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The Spectacle Blog
Chipper Jones has announced he will retire at the end of the 2012 season. Jones, who turns 40 next month, has played his entire MLB career with the Atlanta Braves.
Entering the 2012 season, Jones has a lifetime batting average of .304 and an OBP of .402 with 454 homeruns and 1,561 RBI. Jones had 100 or more RBI every season between 1996 and 2003. He is a seven time NL All-Star who won a World Series ring with the Braves during his rookie season of 1995 and won the NL MVP in 1999. Jones experienced a resurgence in 2008 when he won his only batting title with a .364 average. When most people think of the Atlanta Braves during the 1990s and early 2000s, they think (and justifiably so) of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. But Jones was every bit as valuable on the offensive side of the ledger.
Since there’s a scarcity of third basemen in the Hall of Fame, don’t be surprised if Jones get into Cooperstown on the first ballot in 2018.
View all comments (24) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/03/22/chipper-jones-to-retire-after
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Pete| 3.22.12 @ 6:06PM
Here is a guy who deserves to get into the HOF unlike Dawson. Great player, great career. Hit for average and for power. What is interesting is how his career kept going after the drug testing and Andrew Jones' career went down the tubes.
Bob| 3.23.12 @ 2:15AM
Unlike Dawson? What do you have against Dawson? Dawson absolutely deserved it.
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 11:46AM
Dawson: .279 batting average, 438 homers, an anemic .323 on base percentage (because he didn't take walks). I don't like the see the Hall of Fame cheapened that much. Similar really to Billy Williams in the Hall.
If a Dawson can make it, then Paul Konerko has to be a shoe in.
But as far a Chipper goes, he does deserve to get in. He is head and shoulders better than Andre.
Reaganaut| 3.22.12 @ 6:16PM
I hope Santorum and Gingrich have the judgment Chipper does and also "retire".
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 11:46AM
Leaving a RINO to beat Obama.
Occam's Tool| 3.22.12 @ 6:18PM
WAR is 50, lifetime average. Immediately above him DiMaggio. Lifetime average above 300. WAR for 3rd basemen, 5th all time---above him Matthews, Schmidt, Brett, Boggs---all HOFers. Below him---Santo, Robinson.
He would be an average HOFer overall. He's not Schmidt. But everyone above him and immediately below him who are retired are in the HOF, except the active players. I think 2nd or 3rd year of eligibility.
Casey Abell| 3.23.12 @ 8:50AM
I think he ranks above "average hall of famer." As you say, he's 50th on baseball-reference.com's all-time WAR list, which includes everybody, pitchers and position players. That makes him better than about three-fourths of the guys in the HOF right now.
He'll get in on the first ballot.
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 11:48AM
Where is Cal Ripkin?
Casey Abell| 3.23.12 @ 12:29PM
Ripken is 38th on baseball-reference.com's list.
Casey Abell| 3.23.12 @ 12:31PM
By the way, you can look at the entire list here:
http://www.baseball-reference......reer.shtml
Occam's Tool| 3.22.12 @ 6:54PM
The Hawk was an 8 time all star and an 8 time Golden Glove Winner, a 4 time silver slugger, as well as being an MVP as often as Jones. He also could steal bases well, being a member of the 300 stolen bases and 300 home runs club.
Chipper was a 7 time all star, a two time silver slugger, did not have the Hawk's speed or fielding ability. A better hitter, though, and perhaps a better overall HOFer, I suppose. But I liked "The Hawk." A class act.
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 11:51AM
The Hawk also rarely too a walk and had a very poor on base percentage and nothing special about a 438 homers. The number of All-Star appearances don't mean that much. Look at Harold Baines who matches the Hawk in most categories. He has 6 all-star appearances yet only received 5 percent of the vote.
Occam's Tool| 3.22.12 @ 7:03PM
I saw a ranking recently where Jones was ranked the second best 3B of all time, behind Mike Schmidt.
I dunno. I'd go with Schmidt as the best ever, no question, with a great combination of 10 Gold Gloves and by FAR the best bat. Chipper NEVER won a Gold Glove.
But to rank him above the BEST FIELDING 3B of all time, Robinson? I'd rather have Robinson.
Le Cracquere| 3.23.12 @ 8:37AM
He's a no-doubt HOFer, and I'm a thoroughgoing Chipper fan ... but I'd argue that he's only the second-best 3B in BRAVES history (next to Eddie Mathews.)
However, that still qualifies as "praising with faint damns." Ave atque vale, Chipper.
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 11:57AM
Eddie Matthews was one of the greats and that Brave team was outstanding. Besides Aaron, they may have had the best lefty of all time Warren Spahn (at least for a career).
Occam's Tool| 3.22.12 @ 7:07PM
Brooks was an EIGHTEEN time all star, and a first round HOFer. Jones should be voted in after him.
albert constantine jr.| 3.22.12 @ 9:55PM
Larry Jones does enjoy a distinction as a switch hitter, as well; I still remain partial to Mike Schmidt.
squalis| 3.23.12 @ 12:17AM
I am so glad the Mets killer is finally retiring. I cringed every time he was at bat against my boyhood team. He absolutely belongs in The Hall.
Bob| 3.23.12 @ 2:14AM
Jones was something else. Unfortunately his body is giving out on him, so I don't expect him to pull a Pettitte and come out of retirement later. Jones played the game the right way, and it's a shame there aren't more athletes like him.
JimH| 3.23.12 @ 7:55AM
It is fortunate for his kid (daughter?) Shea that the Mets moved after she was born. Can you imagine being named Citicorp?
Le Cracquere| 3.23.12 @ 8:39AM
It's a good thing he never tore up the records at Petco Park.
Le Cracquere| 3.23.12 @ 8:44AM
"What-ifs" don't count, but it's interesting to speculate on what would've happened if Chipper hadn't blown his ACL in '94 spring training and missed what would have been his rookie season.
Before ruining his knee, he projected as a terror on the basepaths, and might have been a perennial 30-30 man. On the other hand, the Braves were then leaning towards putting him in center field, rather than third.
Maybe he'd have had an even better career. On the other hand, his position might have worn him down earlier. And the HOF standards for outfielders are notoriously higher.
Pete| 3.23.12 @ 12:02PM
I know, I often think of what ifs. For example what if Ted Williams didn't lose 5 years because of military service in 2 wars. What-if Babe Ruth remained a pitcher or even What-if Sandy Koufax didn't develop arm trouble.
Ben Gay| 3.23.12 @ 3:48PM
Is Chipper Jones any relation to Deacon Jones?