Well that happened. 19 years went by and the young guy
playing third base for the Atlanta Braves turned into an old man who cast the
shadow of a legend. In the era of free agency when players switch jerseys every
time they sign a new contract, Larry “Chipper” Jones became a Braves player,
stayed a Braves player and will forever remain a Braves legend. #10 will
forever hang above the crowd and in our memories. Thank you Chipper!
Now Chipper has his detractors to be sure, but his career
numbers don’t lie. As I’ve always said: “Haters gonna Hate, but put up the
numbers and they’ll just call you Great.” (Ok, I’ve never said that and just
made that up).
Anyway, just look at these:
8 Time All-Star
2 Silver Slugger Awards
1999 NL MVP
2008 NL Batting Champion
Jones ended his career in 2012 as a .303 hitter with 468
home runs, 1,512 walks, and 1,623 RBI in 2,499 games with 8,984 at bats. He has
the most career RBIs for a third baseman. He is also behind only Eddie
Murray on the all-time switch hitters career RBI list and he is the only
switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career batting
average and 400 or more home runs. Jones
also joined Stan Musial, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig as the only
players in Major League history to record at least 2,500 hits, 1,500 walks,
1,500 runs, 500 doubles, 450 home runs and 1,500 RBIs while hitting .300 with a
.400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage.
SO THERE!!!
Baseball is all about the numbers and Chipper put up his
numbers over 19years. So I was really happy to be there this past Friday night
when the Braves retired his number and he got to parade around Turner Field one
last time. Chipper’s will be the last of the 90s team to be retired and the
last for a really long time for this franchise. First Maddux, then Glavine, Cox
and Smoltz and finally Chipper. All five names that I’ll remember for the rest
of my days and Braves fans will always honor. Heroes to my generation; legends
for generations to come.
Really other than that, not a whole lot happened this past
weekend. I had fun at the game with my oldest pal Dave and his wife Cuyler.
Cuyler by the way has the trick to saving money at the ballpark and will
forever be remembered as the woman who from this day forth will save me tons of
cash when I go to Braves games! (Sorry, I would tell you what it is, but I’m
afraid if too many people know, they’ll ban us from the ballpark.)
Until next week dear reader, Play Ball!
1 comment:
... and they weren't just heroes for a generation of young lads in the South. TBS broadcast every one of their games (at least it seemed like it) across the nation. I remember spending the night at friends' houses during the summer, turning on the boob tube as the sun went down and watching the Braves play a ballgame. I couldn't do this at home 'cause we never had cable; but, every time I was in town....
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