Chipper Jones announced his intentions to retire at 2012 season's end. And it appears likely he's going out on his own terms, which is the graceful way to do it.
What a player he has turned out to be. He has been there from the very beginning of the Braves dynasty. This was when I was rooting for the Braves only because of their loveable loser mantra they had at the time. Chipper Jones was basically "Plan C" rushed to the big leagues at shortstop because two incumbent shortstops couldn't handle the duty.
But Jones has more than held his own at multiple defensive positions, and was an absolute anchor in Bobby Cox's lineup thru all those years.
Chipper is the last of two eras in my opinion: He is the last vestige of the last great mini-dynasty in baseball (non-Yankee portion). More than a dozen post-season appearances in a row, and Chipper was there for all of them.
But more importantly, Chipper, along with Yankee Derek Jeter, are among the last of the players to spend their entire career with one team. Chipper did not have the fanfare or constant adoration of the baseball public like Jeter has had. And it appeared at times that he was overshadowed by his own teammates (Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Avery... names ring a bell?)
But Jones has never been disrespected; he has had his exposure on baseball's grand stage, and rightfully so.
When you ask me to describe Braves Baseball, these names come to mind: Skip (or Chip) Caray, Dale Murphy, Hank Aaron, Rick Mahler. Chipper Jones goes on the absolute top of the list. As much as Tommy Lasorda bled Dodger Blue, Chipper bled Braves Red.
A sure-fire Hall Of Famer for a Hall Of Fame-type person.
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