Chipper Jones, a cornerstone of Braves baseball and one of the greatest third basemen to ever play the game.
Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones was born on April 24, 1972, in DeLand, Florida, growing up in nearby Pierson. As a multi-sport athlete in high school, Jones had the opportunity to pursue college football at top programs like USC and the University of Florida. But he chose a different path, opting to stick with baseball. In 1990, the Braves selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, setting the stage for a legendary career.
At the time, the Braves were in the early stages of rebuilding, guided by future Hall of Famers Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz. By 1995, the plan had come to fruition. Jones had become the team’s starting third baseman, batting third in a lineup that would help deliver a World Series title to Atlanta that year. His bat, combined with the team’s dominant pitching, made the Braves an October staple. They made 11 consecutive trips to the postseason during Jones’ tenure.
But the hardware didn’t stop there. In 1999, Chipper took home the National League MVP Award after hitting a career-high 45 home runs. And remarkably, as he aged, he only seemed to get better. In 2008, at the age of 36, Jones won his first batting title, posting an incredible .364 average. He also led the NL in on-base percentage that year with a stellar .470 mark, proving that age was just a number for the slugger.
Over 19 seasons, all with the Braves, Jones amassed 2,726 hits, 468 home runs, and more walks (1,512) than strikeouts (1,409)—an incredible feat in the modern era of baseball. His 468 home runs remain the most by a National League switch-hitter, and his 1,623 RBIs are the highest for any player whose primary position was third base. An eight-time All-Star, Jones also finished in the Top 10 of MVP voting five times throughout his career.
Jones’ numbers alone are worthy of admiration, but what truly sets him apart is the respect he earned from peers. “All you ever want as a baseball player is the respect of your peers, whether it’s the people you play against or the people you play with,” Jones once said. “I can honestly say I have that, that it’s probably what I’m most proud of.”
In 2018, Chipper Jones was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. His name will forever be associated with the Braves’ dynasty years, but his impact goes far beyond the numbers. For fans of the game, Chipper represents a rare blend of talent, dedication, and respect for the sport—a true Hall of Famer in every sense.
