Chipper Jones

Verified Timeline

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 third on the Braves career home run list. Jones is the only switch hitter in MLB history with a career batting average above .300 and more than 300 home runs. 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.

In Their Own Story

In 2008, Jones achieved a rare feat by leading all of MLB with a .364 batting average. His most legendary season, however, came in 1999 when he became the first player ever to hit over .300 (.319) while slugging 45 home runs, hitting 41 doubles, drawing 126 walks, and driving in 110 runs. That year, he also stole 25 bases and posted a .633 slugging percentage. A pivotal moment occurred in September against the New York Mets; with Atlanta leading by just one game, Jones hit four home runs to sweep the series and drive in seven of the Braves' 13 runs. Despite his dominance, he was not selected for the All-Star game that year. He famously told Mets fans after a game on September 30, "Now, all the Mets fans can go home and put their Yankees' stuff on," believing the sweep eliminated them from contention—a prediction that proved wrong as the Mets advanced to face the Braves in the NLCS.

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 Pierson, 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.
• He was selected first overall in the 1990 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves.
• Jones changed his position from shortstop to third base during his minor league career.