Chipper Jones
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Chipper_Jones_Mugshot.jpg
Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972 in DeLand, Florida), better known as Chipper Jones, is a Major League Baseball third baseman.
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 minors 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.
In 1998, Jones was a subject of scandal due to his fathering of a child -- with a Hooters waitress, not his wife Karin.
In 1999, Jones won the National League MVP award after hit .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.
Following the failure of the Braves to win the pennant the past two years, 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 adequete 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 traditional third base.
In an 11-season career Jones is a .304 hitter with 310 home runs and 1039 RBI in 1542 games. Today, he is considered one of the game's best all-around hitters.
Jones has emerged as a team leader in recent years and is well-respected in the clubhouse.
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Milestone
On August 16, 2004 Jones hit the 300th home run of his career in a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Awards and Records
- 5-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000-01)
- National League MVP (1999)
- 4-time Top 10 MVP (1996-98, 2000)
- 8-consecutive 100-RBI seasons (1996-2003)
- The Sporting News Rookie of the Year (1995)
Salary
During the 2005 seaon, Chipper Jones is the 10th highest paid player at $16,008,539.00.
Statistics
- Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
- Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
- Bats: Switch
- Throws: Right
External links
- Career statistics at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jonesch06.shtml)
- Player page at Baseball Library (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/J/Jones_Chipper.stm)
- Profile and daily update at ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5164)