Chipper Jones Announces Retirement

On Thursday Atlanta Braves 3rd baseman Chipper Jones announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2012 Major League Baseball season. For Jones this season marks his 19th MLB season and his 23rd in professional baseball.

The Atlanta Braves made Chipper Jones, a high school shortstop, the first overall pick of the 1990 amateur draft.

Jones made his MLB debut on September 11, 1993. He was slated to be the Braves starting left-fielder in 1994 but in late spring training he tore the ACL in his left knee and missed the entire season.

Jones came back strong in 1995 and led all major league rookies in games played (140), games started (123), runs batted in (86), homeruns (23), plate appearances (602), at-bats (524) and runs scored (87). He finished 2nd in the Baseball Writers' Rookie of the Year voting.

The Braves benefited greatly from Jones as they defeated the Cleveland Indians 4-2 to win the World Series in 1995.

Chipper Jones quickly became a dangerous force for any pitcher. He would finish in the top 10 of Most Valuable Player voting 6 times. He won the MVP in 1999 with a .319 batting average, 45 homeruns, 110 RBIs, 41 doubles. Jones even showcased his speed racking up 25 stolen bases.

Jones is a 7-time All-Star selection (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2008). He is a 2-time Silver Slugger award winner (1999, 2000).

Jones currently sports a .304 career average with 454 homeruns and 1,561 runs batted in. The only switch-hitters in MLB history with more homeruns is Mickie Mantle (536) and Eddie Murray (503). Murray is the only switch-hitter with more runs batted in.

Chipper has the most homeruns in Braves franchise history since the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. The only Braves player with more homeruns in franchise history is Hank Aaron.

Chipper Jones is the only switch-hitter in the history of baseball to sport a career average of .300 with more than 450 homeruns.

Jones won the NL batting title with a .364 average in 2008 at the age of 36. Jones who turns 40 on April 24th has still managed to be a very productive major league player as he's coming off a 2011 season which saw hit hit .275 with 18 homeruns and 70 runs batted in. While far off his career peak numbers still very solid.

Jones is undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer. He will be standing on stage in Cooperstown, New York come the summer of 2017.

Speaking of New York. If there is one team that won't miss seeing Jones it's the New York Mets.

Chipper Jones wreaked havoc on the Mets his entire career. His first MLB homerun in 1995 was a 9th inning tie-breaking homerun which ultimately ended up winning the game for the Braves. It was from that day forward that Met fans grew to develop the "Larry" chant mocking Chipper's given name.

Jones most signature moment against the Mets came in September of 1999. With the Mets trying to overtake the Braves and win the NL East division Chipper hit 4 homeruns in a 3-game sweep of the Mets that eventually sealed his winning of the MVP award that year. The Braves ended up beating the Mets in the NLCS that year before falling to the New York Yankees.

Jones even has a son named Shea after Shea Stadium where the Mets played their home games until moving to Citi Field in 2009. Jones has hit 48 homeruns against the Mets in his career his most against any team.

The Braves open the 2012 season by playing the Mets in New York at Citi Field on April 5th. If Jones stays healthy he will end the season by playing against the Mets in Atlanta. Hopefully a playoff run will follow.

Being born in 1987 and growing up in the 1990s Chipper Jones has always been the Atlanta Braves in my eyes. I don't know an Atlanta Braves team without Chipper Jones. Come spring of 2013 the Atlanta Braves will take the field without Chipper Jones sporting his No. 10 over at 3rd base. That day will be very sad for me.