22
2012
Is This Your Retirement, Larry?
An article by 
Earlier today, Chipper Jones announced that he will be retiring at the end of the season after almost two decades spent entirely with the Atlanta Braves. Jones will retire as one of the Braves’ all-time greatest players, finishing in the top three in many of the team’s offensive categories (along with Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews). He will also end his career as one of the best switch-hitters in baseball history, joining other greats such as Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Pete Rose.
Chipper Jones was like Norm from Cheers, with every fan at Shea Stadium and Citi Field saying his first name in unison as he strolled into the batter’s box. But unlike Norm, whenever Jones heard his name, it wasn’t usually in adulation.
When the Braves and Mets competed for National League supremacy in 1999 and 2000, it was Jones who repeatedly delivered in the clutch, keeping the Mets from ending the Braves’ reign atop the division. By then, he was already known as “La-a-a-a-a-arry” to the Shea faithful, similar to the way Darryl Strawberry was known as “Da-a-a-a-a-arryl” to Red Sox fans during the 1986 World Series. Of course, Strawberry got the last laugh, hitting a towering home run off Red Sox reliever Al Nipper in Game 7. Chipper Jones usually hushed the crowd as well with his ability to come through in the clutch.
And what a clutch hitter he was against the Mets. In 812 career at-bats versus New York, Jones hit .318 with 48 HR and 154 RBI. Only Hall of Famers Willie Stargell (60) and Mike Schmidt (49) hit more career home runs against the Mets than Chipper Jones.
But Jones wasn’t just a great hitter when the Mets were in the other dugout. He was an equal opportunity slugger, especially within his own division. Through 2011, Jones has hit at least 40 HR against every team in the National League East, numbers that will only rise as he plays his final year in the major leagues. Despite his inability to stay on the field because of various injuries throughout the latter part of his career, he still managed to win a batting title in 2008, hitting an impressive .364 at age 36.
Over the years, Mets fans at Shea Stadium and Citi Field would shower Chipper Jones with boos and remind him of his given name whenever he stepped up to the plate. But did they really hate Chipper Jones or was it just a masked sign of respect for a great player?
Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino also get pooped on by the boo birds whenever they come to New York. But all three of them brought it upon themselves by not being able to keep their mouths shut. Cole Hamels may have been the biggest offender of Mets fans when he famously claimed that the Mets were choke artists. In fact, his mouth is so big, he could insert Shaquille O’Neal’s foot in it and it still wouldn’t shut him up. Those players are players Mets fans genuinely hate. There’s no respect in those boos.
But Chipper Jones is different. He never guaranteed anything even when the Braves were racking up division titles faster than the current Mets rack up injuries. He also never disrespected a fan base like Hamels or his former teammate, John Rocker, did. In fact, Jones loved playing in New York so much, he named his son Shea.
Why was Chipper Jones booed so much in New York? Because he was good. Really good. For a very long time.
Larry did his homework on the Mets, which is why he was so great against them for nearly two decades. But he didn’t just pick on the Mets; he picked apart opposing pitchers all over the National League. When the Braves make their final appearance at Citi Field this year on September 9, Mets fans should put aside their negative feelings and give Chipper Jones a standing ovation. After so many years booing him, it’s time to recognize that he was one of the best players of his generation. Jones is a certain first ballot Hall of Famer who, like Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, played his entire career with one team. Only special players get to do that. Chipper Jones has been a special player.
When the 2012 season comes to a close, Chipper Jones will be retiring from baseball. Ask any Mets fan how they feel about the news and they’ll say they won’t be at a loss, which shouldn’t be surprising. Why not? Because when the game was on the line, the man they called “La-a-a-a-a-arry” usually had their favorite team at a loss. It’s no wonder Mets fans will probably enjoy Chipper Jones’ retirement more than Chipper himself.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
14 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- DrDooby: on Lutz Is The Easy Choice To Replace Davis, But Satin Is The Right Choice: Shh. And don´t tell them that Alderson...
- DrDooby: on Lutz Is The Easy Choice To Replace Davis, But Satin Is The Right Choice: Satin is the prototype organizational Quad A...
- Sach: on Scout Says No Way Flores Can Play Any Position But First Base: The Mets should have been playing Flores...
- DrDooby: on Scout Says No Way Flores Can Play Any Position But First Base: Since Flores won´t have much trade bait...
- Joe D: on Scout Says No Way Flores Can Play Any Position But First Base: I would say we'll see Flores in...
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5394 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Oh man to think I saw him when he came up as a rookie and now he will be retiring at the end of the year makes me feel old.
Just thinking the same thing.
And what a clutch hitter he was against the Mets. In 812 career at-bats versus New York, Jones hit .318 with 48 HR and 154 RBI. Only Hall of Famers Willie Stargell (60) and Mike Schmidt (49) hit more career home runs against the Mets than Chipper Jones.
154 RBIs against one team in the years after expansion has to be some sort of record. This guy absolutely dominated us. Still, I never hated the guy no matter how any times he broke my heart. Rather I always wished we had a third baseman like him.
Actually, Chipper Jones drove in tons of runs against every team in the NL East. I probably should have included this in my piece, but here is how he stacks up against the other teams in the division:
vs. Marlins: .299, 45 doubles, 40 HR, 161 RBI in 834 at-bats.
vs. Phillies: .332, 68 doubles, 46 HR, 144 RBI in 797 at-bats.
vs. Expos/Nats: .298, 60 doubles, 40 HR, 154 RBI in 905 at-bats.
He had a higher batting average and more extra-base hits against the Phillies than he did against the Mets in fewer at-bats! And people just talk about his dominance over the Mets when he really dominated every team in the division.
Thanks for the response. You just made the case for his HOF candidacy. What a tremendous career. I remember he was hurt a lot in the minors, missed lots of time his rookie year, and even missed all of his sophomore year like Ike Davis just did. He missed so much time that he was still eligible for Rookie of Year award in his third official season. He was a force to be reckoned with after that.
Yeah I don’t see how he doesn’t make the Hall…
Excellent piece, Ed.
At least for me, you hit the nail on the head. I boo Rollins/Utley/Hamels because frankly, I dislike them on and off the field.
Players like Derek Jeter and Chipper Jones are an example of something I have mentioned with my friends before – If I boo, it’s because they’re excellent players.
I don’t have to like them because they play for my rivals, but I know a great player when I see one.
As much as he killed us, he deserves a standing ovation at Citi Field when we see him last and it’ll be over there – at least until he gets inducted into the Hall.
I’d give him a standing ovation if I was going to be at that game.
First, because Finally.
Second, because he deserves it.
Hated him as a rival for so long but in recent years, have come to begrudingly respect him and his talent as well.
I expect the chants of LARRY to be long and loud at Citi this year. It’s the last season we can enjoy doing so.
Chipper has been a great ballplayer. No asterisk or other comment needed. I wish him the best. He deserves it.
Off Topic: LoL Bobby V puts the squeeze on in the 9th to tie the game 4-4 vs the Yanks. You gotta luv Bobby V.
LOL Bobby has the best of both worlds right now…
Plenty of NYC media attention but none of the NY media to have to deal with on a daily basis!
The stories and quotes during the regular season series when those two should be quite entertaining!
He absolutely deserves a standing ovation.
He was a warrior and a rival that “gets it”….he never took anything personally.
I think a Standing Ovation would put him off his game. He’s the guy that you boo, yell Larry Larry and then he smashes one over the fence – lolol
Hof’er whether he killed the Mets or not.
I would gladly pay him his due.
What a career. Exactly what we all hoped Wright would turn into but as did every team with their 3B. While you hated to see him come up and feared him with the bat or even the glove you always knew that you were watching a HOF.