Famous Baseball Players
|
Base Ball Players
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972 in DeLand, Florida), better known as Chipper Jones, is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. He is considered one of the best pure hitters in baseball today, as well as one of the finest switch-hitters in baseball history. Jones debuted in 1993 and has played his entire career with the Braves.
Before the start of the 2002 season, Jones announced his willingness to move from third base to left field, a position he had last played in his rookie season in 1995, 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 and a hamstring pull in the early 2004 season, he moved back to his natural position of third base.
On August 16, 2004 Jones hit the 300th home run of his career in a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres.
In a 12-season career, Jones is a .304/.402/.542 hitter with 357 home runs, 1,070 walks and 1,197 RBIs in 1,761 games. He is behind only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray on the all-time switch hitters career home run list. He is considered one of the game's best all-around hitters.
He is the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career batting average and more than 300 home runs. Mickey Mantle, widely regarded as the greatest switch hitter of all time, ended his career with a .298 batting average.
Jones has emerged as a team leader in recent years and is well-respected in the clubhouse. Following the 2005 season, Jones reworked his contract with Braves to free up more money to pursue elite free agents, as well as virtually assure he will end his career in Atlanta. The revamped deal gave the Braves fifteen million dollars over the course of the next three years, as well as six million to use in 2006. The new deal also converted two final team option years to guaranteed contracts.
On June 10, 2006, Jones became the Atlanta Braves all-time RBI leader when he drove in his 1,144th RBI against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, passing former outfielder Dale Murphy. Jones remains behind Hank Aaron (2,202) and Eddie Mathews (1,388) on the franchise's all-time list.
On July 15, 2006, Jones recorded his 1,902 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.
On August 14, 2006, Chipper had his first career 3 home run game. Jones homered in his final three at bats in the Braves 10-4 win over the Washington Nationals. Jones finished the night 4-5 with 5 RBIs.
|
|