Chipper Jones

Switch-hitting legend and Braves icon.

Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr. (born April 24, 1972) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2012. The Braves chose Jones with the first overall pick in the 1990 MLB draft. He was also a member of their 1995 World Series championship team that beat the Cleveland Indians. An eight-time All-Star, Jones won the 1999 National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award and the 1999 and 2000 NL Silver Slugger Award for third basemen. He was the National League batting champion in 2008 after hitting .364.

Quick Facts

Team: Atlanta Braves
Position: Third baseman
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Born: 24 April 1972
Birthplace: DeLand, Florida, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: September 11

Lore & Background

Jones ended his career in 2012 with a .303 career batting average, 468 home runs, and 1,623 runs batted in (RBIs) and holds the Braves team record for career on-base percentage (.402); Jones ranks second on the Braves career home run list, trailing only Hank Aaron. He is one of only a few switch hitters in MLB history with a career batting average above .300 and more than 300 home runs, joining legends like Mickey Mantle. He ranks second behind Eddie Murray for career RBIs for switch hitters and is third behind Mickey Mantle and Lance Berkman in slugging percentage. He was the 18th player in MLB history to accumulate 5,000 at bats and finish with at least a .300 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .500 slugging percentage—and the only switch hitter to reach all of these milestones.

Reader's Guide

On June 28, 2013, the Braves retired Jones' number 10 and inducted him into the team's Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Jones served as an ESPN color analyst in 2020. He returned to the Braves as an assistant hitting consultant in 2021.

Did You Know?

Jones was born in DeLand, Florida, and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida.
He received the nickname 'Chipper' from his father and other family members, who saw him as a 'chip off the old block.'
Jones won the Gatorade Florida Baseball Player of the Year and was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jones changed his position from shortstop to third base during his minor league career.