Larry Wayne Jones

In 1990, Todd Van Poppel was one of the best high school baseball players in America.  The woefully bad Atlanta Braves, who had the first draft pick that year, considered picking Van Poppel.  The young pitcher would have none of it.  He let the Braves know he absolutely would not sign a contract with them.

Instead of Van Poppel, the Braves selected infielder Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones.  They should have sent a "Thank You" card to Van Poppel.  Between 1991 - 2004, Van Poppel won 40 Major League Baseball games and lost 52.  He compiled a career 5.58 ERA and 711 strikeouts.

Chipper Jones, barring a Roger Clemens-like "unretirement" or an equally Clemens-like cheating scandal, is headed to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He'll probably get the call in five years, the minimum waiting period.

The numbers, while not those of the greatest Brave, Hank Aaron, are impressive.  Chipper will finish with approximately 2,730 hits, at least 468 home runs, well over 1,000 career extra base hits, and 1,622 or more runs batted in.  His career batting average is four points north of .300.  Almost any all-time list of Major League Baseball switch hitters or third basemen puts Jones in the top three.

In 1999, Chipper won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award.  His rookie season, he played for the Atlanta Braves' only World Series Champion team.  In each of his first 11 full Major League seasons, the Braves went to the playoffs.  They won their way back in 2010, Bobby Cox's final season.

Last year, the Braves seemed a lock for another playoff run until their horrible September collapse.  That won't happen this year.  This very night, as soon as Freddie Freeman's ninth inning line drive cleared the center field wall, chasing home Chipper, the Braves and their veteran third baseman had qualified for one more playoff run.

Recently, Chipper spoke introspectively in a television commercial.  Commenting on having spent his entire career as an Atlanta Brave, Chipper admitted he hadn't done very well at being married.  (A second divorce is reportedly in the works)  The marriage between Chipper and his fans has endured, however. 

Sooner rather than later, Chipper will make his late plate appearance or field his last ground ball.  Next spring, the Braves will retire his jersey number, 10, and he will join Spahn, Matthews, Hammering Hank, Knucksie, Murph, and the 1990s "Big Three" Cy Maddux, Cy Glavine, and Cy Smoltz as fond memories.

Until (and after) then, go Braves!  Let's end Chipper's last season the way we ended his first, as Champions of the World!