23
2012
Chipper Jones Will Get My Vote For The Hall
An article by 
Some opponents you loathe. You watch with venom in your heart for how they destroy your team, for their arrogance and attitude.
Other opponents you respect and admire, and salute for their longevity and talent. Such is the case with the Braves’ Chipper Jones.
The inevitable became official this morning when Jones announced this would be his final season playing third base for Atlanta, and by extension, tormenting the Mets.
Jones will be one of the rare few players, something I hoped would be the case with David Wright and Jose Reyes, to play his entire career with one team.
I covered both Cal Ripken and Derek Jeter through the prime of their careers, and respected what they accomplished. Both had opportunities to leave for more money, but recognized the importance they represented to their team and cities. They were special players.
They are nothing like today’s spoiled players in the NBA. They kept their talents at home, as did Don Mattingly and Kirby Puckett. It was a shame it wasn’t the case with Tom Seaver and Reyes. I thought Albert Pujols had a chance. I hope it isn’t that way with Wright.
Jones thought about retirement two years ago, but changed his mind. Now, after 18 years and a string of injuries the past two seasons, there’s no longer fighting time.
Early in camp, Jones told reporters: “Never in my mid-20s would I have given myself a snowball’s chance to be in camp and have a job at 40 years old. But I like to think I’ve kept myself in pretty good shape over the years. The skills are still there to go out and get it done. I don’t know for how much longer, but we’re gonna ride it as long as we can.’’
I wish for him a full and healthy season, one with numbers that will have him leaving with pride and not frustration. A season in which he would end exhausted with satisfaction and no regrets.
It was obvious watching Jones the past two years that he slowed. You could tell his range was declining and he wasn’t the same on the bases. Still, when he came to the plate in the late innings, he was showed respect from the Mets’ pitchers.
Since 2004, Jones underwent two knee operations and dealt with several other nagging issues that deprived him of 500 homers – he would have been the third Brave to reach the milestone, joining Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews – which has been an automatic ticket to the Hall of Fame.
Jones, the 1999 NL MVP, joins Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray as among the games’ greatest switch hitters, which is an unappreciated skill. Jones takes a .304 career average, 454 homers and 1,561 RBI into this season.
There is no reason to believe Jones’ numbers are steroid induced. Of his 454 homers, 91 came in August and 74 in September, during the heat of the pennant race; 213 were hit in the seventh inning with the Braves tied, ahead by one, or had the tying run on deck.
And, against the Mets, Jones’ numbers would have represented a MVP season: He hit 48 homers, with 154 RBI and a .318 career average.
He hit 19 homers at Shea, which is what he named his son. Any player who would name his child after Shea Stadium is worthy of a salute. I hope you all give him one this summer.
I’ve covered well over a two thousand baseball games, and as a reporter found Jones to be accommodating and thoughtful. His appreciation for the fundamentals and ability to perform under pressure made him a privilege to watch.
Some day, I’ll get to say I saw Chipper Jones, Hall of Famer. As a lifetime member of the BBWAA, he’ll get my vote.
Check out my work in the upcoming MMO 2012 Mets Annual which goes On Sale April 1 at Amazon.com, the Apple ITunes Store and Barnes and Noble.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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No question about it in my mind
Chipper has had a great career and he gets my respect for his accomplishments. He has made the great game of baseball even better.
He would get my vote, he has great numbers and is the 4th best switch hitter in baseball history. As much as I despise him and the whole Braves organization, he is a great baseball player.
lots of people going out their way on a Mets blog to praise a guy who spent his career making life miserable for Mets fans. What is this? Some version of Stockholm’s Syndrome where the victim becomes attached to their captors?
Yes Chipper probably should go in the hall but I think I’ve read enough about him on this site the last few days. I understand the type of ballplayer he is but i don’t like him to this day and don’t care if he didn’t get an ounce of recognition on this site.
But guess who is the first to post a positive comment on this article, no surprise right?
You may not like the man, but show some damn RESPECT. Also, quit instigating stuff when you always complain on here about shit being spewed at you all the time.
You take yourself too seriously at times. Lighten up.
One of the game’s best.
No doubt HOF.
An era is coming to an end. No more Met Killer for Met pitchers.
I heard a little bit of a debate on MLBN this morning about if he was a first ballot HOF. To me there is no question.
What I do notice is something that flies in the face of using RBI to judge how great of a hitter he was. The guy had to suffer through some terrible years of Braves offense and to his on detriment. Seriously how do you hit .330 .427 .605 1.032 with 38 HR and only end up with 102 RBI? The guy hit .319 .484 .593 1.077 with RISP that year (2001) and played in 159 games and still barely made it to 100 RBI. Another year where he only played 128 games but had a .364 .470 .574 1.044 line with only 75 RBI.
So he will leave the game somewhere close to .304 .402 .533 .935 over 19 years and around 10,600 PA and only 1561 RBI. I say only but the guy was a stud that seemed to carry his team offensively every year. Why did he not win multiple WS? What surrounded him offensively.
By comparison, Arod:
.302 .386 .567 .953
Currently has about how many PA Chipper will have at the end of the season and has already amassed 1893 RBI. Both have similar stats overall in terms of RISP stats too.
And then you have Ryan Howard who in 6 years and 2 partials already has 864 RBI.
So down one and runner on 2B, who do you want up?
Chipper
Arod
Howard
I am taking Chipper 11/10 times.
Actually, it is because Howard rises to big occasions and has a nose for the ball. he knows how to close the deal.
Or he played in a great offense that played half of it’s games in a sandlot.
well, there is that too…
this site really needs a sarcasm font…
But no, it can’t possibly have to do with having a ton of guys on when you come up leading to more RBIs thanks to all the opportunities.
LOL, yeah I knew you were being sarcastic. I am assuming most do. I was just providing the “snarky” comeback to your sarcasm.
and thanks to the RBI guys who know how to make adjustments to the pitcher and catcher’s changed approach with runners in scoring position. And it becomes even more important when the game is on the line or even when the season itself is on the line.
Sure, let’s take the credit away from where it belongs and diminish the RBI guys importance while giving the credit to those who are only doing what they learned to do when the first picked up a baseball and that’s hit and get on base.
What a load of garbage and what a backwards way to look at competition.
And what if the bases are loaded with 3 guys who have lousy on base percentages? I don’t care if the bases are loaded with three pitchers – in order to make a difference – and making a difference is what sports and life is all about you need the RBI guy to do that.
And i’m not talking about any old hit with runners in scoring position, i’m talking about players who make a living and put food on the table for the reputation as people who drive in runs.
Stop diminishing the important aspects of the game. That’s what moneyballers and sabers do, they diminish what is important all for the sake of statistical understanding. Winning? The hell with that.
Are you saying that Chipper Jones is not a winner? Are you saying that Ryan Howard is a better hitter? Arod? Are you saying that you would rather have those 2 in RBI situations than Chipper? Not me.
It has nothing to do with diminishing the RBI. It’s about understanding the entire picture just like you want others to do. I swear considering how much you whine about not people using stats and relying on stats too heavily you sure are attached to yours. I can see with my eyes that Chipper is a much better hitter with men on base and in the clutch than Arod or Howard. Yet they get more RBI opportunities and have more RBI. That means, just like you tell us, that stat doesn’t tell the entire story.
Otherwise lets just do this, forget EVERY stat because all of them are unimportant. Judge players only based on wins and losses. Beside of Chippers name would be the amount of games they won and beside Arod would be the amount of games he won. Of course that would be fair and would show exactly how good of a hitter they are.
My ultimate comment on Chipper Jones: “I wish he played his career as a New York Met!”
He’s a first ballot hall of famer in my book. Lot’s of players have had great careers, but I put Chipper and Griffey Jr. above all of them because they handled themselves with class and were true ambassadors of the game.
To tell you the truth (and I’m sure I will get crap for saying it….)
I wouldn’t be upset if they gave him a sendoff his last game at Citifield because while he may have been public enemy #1 he sure did earn some recognition and the honor.
It would never happen and most fans would be outraged but me personally he deserves to be honored.
He should bring his daughter Shea to witness it too!
Actually his son is named Shea. They did a video montage when Craig Biggio retired, I’d bet they do one for Chipper.
When Shea closed there were articles in NY Papers with his quotes playing at Shea with the Braves, he was interviewed in a few of the different 9/11 shows etc….
A great foe. I love him all the same,one of the true greats of the MLB. I watch every AB he has against us,and he may have killed us,but we’ll miss him all the same.