters is that we end up with one more than them, so it worked out.”
It was the Braves’ largest comeback since 1987 and pulled them within 2 1/2 games of the Nationals in the National League East.
“It’s a big series, and there’s no way we were just going to go down without a fight,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
The nine-run lead was the largest ever given up by the Nationals franchise, including the games played as the Montreal Expos.
04 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present), Boston Beaneaters (1883 - 1906), Boston Bees (1936 - 1940), Boston Braves (1912 - 1935), Boston Braves (1941 - 1952), Boston Doves (1907 - 1910), Boston Red Caps (1876 - 1882), Boston Red Stockings (1871 - 1875), Boston Rustlers (1911 - 1911), Milwaukee Braves (1953 - 1965)
Tags
Andruw Jones, Bobby Lowe, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Herman Long, Joe Torre, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn
Atlanta Braves Logo
How would you fill out the all time roster for a team with as much talent as the Braves have had since 1871? Not easy. Recently Nick Selbe gave it a shot.
Here is his list.
Year founded: 1871
1966-present: Atlanta Braves
1953-1965: Milwaukee Braves
1936-1940: Boston Bees
1912-1935, 1941-1952: Boston Braves
1911: Boston Rustlers
1907-1910: Boston Doves
1883-1906: Boston Beaneaters
1876-1882: Boston Red Caps
1871-1875: Boston Red Stockings
Total WAR: 819.9
C: Joe Torre (1960-1968; 33.3)
1B: Dale Murphy (1976-1990; 46.9)
2B: Bobby Lowe (1890-1901; 19.1)
3B: Eddie Mathews (1952-1966; 94.4)
SS: Herman Long (1890-1902; 35.4)
OF: Hank Aaron (1954-1974; 142.1)
OF: Chipper Jones (1993-2012; 85.0)
OF: Andruw Jones (1996-2007; 61.0)
SP: Kid Nichols (1890-1901; 108.5)
SP: Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1964; 92.0)
SP: Phil Niekro (1964-1983, 1987; 90.0)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (2010-2014; 12.2)
Making the all-time roster for MLB’s oldest continually running franchise was no small task. To make room for the three outfielders, we shifted Dale Murphy to first base, despite his primarily playing the outfield. Murphy made 205 appearances at first base in his first two big league seasons.
Though none of them made the final cut, the trio of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine deserve to be mentioned. As teammates from 1993-2002, they combined for a 453-224 record, with 4,616 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA.
22 Tuesday Dec 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
I know this happens a lot. I like Chipper and hope this works for him and the Braves.
Like many former legends do in their career, Chipper Jones has returned to the Atlanta Braves organization. Jones spent his entire career with the Braves, where he became one of the greats to play the game, and one of the greatest to ever wear a Braves uniform.
He is now back with the organization that he helped play a part in as a perennial World Series contender, the team announced on Thursday.
Source: Chipper Jones joins Atlanta Braves as special assistant
01 Monday Jun 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
1995, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Eric Karros, Fred McGriff, Fulton County Stadium, June 1, Kent Merker, Los Angeles Dodgers, Roberto Kelly, Ryan Klesko, World Series
Fred McGriff
The 1995 Atlanta Braves season was the 125th season in the history of the franchise and 30th season in the city of Atlanta. The team finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 90–54, the best in the National League, en route to winning the World Series. For the sixth straight season, the team was managed by Bobby Cox.
June 1st, 1995 found them in Atlanta at Fulton County Stadium playing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately they would lose 6-3. The Braves losing pitcher was Kent Merker who was 2-2 at that point in the season. It didn’t start out good in the 1st. Merker is rocked and they end the inning down 3. The first 2 batters single and then Roberto Kelly doubles driving both of them in. The next batter, Eric Karros singles and Kelly scores. Not a good start. Not a good ending.
The bottom of the 1st saw Fred McGriff homer driving in Chipper Jones. At least they were back in the game. The Dodgers would surge ahead scoring again in the 3rd and the 7th. The Braves would score one more run in the 4th with Ryan Klesko sacrificing to deep Left Field scoring McGriff.
Merker would pitch 6.2 innings giving up 9 hits and allowing all 6 runs which were all earned. He gave up 3 walks and had 10 strike outs. He would end the 1995 season 7-8 with an overall ERA of .467.
Things would get better. They were about to turn the corner.
04 Wednesday Mar 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
This first card above is beyond interesting. The very idea of baseball cards featuring players in “regular” clothes is ridiculous. Is there anyone who wanted to see Chipper Jones dressed in shorts and a long sleeve shirt standing in front of cacti? This is another bad baseball card.
Coming into the 1992 season, Chipper Jones had solidified his standing as one of baseball’s top prospects with his outstanding season at Macon in 1991. Topps and Upper Deck were both looking to get him into products again. Upper Deck released a minor league product in 1992 that was, shall we say, underwhelming. Like most products of this type, the set featured card after card of players that would never wear a major league uniform. The set may not be that great, but Chipper’s card, featuring him in the great Durham Bulls uniform, is outstanding. The pose is variation of the pose on the 1991 Score card, but is far more effective.
Topps would include him on a four prospect card in their 1992 base set, but it was his Stadium Club card, one of three “First Draft Picks” cards inserted into Stadium Club Series 3, that makes the better impression. It features the crisp, photo quality stock that made Stadium Club such a sensation in the early 90s. The photograph itself is a great shot of Chipper’s batter’s eye. Well, as good a shot as you could get with a posed photograph.
22 Sunday Feb 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
Typically, draft picks didn’t make an impact on the hobby until their Major League careers began. By the late 1980s though, the rookie card craze had a firm grip on collectors and manufacturers alike.
The manufacturers were looking to get a jump on each other by featuring the first card of a player, and major league experience was no longer a criteria for making a checklist.
The entire story of Chipper Jones selection ensured that both his name and that of college bound (ha) Todd Van Poppel were known by virtually every collector. The manufacturers would cram Chipper Jones into virtually every product they could. By the time he made his major league debut in September of 1993, there were well over 20 cards already available.
15 Sunday Feb 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
After the Braves completed their convincing Opening Day win on April 5, 2010, Chipper Jones challenged the Atlanta fans to continue bringing energy to the ballpark.
Two days later, the veteran third baseman electrified the faithful with a homer that proved he still had the ability to thrive in clutch situations. It also said the Braves could come back late in the game. While it wasn’t a walk off home, it came late when they were behind. Very important.
Chipper interrupted a pitching-dominated affair with a two-run, eighth-inning homer that allowed the Braves to overcome Troy Glaus‘ woes and claim a 3-2 win over the Cubs at Turner Field. “You could definitely feel the wind go out of their sails,” Jones said in reference to the reaction he felt from the Cubs after he directed left-handed reliever John Grabow‘s changeup over the left-center-field wall.
17 Saturday Jan 2015
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Chipper Jones
There is a very elite club in baseball: Hitters with 300 home runs who batted .300 for their careers and amassed at least 2,000 hits. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron are in it. Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg are not. Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is one of those in the club after retiring in 2012. He has 468 homers, 2,726 hits and batted .303 for his career.
“There are guys spraying the ball around and batting over .300. And there are guys who club the 30 to 40 home runs. But there are not many who can do both. That’s what makes you an elite hitter. It’s difficult, very difficult, for most players to do that.” ~Chipper Jones
The difficulty can be measured by the exclusions from the list. Kaline missed it by finishing at .297, and Pete Rose had only 160 homers. Barry Bonds ended his career batting .298, while Ken Griffey Jr. finished at .284. Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson also fall short.
26 Friday Dec 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Chipper Jones
Chipper was smoking hot in the spring of 2011. Halfway through spring training, Jones said, “I’ve never felt this good from both sides of the plate in spring training.” And then he really got hot. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Braves hitting coach Larry Parrish said with a week left in spring training. “I’ve never seen anyone swing the bat like he has this spring.”
More important, Jones had more mobility than expected on his surgically repaired left knee, the one that was supposed to force his retirement. “He has moved very well,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. There was only one day — Jones’ third day of spring training, well before he was officially supposed to report — that Jones needed to skip a workout because his knee was too sore.
03 Wednesday Dec 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2011, Alex Gonzales, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Dan Uggla, Tommy Hanson, Washington Nationals
The 2011 season started out 1-1. The first game flawless. The second not so much. The Braves fell to the Nationals 6-3.
After sitting through a 30-minute rain delay, Tommy Hanson made his first start of the season and it wasn’t pretty. He threw 68 pitches and only 38 were for strikes. His start was interrupted by a hail storm in the fourth inning and he didn’t return, but with the way things were going, Tommy probably only had one more inning left in him. He gave up four runs on five hits and two walks, and only struck out one National hitter on the day.
Chipper Jones
At the plate, the Braves were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and continually swung early in the count. Dan Uggla hit a home run in the sixth inning to give him his first hit as an Atlanta Brave and Alex Gonzalez had a great day going 3-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in the eighth inning. Freddie Freeman and Chipper Jones were also impressive, and both recorded two hits a piece.
The Braves bullpen wasn’t great either. Scott Linebrink and Peter Moylan both gave up runs as the team was attempting to mount a comeback, and outside of Eric O’Flaherty (who threw one pitch) no one looked real sharp on the mound. Let’s all just hope it was caused by the multiple weather delays.
John Lannan shut the Braves down for five innings and only allowed one run to score. The Nationals bullpen gave the Braves plenty of chances, but we just couldn’t cash in. We also learned Sean Burnett is apparently the 2nd coming of Greg Maddux, and he made two incredible defensive plays in the ninth inning to close out the game.
It just wasn’t our day. The Braves hit the ball hard all day long and it always found a glove. Nate McLouth misjudged a ball in center field and it went for a triple. Rick Ankiel layed down a perfect bunt to execute a suicide squeeze. Freddie Freeman just missed a game tying, two-run home run in the sixth inning.
03 Monday Nov 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2000, All Star, Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, July 11
Chipper Jones
At Turner Field on July 11, 2000, the American League beats the National League, 6-3, in the 71st All-Star contest, dubbed the All Scar game due to the many stars absent from both lineups because of injuries.
Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter and Braves’ third baseman Chipper Jones provide the offensive punch with both going 3-for-3.
The 2000 All-Star Game was one of the few occurrences in which the manager of the host team also managed the home team of the game, in this case, the National League (Bobby Cox had led the Braves to the World Series the previous year earning the right to manage the National League).
It is remembered for Chipper Jones’ home run off of James Baldwin.
29 Wednesday Oct 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
English: Chipper Jones (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
At Dodger Stadium on July 5, 2007, Chipper Jones’s two solo home runs is the difference in the Braves’ 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With his pair of round-trippers, the team’s third baseman surpasses Dale Murphy for the Atlanta team record of 372 homers.
28 Tuesday Oct 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
1985, 2012, Alfonso Soriano, Andy Sheets, Atlanta Braves, Brian McCann, Chipper Jones, Evan Logoria, Jason Giambi, July 3, May 2, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, Walk Off Homer
The May 2, 2012 Atlanta Braves / Philadelphia Phillie game was crazy. We won in extra innings. Here are some of the stats.
Chipper hits the walk off!
04 Saturday Oct 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Now this is rich. Chipper Jones and his wife, Sharon, welcome their second child into the world on August 30, 2004, a 7 pounds, 14 ounces son.
The couple names the boy Shea, as a tribute to the New York ballpark where the Braves’ third baseman has enjoyed tremendous success against the Mets.
I can still envision games where they taunted Chipper by repeatedly calling him “Larry”, his Christian name.
You have to love this.
29 Monday Sep 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
1996, Chipper Jones, Delino Deshields, Eric Karosto, Juan Castro, June 15, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Lemke, Marquis Grissom, Triple Play
Triple Play
In the first inning of their 6-2 victory over the Braves on June 15, 1996, the Dodgers turn their first triple play in forty-seven years.
After making a running, back-to-the-plate grab of Chipper Jones’s popup to short left with runners on first and second, Juan Castro throws to second baseman Delino Deshields to double up Marquis Grissom, then the ball is relayed to first baseman Eric Karosto to get Mark Lemke, who was also running on the pitch.
You know Chipper had to feel bad about that one.
23 Tuesday Sep 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Many manufacturers would start to get into the Chipper Jones baseball card business in 1991. For obvious reasons, the Classic cards were considered minor league in quality and collector attention. When the 1991 sets from the major manufacturers were released, collectors across the country began to stock up on Chipper Jones cards. If he lived up to his promise and proved to be the second coming of Cal Ripken, Jr., then collectors everywhere would be able to put their children through college by selling a handful of Chipper cards.
From a numbers standpoint, Chipper’s career will eclipse that of Ripken. His rookie cards, however, can often be bought for mere pennies. It isn’t Chipper’s fault of course that Topps and Upper Deck were caught up in the era of rampant over-production. Although many collectors love to blame the 1994 strike for the collapse of the baseball card market, that was simply the moment the bubble burst. Value requires scarcity, and Chipper Jones rookie cards are as plentiful as water and air.
Pictured here are two of the better Chipper rookie cards. The Topps card is the classic bat on the shoulder pose. 1991 design isn’t overly impressive, but at least it doesn’t get in the way of the photograph. The Upper Deck card is even better. The picture showing Jones manning shortstop is especially nice. More than anything, I like that it looks like something is inflating inside his cap. Less successful is the card from Score. Generally speaking, cards with the backgrounds removed are almost always worse, but that’s not the only problem with the card. The design is bland, bordering on amateurish. There’s something off about the look on Chipper’s face. It just isn’t a very good card.
14 Thursday Aug 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2003, Andruw Jones, Atlanta Braves, Brad Penny, Chipper Jones, Gary Sheffield, Javy Lopez, Marcus Giles, September 20, Vinny Castilla
Marcus Giles
When Marcus Giles sends Brad Penny’s 3-2 pitch into the stands on September 20, 2003, the Atlanta Braves tie the National League record (held by the Milwaukee Braves) by having six players to hit at least 20 home runs in season. Along with the Atlanta’s second baseman, Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and Vinny Castilla.
This equals the mark established by Eddie Mathews (32), Hank Aaron (32), Joe Torre (27), Felipe Alou (23) Mack Jones (31) and Gene Oliver (21) of the 1965 Milwaukee Braves.
13 Wednesday Aug 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This was not the way it was supposed to end for Chipper Jones. Those who had seen him homer twice in his first career postseason game and again on his 40th birthday certainly had reason to expect a grand finale.
A sure-fire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest switch-hitters the game has known, Chipper seemed destined to limp off into the sunset after drilling a walk-off homer in Game 7 of the World Series.
Instead, Chipper exited the Braves’ clubhouse on October 5 seemingly shell-shocked by what had transpired in a 6-3 loss to the Cardinals in the National League’s one-game Wild Card playoff. He committed a costly throwing error in St. Louis’ three-run third inning and was limited to a broken-bat infield single in five at-bats.
I wanted to come out here and play well, Today, my heart is broken not for me, my heart is broken for my teammates and my coaching staff, and all these fans that have been so great to us this year. ~Chipper Jones
But I’ll be OK. It’s just one of those things. You come to the park, and I walk out of here knowing that I brought it every single day. I think when you walk out of here knowing that you brought it every day, it makes walking away on the final day a little bit easier. ~~Chipper Jones
26 Saturday Jul 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Tags
2011, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Emillio Bonifacio, Florida Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, St. Louis Cardinals
Chipper Jones in the Dugout
Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves were looking forward to playing in the Florida Marlins’ new ballpark in 2012, especially after this difficult loss on September 18, 2011.
Jones lost Emilio Bonifacio’s two-out chopper in the lights before Omar a game-ending homer off rookie closer Craig Kimbrel, giving the Marlins a 6-5 victory.
“You play baseball in a football stadium, I guess that happens from time to time, but it’s just extremely bad timing,” Jones said. “It’s a pretty helpless feeling when the game should be over and I had no clue where the ball was when it bounced.”
Atlanta had dropped three of four, and its NL wild-card lead was down to 2½ games over surging St. Louis, which beat Roy Halladay and the Phillies 4-3 in Philadelphia on the same day. The Braves had eight games remaining, compared to nine for the Cardinals.
Entering the final month of the regular season with a record of 80–55 and an 8 1⁄2-game lead in the Wild Card standings, the Braves went 9–18 in September to finish the season with a record of 89–73. This September collapse caused the team to fall one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card race after the final scheduled game of the season, which consequently eliminated them from postseason contention.
20 Sunday Jul 2014
Posted in Atlanta Braves (1966 - Present)
Jason Heyward – Opening Day 2010
Jason Heyward had a great Spring Training in 2010. Lots of promise but he had not played in the Big Leagues yet. Jason Heyward’s legend grew even larger on April 5, 2010 when the Braves phenom drilled a three-run homer on the first swing of his Major League career. After looking at two fastballs from Carlos Zambrano, Heyward mashed a 2-0 sinker deep into the Braves bullpen beyond the right-center field wall for a three-run homer. The 20-year-old made his way around the bases to the sound of a thunderous applause provided by a sold-out crowd at Turner Field. As Heyward made his way back to the dugout after providing his club a 6-3 lead, he was greeted by Chipper Jones, who stretched his arms out and gave the young outfielder a hug.
Heyward, was drafted out of suburban Atlanta’s Henry County High School with the 14th overall selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had the hometown faithful stirring as he made his way to the plate. Before slugging his monstrous home run he was serenaded with boisterous chants of “Jason Heyward.” After becoming the sixth player in Atlanta history and just the 11th player in Braves franchise history to homer in his Major League debut, Heyward took his position and found the fans beyond the right-field wall applauding him even louder than they had when he took the field to start the game.
