Chipper Jones – Number 1 Greatest Braves player of the 2000’s

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All Star, Chipper Jones, Third Base

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

Atlanta scores seven runs in seventh inning (April 4, 2003)

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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.

 

Braves begin new ballpark chapter at SunTrust Park with 5-2 win (April 14, 2017)

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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.

 

“I played 19 years in the bigs. How many people can say that?” ~Chipper Jones

Tags

2012, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Retirement

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.

Braves come back from 9-0 down to beat the Nationals in the eleventh (July 20, 2012)

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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.

What would the all time roster for the Braves look like?

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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.

Source: Filling Out All-Time Rosters for Each MLB Franchise

Chipper Jones joins Atlanta Braves as special assistant

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Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones

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

Kent Merker gets rocked (June 1, 1995)

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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.

Chipper Jones: 1992 baseball cards

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1992, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones

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.

Chipper Jones 1990 Baseball Card

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1990, 1993, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones

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.

Coming back late (April 7, 2010)

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2010, April 5, April 7, Chicago Cubs, Chipper Jones, John Grabow, Troy Glaus, Turner Field

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.

300, 300, 2,000 Club — Chipper Jones joins the club

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Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Ted Williams

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.

Chipper is smoking hot in spring training (2011)

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2011, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Fredi Gonzalez

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.

Hail delay (2011)

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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.

Chipper Jones goes 3-3 in 2000 All-Star game (July 11, 2000)

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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.

Chipper Jones breaks Dale Murphy’s home run record (July 5, 2007)

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2007, Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, July 5, Los Angeles Dodgers

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.

 

Crazy Stats From Braves-Phillies Game 18-13 (May 2, 2012)

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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.

• It was the highest-scoring extra-inning game in the Major Leagues since 2006.
• It was the highest-scoring extra-inning game in the National League since July 4, 1985, when the Mets outlasted the Braves, 16-13, in 19 innings.
• The only other major-league team in the past 30 years that won a game after rallying from a deficit of at least six runs and overcoming a separate disadvantage of four or more runs was the 1997 Mariners, in a 12-11 victory against the Rockies.
• The last team to lose an 11+ inning game while scoring 13+ was the 116-win 2001 Mariners.
• The last team to win in 11+ innings while scoring 13+ was managed by… Charlie Manuel, tonight’s losing manager.
• This was the Braves’ 4th win since 1918 when allowing 13+ runs, and the 2nd in the last 60 years.
• This was the first game in MLB history to end 15-13 in 11 or more innings (since 1918, anyway).
• Roy Halladay gave up eight runs, the most he had allowed since surrendering nine on May 5, 2007 against the Rangers.
• This is the first time in Halladay’s career that he’s given up more than 6 runs to an NL team.
• Halladay was working with a 6-0 lead when he gave up six runs in the fifth inning and then two more in the sixth. He was 107-0 in his career in starts in which he was given a four-run lead. The Phillies, though, let him off the hook by rallying in the seventh.
• The Braves had 3 bases-loaded hits all year coming into last night. They had 3 bases-loaded hits in the 5th inning of last night’s game… off Roy Halladay.
• Brian McCann hit just the fourth grand slam ever given up by Halladay (Evan Longoria hit the last in 2008).
• The “I Hit A Slam Off Roy Halladay Club”: Evan Longoria, Alfonso Soriano, Andy Sheets, and now Brian McCann.
• That was the first homer allowed by Halladay in six starts this season.
• Chipper Jones and Jason Giambi each hit game-ending home runs on Wednesday. It was the first day in major-league history on which two players age 40 or older hit walk-off homers.
• Never before had two men, each with at least 400 career home runs to their credit, hit walk-off round-trippers on the same day.
• Jones’s walkoff was his first since May 17, 2006 against the Marlins. It was the eighth of his career.

Chipper hits the walk off!

Chipper Jones names his son Shea (August 30, 2004)

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2004, Atlanta Braves, August 30, Chipper Jones, New York Mets, Shea Stadium

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.

Chipper Jones popup leads to triple play (June 15, 1996)

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.

Chipper Jones: Baseball cards 1991

Tags

1991, Atlanta Braves, Baseball Card, Chipper Jones, Rookie

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.

Six Braves hit 20 home runs in the season (September 20, 2003)

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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.

 

Chipper Jones on his last game (October 5, 2012)

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2012, Chipper Jones, October 5, St. Louis Cardinals

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

 

Playing baseball in a football stadium (2011)

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.

New phenom on opening day (April 5, 2010)

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2010, April 5, Atlanta Braves, Carlos Zambrano, Chipper Jones, Jason Heyward, Turner Field

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.