Appreciate Chipper Jones while you still can — Aaron does
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Henry Aaron said he knew the Braves had made the right choice with Chipper Jones. (AJC photo)
(Updated: 2 p.m.)
Enjoy this season because it will be your last look.
Enjoy watching Chipper Jones because the chance to watch a first-ballot Hall of Famer – and if he’s not enshrined in his first year of eligibility, I’m surrendering my vote – just doesn’t come around very often.
Jones isn’t the best position player in Braves’ history. That’s only because there’s a guy named Henry Aaron ahead of him. Sometimes, being in second place is an honor — especially when the guy who is in first place is bowing in your direction.
“I remember when we took Chipper in the draft,” Aaron recalled Thursday. “There were a lot of people in the organization who thought we should take that pitcher [Todd Van Poppel]. But I saw star written all over Chipper, and I put my vote in. There were quite a few people involved in that decision. I can tell you this: Some are going to say now that they voted for Chipper, but I know they didn’t.”
These are how the fortunes of franchises can change.
In 1990, the Braves passed on Van Poppel, in part because he told the organization he wouldn’t sign with them. So they drafted Chipper Jones, who would go on to bat third for a World Series team as a rookie, win an MVP award and a batting title and amass seven All-Star selections. And counting. Van Poppel had an unspectacular, injury-plagued career that spanned six organizations (two of them twice) and ended eight years ago with a career ERA of 5.58 and less than four wins per season.
Jones got emotional, particularly when addressing teammates. (AP)
Jones’ career will start and end with the Braves. Enjoy him one final year. The Braves’ third baseman announced Thursday he will retire after this season. The decision was less a surprise than the timing, two weeks before the season opener. But Jones wanted to end speculation that might serve as a distraction for his team this season, particularly after some remarks he made last week to out-of-town reporters regarding his health were misinterpreted.
“There’s no set of circumstances that can persuade me to come back — no hedging,” Jones said, adding that he wanted to spend time with his family.
Believe it. He has been on the relative year-to-year plan for a while. But he was always prompted to come back because he believed he could still perform at a high level, he enjoyed playing with this current group of teammates and his desire to get back to another World Series still burned.
It wasn’t for the money, and here’s where we will address the loud and misguided ones.
Some fans have believed Jones should’ve retired long ago, suggesting his career extension was all about dollar signs. I believe Jones put it best last year when he said, “I still feel like I have something to offer, and the cynical fan can really kiss my ass. There’s a bunch of true fans, and the people who actually want to take the time to get to know me know who I am. The guy who sits in his mom’s basement and types on his mom’s computer, I couldn’t really care less about.”
Jones long has been under-appreciated. He deserves a statue outside of Turner Field — two if you want him batting both left- and right-handed.
Beyond the blur of statistical evidence, what he has brought to the team in leadership and help to young players can’t be measured. He has been an icon for the franchise and the city of Atlanta. We’ve had too few of those.
“I think many great players in Chipper’s era are under-appreciated, and the reason for that is the way the system is,” Aaron said. “Baseball is a lot different than it was 10, 15 years ago. People look at players, I guess, by the money they make. Chipper falls into that category of players who have not only meant a lot to the Braves but to the city. When you see a ballplayer like this come along and you watch him for 19 or 20 years, sometimes you don’t fully appreciate him until after he’s gone.”
Jones choked up at several times during Thursday’s news conference, particularly when he addressed his teammates.
“You kept me young, or at least as young as a 40-year-old man can be,” he said.
Jones knows the body is wearing down. Aaron, when asked to named Jones’ greatest attribute, said, “His determination. He has played through so many injuries.”
This will be your final chance to watch him and appreciate him. One player, one franchise, 23 years, 19 seasons. When it’s over, he deserves a bow.
By Jeff Schultz
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305 comments Add your comment
JSS
March 22nd, 2012
8:23 pm
The only person being creepy is you… I saw Jones spend his every off hour hanging around a shopping Mall (Macon Mall to be exact) trying impose his will on some stupid North Macon private school debutantes in front of our store. He was as sleazy Eugene Talmadge in a room of South GA Blue Dogs. I don’t expect a 19 year old to be a man and know when to zip it up… But hey, he could have been honest, most of ‘em would have stay given it up… He didn’t care, he trolled around Wesleyan acting like Karin Walford was the only one (and she didn’t have a clue)… But he was wearing FPD, MDS, Tatnall, and River North out like Tiger Woods (those are private schools in Macon) literally! He carried that same aw shucks boy next door crap all the way to Atlanta. Unfortunately he left a trail of carnage behind him… But hey, He didn’t care what he has doing… I don’t put athletes or celebrities on a pedestal… But hey, if you’re ass, just be honest with it!
I don’t care how far he can hit a baseball, nor that he can’t move to his left or right (and when he does disaster generally follows)! It is the Halll of Fame, not the Hall of Goodness or kindness… Some of are trying to make him a saint, he is as flawed as Bonds (he’s only missing the needles! So sure, celebrate what he was from 1995 to 2002 on the baseball field, it was a darn great run! But his mess of career since the Giants tore their manhood out in Fall of 02 is just the shell of what he did in 1998…
Zing
March 22nd, 2012
8:37 pm
You nailed it, Jeff. Chipper is one of those superstar guys that only come along once in a looooong while. I’ll miss seeing him play.
Mike S
March 22nd, 2012
8:53 pm
JSS- you still working at that same store in the Macon Mall? That’s what I thought.
Assclowns like you should be banned from the Internet all together.
STH
March 22nd, 2012
9:08 pm
A fitting tribute Sonny. Well done.
Billy
March 22nd, 2012
9:15 pm
I for one will miss watching Larry Wayne Jones in a Braves uniform after this season. I’m as guilty as anybody for dogging the man about his injuries in the past few years, but ballplayers with talent like that don’t come along very often and players who stay with one team their whole careers are quickly becoming an historical anachronism we should all admire. Anybody who wants to focus on the man’s past reputation off the field for being a hound dog is missing the point. If monogamy and political correctness were prerequisites for a place in Cooperstown, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb would be part of history’s trash heap. Like one blogger wrote earlier, it’s the Hall of Fame not the hall of goodness. Don’t denigrate a great (and steroid free) career by trying to sanctify or demonize the man, just smile, remember all those booming line drives and say thanks for the memories.
JSS
March 22nd, 2012
9:37 pm
@ Mike S…
You and your Chipper acolytes wish everyone that was “assclown” (great language, kind of like like your sleazy hero)… Sorry Bubba, moved on to bigger and better things and places and things! And who are you Al Gore? At least Al was funny! What’s your excuse PBR cooler locked up again? Call Billy, he doesn’t drink, maybe he can use his fake ID to score you some brew?
busterbrave
March 22nd, 2012
10:09 pm
The cynical fan who sits in their mothers’s basement,and types on their mother’s computer can KISS MY ASS !! Chipper,i think you put it as well as anyone could put it,and the majority of Braves fans agree whole hardly with you !!! take note; JSS, DEPLANE,BJ,JARED,SIG,TODD VAN POOPEL,DAILLY STINGER,SSGATOR, and the most appropriately named, NOT SOON ENOUGH. just to add a little something from me and my fellow Chipper jones’s Fans SUCK IT !!!!!!
NC
March 22nd, 2012
10:27 pm
Just watched Chipper’s retirement speech and Curt Schilling said some great things about Chipper. I felt very proud of Chipper and the respect he is being given in the media. To me that is how you measure a hometown hero. Did he represent our city and our way of life in a positive manner? In many ways, Chipper truly represents the southern way of living. He did his work and didn’t make too big of a deal about it. Some people (myself at times) mistook his lack of rah-rah as a lack of leadership. Now, I think Chipper really reflected the way that Bobby managed. They both played the game the right way. I’m going to miss watching Chipper and I hope he is either manager or at least the Braves hitting coach within the next ten years.
Shakey
March 22nd, 2012
10:28 pm
Bought my tickets for the last game of the season right after I heard the news. Thanks, Chipper.
perk
March 22nd, 2012
10:49 pm
helluva ball player!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
March 22nd, 2012
10:55 pm
Bring him back as hitting coach for life. Please.
Atown
March 22nd, 2012
11:02 pm
For a first ballot HOFer Chipper’s gotta be one of the more under-appreciated players in the game. As someone that has followed him from the day he was drafted, I think I speak for a lot of 20 and 30 somethings when I say this is a sad day and the signaling of the end of a golden era for the Braves. He was our Aaron, Murphy and the next generation’s JHey (hopefully).
di
March 22nd, 2012
11:09 pm
love him or hate him – the man could hit a single with his eyes closed if we needed it. We enjoyed a few seasons of his career where he single handedly destroyed the mets. He showed up in big games and if you read or listen to post games he knew the game inside and out. He’s an HOF just as Glavine, just as Smoltz, and just as Maddux. It will be a long time before we talk about HOF’s again so savor the moments.
Arnold Ziffel
March 22nd, 2012
11:19 pm
Chipper was more than fairly compensated for his contributions to the Braves. And no Chipper, I live in my own house and use my own computer and iPad .
LOL
March 22nd, 2012
11:23 pm
Dale Murphy?!!! – LOL!
That’s hilarious.
No offense…..growing up in Atlanta seen the Murph play many seasons………..and what a player but you guys are cracking me up comparing him to Chipper Jones. Maybe you guys just don’t understand so I’ll just use the one argument that will sum up everything I was going to write:
Chipper – 1st ballot HOF!!!!!!! Save your breath boys.
tree rollins
March 23rd, 2012
12:17 am
$14M for a .270 hitter and 18 home runs – the Chipper’s a bargain!
tree rollins
March 23rd, 2012
12:21 am
Glad we’re paying him for what he used to be rather than what he is- we can afford it! Heck, we didn’t need any free agents with that money – we got all the hitters we need right here.
tree rollins
March 23rd, 2012
12:24 am
I still say let’s bring Phil Neikro back for one more season to say goodbye to the league – but I think $10M ought to be enough for Phil. We don’t want to get crazy with the money!
tree rollins
March 23rd, 2012
12:30 am
I fell down in my basement Chipper and I can’t get up – can you help me?? I’ll throw a couple $M at you if you’ll help me out. What’s that you say – your knees hurt too much to bend over? Don’t worry about it – I’ll find somebody else to help.
mace224
March 23rd, 2012
3:06 am
He hit .364 at the age of 36. Mantle was on his last legs then.
mace224
March 23rd, 2012
3:30 am
Chipper, I hope you go out with another MVP season. I love the critics comments, while the true baseball experts laud the contributions you’ve made, not only to this organization, but to baseball in general. A lot of youngsters all across the country became Brave fans because of you. Overpaid? You can’t put a price on memories.
clay
March 23rd, 2012
3:58 am
Just don’t see how anyone could say anything bad about Chipper. What he has done for this organization is crazy. If he was worried about the money then he would play for another season since the team has an option on him. I have grown up watching Chipper. He is the only original brave left. It will be sad to watch him go, but atleast we have all year to enjoy him one last time. Let’s send him out on a high note fellas.
dhal22
March 23rd, 2012
4:01 am
I’ve said it for 15+ years and I’ll say it again. Todd Van Poppel, thank you so much for your immature decision 20 years ago. I have never forgotten your maneuverings with the University of Texas and Olympic baseball threats and never will. How great it was to see you fail so utterly all those years ago. You went from one of the highest rated prospects ever to being forced to remind even your closest neighbor that you used to play baseball. How was that career with the Athletics that you wanted so bad? Because of that we ended up with one of the greatest players ever, one day to be immortalized in the HOF. At least the end is near for you. Once Chipper retires, your name will disappear off our radar screen and you can go back to utter obscurity like the rest of us. While I’m thinking about it, check your bank account, make sure you have rent money covered for next month. Have a nice life.
creekman
March 23rd, 2012
7:44 am
Thanks Chipper for all the years you gave it your all for the Braves. I for one will miss seeing the #10 over on the corner. Both of my sons got to grow up watching you and of course you becoming their favorite player and they both wore the #10 in youth ball every year. Here’s to you staying healthy your last year and going out with a bang. We hope you will be a Braves coach for years to come.
Email Profiling Is Wrong
March 23rd, 2012
8:43 am
“I believe Jones put it best last year when he said, “I still feel like I have something to offer, and the cynical fan can really kiss my ass. There’s a bunch of true fans, and the people who actually want to take the time to get to know me know who I am. The guy who sits in his mom’s basement and types on his mom’s computer, I couldn’t really care less about.”
Here’s an unsolicited opinion for you Schultz – this article – otherwise very well done – could have done without you’re dredging up this rant from your exclusive interview with Jones.
I thought your words otherwise set the table pretty well for Chipper Jones’ final season. He is a great player and first ballot HoF’er who spent his entire career as an Atlanta Brave.
Revisiting his churlish remarks just reminds me (I guess I qualify as a basement-dwelling mama’s boy) why I have mixed feelings about the revered Mr. Jones.
And oh, by the way, those of us who don’t smell Chanel No 5 after Chipper’s left the stall buy Braves tickets too. Yo don’t have to like us Chipper, but a paying customer is a paying customer.
Congratulations Chipper Jones. You are, undeniably, an all-time great (baseball player).
blue
March 23rd, 2012
8:55 am
JSS…I’m sure you post some of your tripe just to feel self important, because you can’t really validate your statements by the numbers. For instance, you claim that after 2002, other than his .364 season, it was “hard to watch”. Here you go…but don’t let facts and numbers get in the way of your point. 2003: .305BA, 27HR, 106RBI, 2006: .324, 26, 86, 2007: 337, 29, 102. 2008: 364, 22, 75. Also, from 1998 to 2008, the guy had ONE season where his OBP was less than .400. Come on, JSS…validate your point with some numbers that indicate that for every season after 2002 he was “hard to watch”. Dolt…
Ignore the Haters
March 23rd, 2012
9:10 am
People like J S S and the others on here are prime examples of jealousy. When they were in Little League they were terrible. Could not catch a fly ball let alone hit a baseball. They could not get their own kids, if they are old enough, to make it for them so there is much hatred in them.
They have yet to appreciate someone that hd a great career so they instead of being happy for them they want to be bitter and knock them down. Chipper has to laugh at people like you because he made it and you did not. Bitter little people!
Thanks Chipper for the many years of service to the Braves. There are many more fans that appreciate you than are jealous of you. JSS, go back to your rock you crawled out of!
Joey
March 23rd, 2012
9:45 am
I doubt that we will see very much out of Chipper this season, he almost seems closer to 50 than 40. And when he strikes out looking with the bases loaded, or doesn’t even get out of his crouch when a grounder goes by, we will all think about what that $14M could have done for the Braves this season.
He was a gas to watch for his first dozen years, but the last few just seem like the typical story of a great player hanging around too long.
Thanks for the memories, Chip.
Larvell Blanks
March 23rd, 2012
9:55 am
Larvell, how many at bats did have in 04, 05, 06? You guys always run that one out there… Pujois had nearly 120-175 more at bats during that appearances! I won’t even get into plate appearances! Chipper just was MIA!
Well, first off, nobody is saying Chipper is as good as Pujols, but that’s hardly a slur, since you’d have a debate choosing between Pujols and Gehrig. (And Pujols is eight years younger, so I’d expect him to have fewer injuries). I was simply responding to your comment that the past 9 seasons have been “sad to watch” by showing that many of them have not been. If your point is simply that he missed games, and that’s sad, then you’re not going to get much disagreement. But I don’t think that was your point, since it’s kind of like saying “the sky is blue.”
And I was focusing on 2006-2008 as really good years, not 2004 (2005 was good, certainly not sad in terms of production when he was not injured). In 2006-2008, he had 477, 600, and 534 plate appearances — yes, he missed games, but not as many as you want to think, and when he was playing he was at the top of his game. Indeed, he was top 20 in MVP voting all three years, notwithstanding his missed games. I am not overtaken by sadness at that level of production.
Now for the past three years, I don’t think you’d get much disagreement that they have been pretty sad, particularly given how much of our budget he occupies.
13 Thoughts Headed into the Weekend | Nathan Beaver
March 23rd, 2012
10:34 am
[...] role he’s taken on in the last couple of years that has really endeared him to me (go HERE for another great [...]
bananajacket
March 23rd, 2012
10:58 am
JSS, are you serious about seeing Chipper “spending his every off hour”…? You don’t just sound bitter but very much like a stalker. Really hard to believe someone would post so much personal negativity on a blog. You are entitled to your opinions but, bless your heart, leave some space for others. Same advice for other haters.
Braves Fan
March 23rd, 2012
11:16 am
Bobby is gone.
Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz are gone.
Chipper is going.
Just doesn’t seem real without all of them.
JSS
March 23rd, 2012
11:17 am
Banana…
When a man (Jones) spends from 1PM to 9PM loitering in front of series of stores. Then you tell me who is the stalker? I did my job, unfortunately, you and your type don’t seem to understand that point… But hey, most of you sloppy seconds…
Skeezix
March 23rd, 2012
11:30 am
If you don’t understand and appreciate Chipper’s place in not only Braves history, but all of MLB history–then you just don’t know a heck of a lot about baseball.
Olde fan
March 23rd, 2012
11:31 am
Every successful team has one “golden” player, and Chipper has been that since day one. He’s been “Our Boy”. I feel like I know him, it’s been so long. The team won’t be the same without him. We are going to miss him more than we think. Thanks, Chipper, it has indeed been golden.
JSS
March 23rd, 2012
12:04 pm
“Come on, JSS…validate your point with some numbers that indicate that for every season after 2002 he was “hard to watch (?). Dolt (Use that when you learn how use a question mark)…”
When only play an average of .70% of all games for 7 of your last 10 years played. It is sad to watch.
When your defensive appearances drop in your last eight seasons to 126 out of 162, 101 out of 162, 105 out of 162, 126 out of 162, 115 out of 162, 133 out of 162, 89 out of 162, 116 out of 162 games, it is sad to watch.
That Chipper Jones finished in top 20 in MVP voting in a year where he missed more than 50 games played is an indictment of the Baseball Writers who voted for him…
The saddest thing about the Sabermatic freaks, you’ve forgotten that it is a two way game in the National League… You only at games, you never look to see if he started, just pinch hit, or pinch run (laughing because it Jones that I’m talking about)…
JSS
March 23rd, 2012
12:12 pm
I appreciate that he was novelty… He was a switch hitter and the third best one in the history of the game… And due to the Braves insistence to play Jeff Blauser at shortstop, he got to play third and establish himself there in the post Mike Schmidt/ pre Scott Rollen period of National League third basemen… But that Chipper Jones has only been a shell of that player since midway thru 2004. Of course the revisionist and Sabermatic freaks will say otherwise, but it is that, and no more…
Dawglasville
March 23rd, 2012
1:07 pm
I am proud of Chipper. I gained more respect for him on the backside of his career. At first he reminded me of Piaza. Great hitter, couldn’t field his position. In the debate of Jones vs Jones I always fell on the side of Andruw because he took great pride in his defense. I was also a huge Smoltz fan, so when he got on Chipper’s case I felt it was justified. That said, I appreciate the fact that he took less money and that he went to LF for the team. Mac won’t do it. I appreciate the fact that he worked harder on his defense. He was a much better third baseman when he came back from the outfield. You guys who hate Chipper and Bobby can steam over it when they enter Cooperstown on the first try.
SSIgator
March 23rd, 2012
1:25 pm
JSS -
Maybe you should save your breath. I used to think that the hard-core KoolAid drinkers were only on the UGA football sites. Turns out there are a whole bunch of them on the “I Love Chipper” train (very similar to the “I Love Mark Richt” train) as well. Logic or facts will not change them or convince them otherwise.
St Simons - we're on Island time
March 23rd, 2012
1:40 pm
He won’t be able to pull up that 0.091 avg when the game is on the line
by coming back for jus one year%^& OOPS broke a nail – out for 15 wks
Mako
March 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
I’ve busted on Jones for the last couple of years, I will not continue since this is his last year. No more Chumper or Slipper comments. The hardest part for so many fans is realizing that the Jones we have today is not the same Jones of 1999 or the early 2000’s, age and time do take a toll.
GB
March 23rd, 2012
2:15 pm
JSS SHUT UP YOU DONT KNOW NOTHING ALL THOSE BIG WORDS AND YOU STILL DUMB CHIPPER JUST WON THE BATTING TITLE TWO YEARS AGO WHAT TH HELL ARE YOU TALKING BOUT YOU TOO MAKO
Grantland Rice
March 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
My favorite memory of Chipper is how he has always been able to stick it the Mets. Hope he does it again his final year.
Loosing Managar = Loosing Record
March 23rd, 2012
3:08 pm
Chiper needed 2 go along time a go. He hurt the devlopmental of the young palyers that will take his place. Chipper is way 2 shelfish and has hurt this team.
JASon
March 23rd, 2012
5:26 pm
Chipper Jones is a piece of crap.
He is a great hitter but kills the team with his attitude and horrible motivational skills. He’s so negative. I believe Chipper is one of the main reasons this team sucks every September and, when applicable, October. The only other reasons is bobby cox, and thank god once they are both gone we can actually build the team’s mental strength, because lord knows the talent is there.
Jim S.
March 23rd, 2012
5:27 pm
Thanks to Chipper for a Hall of Fame career and the fact that he’s played all of his years with our hometown team. It is rarely seen these days. I’ll catch extra home games this year with my boys in hopes of seeing Chipper hit just a few more times. Here’s hoping he goes out with at least a 20/75/.280 year. Either way, he’s most appreciated.
CECIL UPSHAW
March 23rd, 2012
6:35 pm
My only gripe with larry was that HE could have prolonged his career & more than likely had less injuries IF he’d worked hired a trainner in the offseason!! HOF…NOT a doubt!! BETTER STATS had he trained in the offseason……….WITHOUT QUESTION!!!
Orlandobrave
March 23rd, 2012
6:39 pm
That picture up-top says it all. I hope Chipper has a good year, if not, a first time hall-of-famer.
Go Braves, I bet Chipper is a hitting coach soon…
Much cash
March 23rd, 2012
8:36 pm
I will visit the hall of fame once. When Larry makes his speech
Gregg Allman
March 23rd, 2012
8:38 pm
Chipper and me ate some cracklin cornbread, pinto beans with ham chunks and some onion one time.