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The nickname "Chipper" came from family members who felt he was a "chip-off-the-old-block" of his father.
The nickname "Chipper" came from family members who felt he was a "chip-off-the-old-block" of his father.


Jones met his first wife, Karin Fulford,<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1017185/2/index.htm Switched On: With added power from the right side and his usual pop from the left, Atlanta's Chipper Jones has put on a clutch-hitting clinic worthy of an MVP]</ref> while he was playing with the Braves class A affiliate in [[Macon, Georgia]]. The couple married in 1992 and later divorced after it was revealed that Jones had had an 18-month extramarital affair with a [[Hooters]] waitress which produced a son, Matthew, born in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chipperjones.com/news0320051.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070404124634/http://www.chipperjones.com/news0320051.html|archivedate=April 4, 2007|publisher=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 4, 2005|last=Maese|first=Rick|accessdate = April 24, 2007|title=Feeling just Chipper: Despite his youthful persona, the popular Braves star acknowledges his advancing years.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='I've messed up royally': Braves' Jones admits fathering out-of-wedlock child |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1998/10/22/jones_paternity/|date=October 22, 1998|publisher=[[CNNSI.com]]|agency=Associated Press|accessdate = April 24, 2007}}</ref>
Jones met his first wife, Karin Fulford,<ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1017185/2/index.htm Switched On: With added power from the right side and his usual pop from the left, Atlanta's Chipper Jones has put on a clutch-hitting clinic worthy of an MVP]</ref> while he was playing with the Braves class A affiliate in [[Macon, Georgia]]. The couple married in 1992 and later divorced after it was revealed that Jones had had an 18-month extramarital affair with a [[Hooters]] waitress named Bart Nance which produced a son, Matthew, born in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chipperjones.com/news0320051.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070404124634/http://www.chipperjones.com/news0320051.html|archivedate=April 4, 2007|publisher=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=March 4, 2005|last=Maese|first=Rick|accessdate = April 24, 2007|title=Feeling just Chipper: Despite his youthful persona, the popular Braves star acknowledges his advancing years.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='I've messed up royally': Braves' Jones admits fathering out-of-wedlock child |url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/1998/10/22/jones_paternity/|date=October 22, 1998|publisher=[[CNNSI.com]]|agency=Associated Press|accessdate = April 24, 2007}}</ref>


He married Sharon Logonov in March 2000 in [[Pierson, Florida]]. They have three sons: Larry Wayne III (Trey), Tristen, and Shea, named after Shea Stadium because of Chipper's great success in the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1871546&type=story|title=Jones has 17 home runs at Shea Stadium|author=[[ESPN]] news services|work=ESPN.com|date=August 31, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/fdcp?1282610122742|title= Chipper Jones is sad to see Shea Stadium go after this season|date=July 14, 2008|first=Adam|last=Rubin|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref>
He married Sharon Logonov in March 2000 in [[Pierson, Florida]]. They have three sons: Larry Wayne III (Trey), Tristen, and Shea, named after Shea Stadium because of Chipper's great success in the stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1871546&type=story|title=Jones has 17 home runs at Shea Stadium|author=[[ESPN]] news services|work=ESPN.com|date=August 31, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/fdcp?1282610122742|title= Chipper Jones is sad to see Shea Stadium go after this season|date=July 14, 2008|first=Adam|last=Rubin|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref>

Revision as of 19:19, 19 July 2011

Chipper Jones
Jones playing for the Braves against the Padres in 2009.
Atlanta Braves – No. 10
Third Baseman/Outfielder
Born: (1972-04-24) April 24, 1972 (age 52)
DeLand, Florida
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
debut
September 11, 1993, for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics
(through July 16, 2011)
Batting average.304
Home runs444
Runs batted in1,537
Hits2,565
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972) is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves. In 2002 and 2003, Jones primarily played left field, before returning to third base in 2004.

Jones debuted in 1993, and has played his entire career with the Atlanta Braves. Chipper won the 1999 National League Most Valuable Player Award, as well as the 1999 and 2000 National League Silver Slugger Award for third basemen. He currently holds the Braves team record for career on base percentage (.406), and on July 5, 2007, he passed Dale Murphy for third place on the Braves all-time career home run list.

In his career, through the 2010 season, Jones is a .306 hitter with 437 home runs, 1,404 walks, and 1,500 RBI in 2,261 games. He is behind only Eddie Murray on the all-time switch hitters career RBI list. He is considered one of the game's best all-around hitters, and one of the best switch hitters in the history of the game.[1][2] He is the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career (.306 at the end of the 2010 season) batting average and 400 or more home runs.

Baseball career

High school and minor leagues

Attended Taylor High School in Pierson, Florida until the ninth grade when he moved to Jacksonville. After he completed his high school career at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, Jones was selected by the Atlanta Braves with the 1st pick overall in the 1990 amateur draft.[3] Jones then played three years in the Braves Minor League system before making his major league debut. During this time, he was involved in a bench clearing brawl with future Major League stars Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome. Thome and Jones would eventually go on to develop a good friendship over the years.[4]

Early major league career (1993–98)

Jones debuted on September 11, 1993, as the youngest player in the league. In 1994, he had been expected to compete for the starting left field job after veteran Ron Gant broke his leg during an offseason dirt bike accident, but Jones suffered an ACL tear in his left knee in spring training. As a result, he missed the entire 1994 season.[5]

In 1995, Jones led all major league rookies in RBIs (86), games played (145), games started (123), plate appearances (602), at bats (524), and runs scored (87). That year, he finished second in the Baseball Writers' Rookie of the Year balloting behind Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo.[6] In addition to achieving a level of personal success, Jones participated in the 1995 World Series. The Braves won the series in six games over the Cleveland Indians. He also participated in the 1996 World Series, in which the New York Yankees defeated the Braves in 6 games.

In 1998, Jones came in 9th in the voting for NL MVP,[7] as he scored 123 runs and had 96 walks (both 4th best in the league).

MVP season (1999)

In 1999, Jones won the National League MVP award after becoming the first player to hit over .300 (.319) while slugging 40 or more home runs (45; 3rd in the NL) and doubles (41), drawing 100 or more walks (126; 3rd in the league), notching 100 or more RBIs (110) and Runs scored (116), and stealing 20 or more bases (25).[8] He was also walked intentionally 18 times; 2nd in the league, and his .633 slugging percentage was 4th best in the NL. A major factor in his selection as MVP was his performance against the Braves' chief competitors, the New York Mets. The Braves led the National League East by only one game as they entered a three-game September series against the Mets, the team that was right on their heels. Atlanta swept the series at Turner Field, though, largely thanks to Jones, who hit four home runs and drove in seven of the thirteen runs that the Braves scored. For the season, he hit .400 with a .510 on-base percentage, a 1.000 slugging percentage, and seven home runs against the Mets. During the 1999 NLCS, Jones drew the ire of Mets fans by saying, "Now, all the Mets fans can go home and put their Yankees' stuff on."[9] In the playoffs, Jones led the Braves to the World Series against the New York Yankees, in which the Braves were swept. He did, however, hit their only home run in the series, against Yankees' starter Orlando Hernández.[10]

2000–05

Jones signed a six-year, $90 million deal in 2000.[11] Jones batted .330 in 2001, 5th best in the league, and led the league with a .349 road batting average. On his birthday, he hit two home runs.[12] On defense, however, his range factor of 2.14 placed him last among the regular major league third basemen who qualified for the fielding ranking.[13]

In 2001, a season of flux for the Braves who had won consecutive division titles since their 1995 World Series victory without winning again, Jones was involved in a public "lingering feud" with former teammate John Rocker. Rocker referred to Jones on the radio by saying "Chip's white trash" and "as two-faced as they came." By late June the two claimed the feud had been put to bed.[14]

Before the start of the 2002 season, Jones announced his willingness to move from third base to left field, to make room for the incoming Vinny Castilla. Jones proved adequate in left field, but following two more early playoff exits in 2002 and 2003, a hamstring pull in the early 2004 season and (then) 3rd baseman Mark DeRosa's struggles, he moved back to his regular position of third base.

In 2002, he batted .327, again 5th best in the NL. Jones was 3rd in the league with a .435 on base percentage. On August 16, 2004, he hit the 300th home run of his career in a 5–4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Following the 2005 season, Jones reworked his contract with the Braves—freeing up money for the Braves to pursue elite free agents, while virtually assuring he will end his career in Atlanta. The revamped deal gave the Braves $15 million over the course of the next three years, as well as $6 million to use in 2006. The new deal also converted two final team option years to guaranteed contracts.

2006

World Baseball Classic

Jones was selected to play in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic (along with Braves teammate Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann). He hit a home run in his first at bat of the Classic against Mexico off of former Atlanta Braves teammate Oscar Villarreal, who was with the team from 2006–07. Jones went 6–17 with a double and two homers in the tournament.

MLB season

The 2006 season was one of numerous milestones for Jones. On June 10, he became the Atlanta Braves' all-time RBI leader when he drove in his 1,144th run against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, passing former outfielder Dale Murphy and placing Jones third on the franchise's all-time list (including Braves teams based in Boston and Milwaukee), behind Hank Aaron (2,202) and Eddie Mathews (1,388).

On July 15, 2006, Jones recorded his 1,902nd career hit, to become the Atlanta Braves' all-time hits leader, passing Hank Aaron. The next day he hit a home run to extend his extra-base hitting streak to 14 games, matching the Major League record set by Pittsburgh's Paul Waner in 1927.[15] A month later, on August 14, Jones had his first career three-home run game. Jones homered in his final three at bats in the Braves' 10–4 win over the Washington Nationals, finishing the night 4-for-5 with 5 RBI.

Despite successes at the plate, injuries dogged Jones throughout the season and for the first time in his career, the Braves failed to qualify for postseason play.

2007

2007 was another year of impressive feats by Jones. On June 16, he hit a single in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians for his 2,000th career hit. On July 5, Jones tied and passed Braves legend Dale Murphy for first on the all-time Atlanta Braves home run list when he belted his 371st and 372nd home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.[16] This game was also the first time he hit homers from both sides of the plate since 2000.[16] The next day, he had his 400th career double in the ninth inning against San Diego Padres pitcher Kevin Cameron, who had previously only allowed one extra-base hit all year. On July 29, Jones matched a career-high with 5 RBIs as the Braves shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks 14–0. He accomplished the feat again on August 23 against the Cincinnati Reds. In the fifth inning of an August 9 game at Shea Stadium, Jones hit a towering three-run homer to right field off Mets starter John Maine. It would later be measured at 470 feet.

Jones finished the season 1st in the NL in times reached base on an error (14) and in OPS (1.029), 2nd in batting average (.337), and 3rd in OBP (.425) and SLG (.604). He was also sixth in MVP voting, his highest finish since winning the award in 1999.

Jones with the Braves in 2008

While the Braves enjoyed some early successes, injuries to the pitching staff spoiled the ample contributions from Atlanta's potent offense. While the Braves posted a winning record, they finished third in the National League East, and sat out the postseason.

He opened the Chipper Jones' 10th Inning Baseball Academy in Suwanee, Georgia, in late 2007.

2008

Jones swings at a pitch.

Jones began the 2008 season where he left off in 2007, hitting over .400 in April while slugging 7 home runs. He also had back-to-back games in which he hit two home runs. Despite these accomplishments, he ultimately lost the NL Player of the Month award in April to Chase Utley. On June 13, Jones was hitting .414 with 15 home runs, but his average dropped to .393 by June 22.

He hit his 400th home run on June 5 off Ricky Nolasco of the Florida Marlins, and he was named NL Player of the Week for the week of June 2 – 8. He was picked to start in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, receiving the most votes by fans, managers, and other players of any NL third basemen. Jones won his first batting title at age 36, the oldest switch-hitter to win a batting title. Jones hit .364 during 2008, one point off the all-time switch-hitter high for a season of .365, set by Mickey Mantle.

In 2008, Jones tied a MLB record for most consecutive 20+ home run seasons to start a career (14).[17]

2009

In December 2008, Jones accepted an invitation to play for the USA team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He played alongside teammate Brian McCann. Jones was scratched from an elimination game in the 2009 World Baseball Classic after straining his right oblique muscle, while playing for team USA. The announcement came an hour before the game was to be played against team Netherlands. As reported by CBC News on March 13, 2009, Jones criticized Toronto and the play schedule of the World Baseball Classic.[18]

On March 31, 2009, Jones agreed to a three-year $42 million contract extension with the Braves; the deal includes an option that could become worth up to $61 million over four seasons.[19]

On May 28, against the Giants and Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Jones struck out four times in one game for the first time in his career.

In 2009, he was ranked #10 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Baseball Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, were polled to compile at the list.[20]

In 2009, Jones led all major league third basemen in errors, with 22, and had the lowest fielding percentage of any starting major league third baseman (.930).[21]

2010

Jones before a Spring Training game

Jones got off to a poor start in 2010 and met with Atlanta Braves management in June to discuss possible retirement at the end of the season. However, his performance improved as the season progressed. Jones season came to an end after he was injured in a game against the Houston Astros; on August 12, 2010, injury reports indicated that he had torn the ACL in his left knee, and would require surgery. He stated in his August 13 press conference, "I don't want the fans' final image of me to be one of me hurt on the field". Atlanta Braves, general manager Frank Wren told David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Jones would likely be ready for Opening Day stating "I think he’s progressed very well. He had a setback earlier in the winter when he was away for a week–I think he was actually on a hunting trip–and he was not doing the [leg] lifts. But as soon as he got back on his weights, he was fine. Right now, talking to the trainers, he should not have any restrictions coming into spring training."[22]

2011

Jones made good progress with his rehab and took part in spring training. He was in the Braves' opening day lineup against the Nationals, getting the first hit and scoring the first run of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.[23]

On April 8, 2011, Chipper hit his 2,500th base hit in the Braves' home opener versus the Philadelphia Phillies.[24] His former manager Bobby Cox was in attendance.

On April 13, 2011, Chipper recorded his 1500th RBI against the Florida Marlins, with a solo home run off Randy Choate. On April 26, 2011, Chipper recorded his 500th Double against the San Diego Padres. In the game he also tied Mickey Mantle for second most RBIs all time by a switch hitter.

On April 27, 2011, Jones passed Mickey Mantle and moved into sole possession of second place among switch-hitters with 1,512 RBI after a long 3-run stand up triple, helping the Braves beat the San Diego Padres 7-0.[25]

Jones suffered from a torn meniscus in his right knee for much of the first half of the 2011 season, and received cortisone shots in an attempt to manage the pain. When this became ineffective, he elected to undergo arthroscopic surgery and was placed on the disabled list on July 9, 2011.[26]

Accomplishments

  • 1st pick overall in the 1990 amateur draft
  • TSN Rookie of the Year (1995)
  • 7-time All-Star (1996–98, 2000–01, 2008, 2011)
  • National League MVP (1999)
  • 2-time Silver Slugger at 3rd base (1999–2000)
  • Holds the Major League record for most consecutive games with an extra-base hit (14; tied with Paul Waner).
  • 8 consecutive 100+ RBI seasons (1996–2003)
  • 14 consecutive 20+ home run seasons (1995–2008); tied for MLB record with Eddie Mathews for most 20+ home run seasons to start a career
  • Most home runs in a season by a National League switch hitter (45; in 1999; since tied by Lance Berkman)
  • Third-most home runs for a switch hitter, behind Eddie Murray (504) and Mickey Mantle (536)
  • Hit the first home run at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (2008)
  • 400 Home Runs (hit 400th off Ricky Nolasco of the Florida Marlins) (June 5, 2008)
  • Most Home Runs to begin a career playing under one manager (Bobby Cox)
  • NL Player of the Week (June 2–8, 2008)
  • 2008 NL (and MLB) Batting Champ with .364
  • 2008 Highest On Base Percentage with .470
  • 29-game hitting streak vs the Philadelphia Phillies
  • 2,500 hits.
  • 1,500 runs batted in.
  • 500 doubles.

Personal life

The nickname "Chipper" came from family members who felt he was a "chip-off-the-old-block" of his father.

Jones met his first wife, Karin Fulford,[27] while he was playing with the Braves class A affiliate in Macon, Georgia. The couple married in 1992 and later divorced after it was revealed that Jones had had an 18-month extramarital affair with a Hooters waitress named Bart Nance which produced a son, Matthew, born in 1997.[28][29]

He married Sharon Logonov in March 2000 in Pierson, Florida. They have three sons: Larry Wayne III (Trey), Tristen, and Shea, named after Shea Stadium because of Chipper's great success in the stadium.[30][31]

Jones enjoys deer hunting in the offseason.[citation needed]

In 2008, Jones released a charity wine called "Chipper Chardonnay", with 100% of the proceeds supporting the Miracle League, an organization serving children with disabilities.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sporting News – Your expert source for MLB Baseball, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and Fantasy Sports scores, blogs, and articles
  2. ^ Kuenster, John (2000). "Chipper Jones Moves Up Among Major Leagues' Best Switch-Hitters". Baseball Digest.
  3. ^ About Chipper Jones, An Introduction to my Life, chipperjones.com.
  4. ^ http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olney_buster&id=6173553&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fmlb%2fblog%3fname%3dolney_buster%26id%3d6173553
  5. ^ "Jones at imdb.com". Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  6. ^ "1995 ROY Voting". Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  7. ^ Baseball Awards Voting for 1998 – Baseball-Reference.com
  8. ^ "Chipper Jones #10 3B". ESPN.com.
  9. ^ James, Michael. "BRAVES TO FANS: SHUT UP," Daily News (New York City), Friday, October 11, 1999.
  10. ^ Baseball Almanac page on 1999 World Series, Note home run mentioned in text and Composite Hitting Statistics table
  11. ^ Chipper Jones@Everything2.com
  12. ^ SABR : Multiple Home Runs On Birthdays
  13. ^ [1][dead link]
  14. ^ "Jones apologizes to Rocker". CBC News. June 28, 2001.
  15. ^ "Chipper Jones from the Chronology". BaseballLibrary.com. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  16. ^ a b Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers game recap, AP, July 5, 2007.
  17. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 24, 2009). "Chipper on verge of historical feat". MLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2009.
  18. ^ Canadian, Press (March 18, 2009). "Chipper Jones blasts Toronto, WBC". CBC News. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  19. ^ Associated Press (March 31, 2009). "Jones, Braves Agree to Extension". SI.com. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  20. ^ Braun makes greatest list – JSOnline
  21. ^ MLB Player Fielding Stats – As 3b – 2009, ESPN, accessed October 6, 2009.
  22. ^ O'brien, David. "Updates on Chipper, Prado, Kawakami | Atlanta Braves." Blogs about Atlanta News, Sports and More | Ajc.com, AccessAtlanta.com. 6 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2011/01/06/updates-on-chipper-prado-kawakami/>.
  23. ^ Chipper gets 1st hit, Heyward 1st HR of new season
  24. ^ A milestone for Chipper: Hit No. 2,500
  25. ^ [2]
  26. ^ Braves place Jones on DL, scheduled for surgery today
  27. ^ Switched On: With added power from the right side and his usual pop from the left, Atlanta's Chipper Jones has put on a clutch-hitting clinic worthy of an MVP
  28. ^ Maese, Rick (March 4, 2005). "Feeling just Chipper: Despite his youthful persona, the popular Braves star acknowledges his advancing years". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 4, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  29. ^ "'I've messed up royally': Braves' Jones admits fathering out-of-wedlock child". CNNSI.com. Associated Press. October 22, 1998. Retrieved April 24, 2007.
  30. ^ ESPN news services (August 31, 2004). "Jones has 17 home runs at Shea Stadium". ESPN.com.
  31. ^ Rubin, Adam (July 14, 2008). "Chipper Jones is sad to see Shea Stadium go after this season". New York Daily News.

23. Chipper Jones Statistics on ESPN

24. Update on Chipper

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chipper Jones.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by First overall pick in the MLB Entry Draft
1990 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year
1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Raúl Mondesí
 Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie
1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman
1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by National League Most Valuable Player
1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by National League Batting Champion
2008 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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