Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones is a Major League third baseman who has played his entire fifteen-season career with the Atlanta Braves.

Fast Facts:

1. Birth name: Larry Wayne Jones, Jr.
2. Hometown: DeLand, Florida
3. 1999 NL MVP
4. All-Star selections: 5

Early Career

A native of Florida, Jones was selected by the Braves as their first pick in the 1990 amateur draft. Although he debuted with the Braves in 1993, an ACL tear in 1994 caused him to miss the entire season. However, Jones made the following year count, by coming in second in National League Rooke of the Year balloting behind Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and by helping lead his team to their first World Series title since 1957.

Hit Parade

Throughout the rest of the decade, Jones established himself as one of the best hitters in the game, and almost without rival the best switch-hitter in the game. Between 1996 and 2003, Jones batted under .300 only once (he batted .295 in 1997, and clubbed over 21 home runs and 100 RBIs every year. In 1999, Jones won the National League Most Valuable Player Award for batting .319, with 45 homers and 110 RBIs. Jones continues to be a dominant and feared hitter today, and currently trails only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray on the all-time home run list for switch-hitters. He is considered a possible Hall of Fame candidate.

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