A Special Time for a Special Player

By Trey Cosby

If you were paying attention to baseball back in the late 1980s then chances are good that you heard the name Larry Wayne Jones.  A skinny, wiry, five-tool player from Deland, Fla. who was setting the world on fire with his outstanding play at shortstop, as his sizzling bat was making cartoon characters out of opposing pitchers.  Dangerous from both sides of the plate even at a young age, you could tell that this kid had a chance to be something special later on in life.  A Chipper Jones jersey was mandatory apparel for anyone loving baseball in Atlanta in the 80's, along . If you have been following baseball since the 1980s, then the fact is that you have been hiding under a rock or been confined to a hospital bed without television if you haven’t heard of the name “Chipper Jones.”

Blessed with unbelievable natural ability and keen vision, Jones made his way through the high school ranks as the No. 1 player in the entire country.  He could hit for average, hit for power, run like the wind, field the ball like Brooks Robinson and throw absolute seeds to first base from any spot on the field.  Every team in the Major Leagues wanted a shot at this kid, but only one team was going to be able to cash in on this amazing phenom. Today, a Chipper Jones rookie card still commands a high price at auction, as do most Chipper Jones cards.

With the first pick in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft the Atlanta Braves chose Chipper Jones.  It was impossible to know what the future had in store, but early indications were that this kid could handle anything. 

Chipper Jones was born on April 24, 1972, in Deland. He played high school baseball at Jacksonville Bolles High School and bypassed college to go straight to playing professionally. After spending three years in the minor leagues, Jones made his first major league appearance in 1993, playing in a total of eight games that year and collecting two hits in three at bats. Jones missed the entire 1994 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, but he returned to the Braves and produced in a big way in 1995 by hitting 23 homeruns, driving in 86 RBIs and helping the Braves capture a World Series title. Getting your hands on a Chipper Jones baseball was a serious accomplishment in 1995.

Jones has spent his entire career in an Atlanta Braves cap, consistently posting impressive numbers every season. Since missing the 1994 season, Jones has hit over 20 home runs every year, more than 30 home runs six times and over 40 home runs once; he has driven in over 100 RBIs nine times, including eight consecutive seasons from 1996 to 2003, and batted over .300 nine times. A Chipper Jones bat is a great gift for any Braves fan. Jones has been a five-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, NL MVP in 1999, and World Series champion in 1995. His career totals through 2007 included a .307 batting average, 386 home runs, 2,117 hits, 1,299 RBIs and 425 doubles.

Jones has had longevity as well, although he has spent quite a bit of time on the DL the last three years.

Now at the age of 36, Jones is setting the world on fire once again.  His numbers are completely staggering.  With an unheard of batting average of .417 at this late point in the season, he is knocking on the door to making history.  Jones spends hours upon hours a week studying opposing pitchers and watching video as he works on his mechanics.  His work ethic is a mirror image of what Tony Gwynn used to do, and the results are starting to look like Gwynn’s as well.

Jones is stepping into the record books.  There is no doubt that he will wear his Atlanta Braves hat into the hall of fame.  The purpose of this article is to open people’s eyes as to what kind of player we are watching.  If you get the chance anywhere, go and see Chipper Jones play baseball.  As it stands right now, Jones has the chance to become one of the top 10 best hitters of all time.  He has a very legitimate chance of batting .400 this year: A feat that is so rare that we don’t even need to mention another word about it.  His slugging percentage is astounding; his balance from both sides of the plate is sickening.  HE IS ACTUALLY BATTING OVER .400 FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE PLATE! To be able uphold the consistency he is employing this late in the season is incredible.

Grab a hold of all the Chipper Jones memorabilia that you can get your hands on, because in the near future it is going to be worth a fortune.  At this age, I can see him sticking around maybe until he is 40.  As his play continues to speak for itself week after week, his stock is going to rise as well.  There are signed jerseys out there, signed baseballs, signed posters and plaques and signed bats.  If you look hard enough you can find signed banners and other novelties.  Anything that has Chipper Jones’ legitimate signature on it, snag it and don’t let go of it.

The skinny, wiry natural from Deland has lived up to his billing all these years later.  We are truly watching one of the greatest players to ever play the game.  By the time his career is over, we will undoubtedly be talking about him in the same sentences that we use Ted Williams, Pete Rose, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs.  Until we meet again…