Chipper Jones

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Full Name: Larry Wayne Jones Primary Position: 3B,OF,LF Height/Weight: 6' 3"/185 First Game: September 11, 1993 Birthdate: April 24, 1972 MLB Experience: 14 years Birthplace: Deland, Florida Bat/Throw: Both/Right

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[edit] Biography

Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972 in DeLand, Florida) is better known as Chipper Jones. He plays third base, but was a minor league shortstop and played outfield for part of his MLB career.

Jones was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 1990 amateur draft. He made a quick jump through the minotes to make his major league debut on September 11, 1993.

After sitting out the entire 1994 season with an ACL tear in his left knee, Jones came back strong in 1995, leading all major league rookies in RBI (86), games played (145), games started (123), plate appearances (602), at-bats (524), and runs scored (87). He eventually went on to win The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award, and finished second in the BBWAA Rookie of the Year balloting behind Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo.

In 1999, Jones won the National League MVP award after hitting .319 with 45 home runs and 110 RBI. Jones led the Braves to the World Series against the New York Yankees that year, in which the Braves were swept. He did, however, hit their only home run in the series, against Yankees starter Orlando Hernandez.

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 a hamstring pull in the early 2004 season, he moved back to 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 an 11-season career, Jones is a .303 hitter with 331 home runs and 1111 RBIs in 1651 games. Many consider Jones 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, arguably 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 give free up more money to pursue elite free agents, as well as virtually assure he will end his career in Atlanta. The revamped deal returns to the Braves fifteen million dollars over the course of the next three years, as well as six million to use in 2006. In return, the Braves converted two final team option years into guaranteed contracts.

Jones was selected to play in the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic. He hit a home run in his first at bat of the classic against Mexico, in fact prior to the at bat Chipper told a coach that he would hit a home run on the first strike he saw. This would be the game winning run for Team U.S.A. against Mexico.

On June 5, 2008 Jones hit the 400th home run of his career in a 7-5 victory over the Florida Marlins.

[edit] Awards and Accomplishments

• 5-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000-01)
• National League MVP (1999)
• 2-time Silver Slugger at 3rd Base (1999-2000)
• TSN Rookie of the Year (1995)
• 2008 NL batting title (.364 batting average)

[edit] Trivia

• Jones played baseball at The Bolles School, an elite North Florida prep school.
• Jones is an avid hunter and owns the Double Dime Ranch near Carrizo Springs, Texas.
• Jones' first wife, since divorced, was Karin (pronounced CAR-in) and his current wife is Sharon.
• In 1998, Jones was a subject of scandal due to his fathering of a child out of wedlock (with a Hooters waitress).
• Jones and his second wife (Sharon) have three children, Larry Wayne III (Trey), Tristen, and Shea, named after Shea Stadium, where Jones hit his first major league home run on May 9, 1995.
• Jones enters the batter's box to the Ozzy Osbourne song "Crazy Train".
• Is taunted at Shea Stadium with chants of "Lar-Ree", his first name

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• Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round (1st pick overall) of the free-agent draft (June 4, 1990 - signed June 4, 1990).

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