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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > June > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US400th homer highlights career of brilliance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s all about names at this point for Chipper Jones. We’re talking about magical ones, too. Earlier this week, when the wonderfully gifted Braves third baseman dropped No. 399 for his career over the wall in right-center field at Turner Field, some of those names involved Dale Murphy, Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga.
Just like that, Jones roared past Murphy on baseball’s all-time list for home runs to become co-sluggers with Kaline and Galarraga at No. 43.
Then came Thursday night, when Jones strolled to home plate at Turner Field in the bottom of the sixth inning to rise closer to Duke Snider, Darrell Evans and Billy Williams. They are the next three guys above Jones on that list after he took another one of his easy left-handed swings to push a shot 10 rows into the right-field bleachers for the 400th homer of his ongoing career of brilliance. After the ball reached its destination, there were fireworks, a standing ovation among the 27,238 and Jones receiving a quick set of hand-slaps from teammates in the dugout before leaving to satisfy the screamers.
Twenty-five seconds into Jones’ noisy and impromptu party, he scampered up the dugout steps with cap in hand to wave toward the crowd before disappearing back inside. At the end of the inning, there was a video tribute on the scoreboard with highlights of Jones’ home runs over 15 seasons, featuring No. 1, No. 100, No. 200, No. 300 and his latest entry.
“I was blushing the whole time,” said Jones, still blushing with the memory that occurred before a slew of relatives from his native Florida. They saw the people’s choice receive only his second curtain call during his 15 seasons with the Braves. The last came in 1999, and the way Jones is threatening to swing this well for longevity, it won’t be his last. Added Jones, “This was way up there. This was probably in the top one or two greatest moments of my entire career. Obviously a World Series [title] is what we all shoot for. I got one of those during my rookie year, and this would be a close second.”
Then again, maybe not. Maybe the best is yet to come for Jones, flirting with the territory of Ted Williams, another magic name. After all, this is a 400th homer for somebody hitting over .400 this late in the season for one of the few times ever. In fact, the last player to finish an entire season over .400 was Williams.
That’s why those watching Larry Wayne Jones Jr. these days need to realize that the game didn’t even see the likes of this with a couple of other magical names — Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. They are the only switch-hitters with more career homers than Jones. Neither Mantle nor Murray could hit for average like this during a season (.418 at the moment), and the only other switch-hitter with a higher career batting average than Jones’ .310 after a minimum of 6,000 at bats was Frankie Frisch, another magical name.
In case you’re wondering, Pete Rose, another switch-hitter with a magical name, finished with a career batting average of only .303. So here’s the point: Chipper Jones already has a magical name, and provided his historically aching body holds out (feet, oblique, wrist, knee, quad, hamstring, back), he’ll add more pixie dust to his resume as a 36-year-old who is just rolling through his prime. In the meantime, there was the Braves’ 7-5 victory over the Florida Marlins.
In the midst of it all, Jones went 4-for-5, and he even ignored his bad feet to steal a base. But the highlight of the night was his latest blast into history.
Or was it? Jones formed one of his crooked smiles, saying, “I don’t know what I was happier about — the home run or the stolen base. I’m a little far away from 400 [stolen bases] for my career.
He’s 265 steals away, to be exact, but who cares when you’re Jones, and your magic comes from other numbers?
Permalink | Comments (34) | Categories: Braves/MLB
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By The Truth Will Set You Free
June 5, 2008 11:46 PM | Link to this
Wow, Chipper really is your “golden boy” now isn’t he Terence? Glad to see you eating your words from so many years ago about why the Braves should have kept Tony Torasco and Brian Hunter instead of the “golden boys” Chipper and Klesko.
By YELLOWJACKETS REQUIRED
June 6, 2008 12:13 AM | Link to this
Terrence, Unbelievable article! Kudos to you for writing something positive about a WHITE BOY! I figured you’d probably write that KOBE BRYANT could hit for average better than Chipper. BUT NO. Not a racist rant anywhere!
This calls for a grand celebration for your going away party. Let us know when you’re leaving.
By Coach (Braves in 2008 to the playoffs)
June 6, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
Absolutely Brilliant ! Tonights game was easily the most enjoyable of the season. Congratulations to Chipper on an historic milestone achievement ! He is among the top five switch hitters of all time. There is nothing better than watching a hall of Fame player at the top of his game.
By Freshmaker
June 6, 2008 12:58 AM | Link to this
I think the loss of Smoltz for the year (and maybe forever) really makes you step back and appreciate Chipper even more. Chip has done a lot for this franchise, and has been very unselfish. He could easily go somewhere else and make $6M+ more than he does, but he choses to stay here. He really deserves a standing ovation everytime he comes to the plate, and I’m not being sarcastic.
By Me
June 6, 2008 1:04 AM | Link to this
I actually liked this article from you. Keep up the good work.
By Robert
June 6, 2008 1:43 AM | Link to this
Congrats Chipper! I was so disappointed when Dale Murphy quit at 398. Who would have thought in 1995 that Chipper would hit 400 homers?
Oh, and let’s ride this .400BA thing as long as possible. We can dream, can’t we?
By cityofdecatur
June 6, 2008 2:26 AM | Link to this
Well said!
By Jerry
June 6, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this
congrats to HOSS
By Darrin "The Vent King"
June 6, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Wow! 400 for Chipper, that’s awesome-you the man, you the man. Also, if we never see you again Smoltz, you the man too! Thanks for all those greats years of gutting it out even when you were hurt. Call Hampton would ya and tell him how it’s done!
By SICEM
June 6, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
Seems that 400 is the magic number this season for Chipper. Keep it up Hoss you can do em both! Congrats on the milestone dude!
By Stephen
June 6, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
I’m sick of these idiots always making everything anyone for this paper writes about has to do with race…great article, Terrence. I couldn’t be any happier for Chipper.
By Oneiron
June 6, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
The difference between a .400 hitter and a .370 hitter is about one hit per week over the course of a season. I hope CJ adds a few 4 for 5 games each week or so to keep it going. Anybody know the last person to keep a .400 avg. this long into a season?
By StevieFranchise
June 6, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Too bad nobody outside of Atlanta got to see it.
By Terence Moore
June 6, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
This .400 thing for Chipper is going to be interesting to watch.
Just checked with Elias Sports Bureau, and the folks there said that the latest that anybody hit .400 into a season (since Ted Williams hit over .400 for the entire 1941) was George Brett in 1980.
Brett was hitting .401 on September 1, so Chipper has a little ways to go to match that.
By by johnny
June 6, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Happy i got his autograph on my braves hat in Pittsburgh last year. He was signing for about a hour because he wasn’t playing.What a ballplayer.
By Doug in Tucson
June 6, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Chipper is a real gamer, a throw back to the 1940-1960”s.He has not let the money he has earned take away from his passion or efforts at the game. As a boy my hero was Eddie Mathews but I think Chipper can stand equally as Mathews did. Wish we had 25 Chippers on the team! Thank You Chipper
By BN
June 6, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
This man is without doubt - the greatest of all the “Atlanta Braves”. He has been a all star on and off the field…I want my sons to be of the same stuff as “Chipper Jones”. Great piece Terence…Thank you Chipper for great moments…
By old gold
June 6, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Amazing. How does a guy who has always been a very fine ballplayer take such a giant leap forward as Chipper has in the past year and half while also in his mid-30’s ? It shows that if you keep working at it you can get better which can apply to just about anything other than my golf swing.
By Gray Dawg
June 6, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Cograts HOSS!Hope to see you in Braves uni for the rest of your career.GO BRAVES and GO #10
By Kelley
June 6, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Good for Chipper Jones. For me personally, I have not always been the biggest Chipper fan. I have to admit though, he has earned my respect. He works hard, and seems to have a great respect for the game. He also quietly goes about his business, which is an added bonus. We are lucky to have him in a Braves uniform.
I hope he hits .400 this season. Nice article.
By Tomy Fournier
June 6, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
It’s not Chipper…we need “PITCHERSSSSS”!!!!
By MJM
June 6, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Not taking anything away from Chipper, just defending the Mick. Mick hit a .356 and .363 in consecutive years. In fact he won the triple crown when he hit .356 and would have won it again in the year he his .363 but Mr Ted Williams hit .385.
By MJM
June 6, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
Living up in Western NC I didn’t get to see it. Peachtree TV is putting a real dent in my Braves Watching.
By No Dawgs Here
June 6, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Nice article! For those idiots that have to take EVERYTHING and turn it into a race issue, go get a life!!! Go wear your dunce capped white ghost outfits and burn crosses in field all you want. But, learn when to stand up for your beleifs and when not to. This article was a positive one. Why try to make something negative out of it? As a WHITE person I am ashamed of idiots like yourself. It’s people like you that make racial issues still an issue. Black, white, green or purple, a good ball player is a good ball player and a well written article is a well written article. The sooner the hatred dies, the sooner this county will become better. Geez!!
By kaz
June 6, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Chipper is a great player. Have always liked him. Will finish his career as the most celebrated Brave ever after Hammerin’ Hank. However, wanting your son to grow up to be like him should be thought through a little more. Chipper (if you are a true Braves fan) has not always made the best decisions off-the-field). Let’s make sure your son looks up to you and others close to him that set strong moral standards. With that being said, I am a huge fan of Chipper being a spokesman for the Braves organization.
By Peerless' Mama
June 6, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
I saw this slideshow on si.com a couple weeks ago:
“Latest Dates Above .400 since 1980”
CHIPPER JONES
Carney Lansford: .402 on June 6, 1988
Wade Boggs: .401 on June 7, 1986
Roberto Alomar: .404 on June 10, 1996
Todd Helton: .400 on June 10, 2000
Paul O’Niell: .405 on June 16, 1994
Lenny Dykstra: .401 on June 21, 1990
Tony Fernandez: .400 on June 29, 1999
Andres Galarraga: .400 on July 5, 1993
Rod Carew: .402 on July 14, 1983
Tony Gwynn: .402 on July 14, 1997
Larry Walker: .402 on July 18, 1997
Nomar Garciarparra: .403 on July 20, 2000
John Olerud: .400 on Aug. 2, 1993
George Brett: .400 on Sept. 19, 1980
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/latest.dates.above.400/content.1.html?eref=sircrc
By mowreck
June 6, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
We got to find a way to keep our 1st baseman next year (Tex). I think Chipper is getting LOTS more pitches to hit because of him. And when Chipper doesn’t get the hit, Tex usually does or they get them one after the other. Great job of putting the bat on the ball Chipper … I am pulling for the 400 average now.
By Pedro Santoni
June 6, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
It’s just too bad that those of us Braves fans from outside Atlanta who have been able to watch the team through the years thanks to the magic of WTBS can no longer do so & enjoy moments like Chipper’s 400th (unless, of course, we cave in and pay extra $$$ to MLB) …
By Maniac is accurate
June 6, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed that li’l ol’ hittin’ game they had on the site earlier, but I hit .500 and the screen said, “I know you can hit better than that.” Pfft.
By Maniac is accurate
June 6, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
My, my Darrin “The Vent King” (yeah, right) you are apparently not the man. You are apparently the boy. About 11 it seems, judging from your post.
By keita
June 6, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I think chipper jones is probably one of the best regular season players of all-time. Exspecially when he play during the regular season. Other than that his game is garbage. Andrew held the braves toghether every year while CHIPPER be out hurt. He probably will finish batting over 400. Then IF the braves make the playoffs he want even muster up one hit.
By keita
June 6, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
He is the best regular season brave of all time, but his playoff story is a whole nother issue.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
June 6, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
Chipper is in my 5 top Braves of all-time.
Phil Neikro Hank Aaron John Smoltz Chipper and Roland Lawerence (kidding for the old schoolers here) I think Smoltz is my favorite though.
I can’t read a story by Terence. I usually get sick to my stomach one paragraph into it. So why start now.
I was enlightened with B. Hussein Obama Church woes here recently as to why Terence hates white people so much.
He’s from Chicago and is/was a member of Trinity or Rev. Pfleger Church.
Which church do/did you go to Terence? I betting Pfleger’s since you seem to think the world revolves around Notre Dame and he’s catholic priest (yea right).
What a better time to ask, during Terence�s semi annual pro whitie article.
By Michael R Bailey
June 6, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
I guess I am an old fashioned guy, it brought tears to my eyes to see him do it. I ‘ve watched him since he started here and am so happy we have a player of his caliber still hustling.still being a role model. He brings me back to the days when as a little boy I learned to love baseball, and watching him I still remember my dasy playing and why I still love thid game. Congratulations Chipper You are what makes Baseball the greatest sport there is. I love you. Mike Bailey