Happy Birthday, Chipper Jones!: Why You’re a First Ballot Hall of Famer
By John Buhler
Today we celebrate the 43rd Birthday of Braves Legend 3B Chipper Jones. In a marvelous nineteen seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Larry Wayne “Chipper” Jones instilled fear in the souls of thousands of National League pitchers from both sides of the plate. His ability to hit for power (468 Career Home Runs) and average (.303 Career Batting Average) puts him on a short list of all-time great switch hitters (Rod Carew, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Pete Rose).
Chipper Jones hit more home runs that the Royals’ George Brett, hit safely more times than the Phillies’ Mike Schmidt, and hit for a higher career average than the other great Braves 3B Eddie Mathews. Jones also holds an MLB record for most career RBI’s by a third baseman.
The 8x National League All-Star won the 2008 NL Batting Title, the 1999 MVP Award, and finished second in the 1995 NL Rookie of the Year voting to Japanese veteran right-hander Hideo Nomo. I doubt Chipper is overly concerned about not winning that award; his 1995 Atlanta Braves team won the World Series that season.
But when I look back on Chipper Jones’ illustrious career for the Atlanta Braves, I won’t just point to his impressive stat lines alone. I will remember how hard he played the game every summer at Turner Field. At the plate and in the field, he did whatever the Braves needed to have done for the team to win ball games.
While he falls short of the now-tainted 500 Home Run Club (468) and the always remarkable 3,000 Hit Club (2,726), who was a better face of a franchise in the National League during his era (1993-2012)? The only comparable franchise player of his era was New York Yankees SS Derek Jeter. DJ looks like a lock for Cooperstown and could garner a unanimous first ballot selection. So does Chipper Jones merit a first ballot selection?
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Of course, he does. When Chipper becomes eligible for selection for the first time in 2018, I would be appalled if Jones’ name isn’t listed on over 75% of all BBWAA ballots, the percentage required for enshrinement. Recent first ballot selections include the Braves pitching trio (Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine), White Sox slugger Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas, Diamondbacks fireballer Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson, and Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez. I envision Mariners outfield phenom Ken Griffey, Jr. and Padres lights-out closer Trevor Hoffman getting in on the first ballot next year.
Chipper Jones’ candidacy feels like a no-brainer to me. But it’s not up to me, as I am not a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. In the steroid era of baseball, Jones did it the right way and I expect #10 to have his plaque in The Hall on July 2018.