Ballplayer

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jonesone of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball historyshares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fameworthy statistics during a nineteen-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad dreaming that one day hed be a major league ballplayer. With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves made him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their fourteen-straight division-title run. Ballplayer takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 Baby Braves; all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, among themand opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern eraoutrageous money, steroids, and all and his special last season in 2012. Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if were sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day. Atlanta Braves third baseman and National Hall of Famer Chipper Jones—one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history—shares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fame–worthy statistics during a nineteen-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad dreaming that one day he’d be a major league ballplayer. With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves make him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their fourteen-straight division-title run. Ballplayer takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves’ extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 “Baby Braves”; all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers—Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz, among them—and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern era—outrageous money, steroids, and all—and his special last season in 2012. Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if we’re sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day. Atlanta Braves third baseman and National Hall of Famer Chipper Jones—one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history—shares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fame–worthy statistics during a nineteen-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad dreaming that one day he’d be a major league ballplayer. With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves make him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their fourteen-straight division-title run. Ballplayer takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves’ extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 “Baby Braves”; all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers — Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz, among them—and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern era—outrageous money, steroids, and all — and his special last season in 2012. Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if we’re sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day. Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones--one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history--shares his remarkable story, while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport. Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fame-worthy statistics during a nineteen-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad dreaming that one day he'd be a major league ballplayer. With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves made him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their fourteen-straight division-title run. Ballplayer takes readers into the clubhouse of the Braves' extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 "Baby Braves"; all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers--Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, among them--and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern era--outrageous money, steroids, and all--and his special last season in 2012. Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if we're sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day. From the Hardcover edition Before Chipper Jones Became An Eight-time All-star Who Amassed Hall Of Fame-worthy Statistics During His Nineteen-year Career With The Atlanta Braves, He Was A Country Boy From Small-town Pierson, Florida, Who Played Baseball In The Backyard With His Dad And Dreamed Of The Major Leagues. With His Trademark Candor And Astonishing Recall, Jones Tells The Story Of His Rise To The Mlb Ranks And What It Took To Stay With One Organization His Entire Career. Beginning With Learning The Art Of Switch-hitting And Being The Number One Overall Pick For The Braves In The 1990 Draft, Jones Takes Us Into The Clubhouse Of The Braves' Extraordinary Dynasty, From The Climax Of The World Series Championship In 1995 To The Last-gasp Division Win By The 2005 Baby Braves. Along The Way, He Delves Into His Relationships With Bobby Cox And The Famous Braves Brothers -- Maddux, Glavine And Smoltz -- And Opponents From Cal Ripken Jr. To Barry Bonds, His Overnight Rise To Superstardom And The Personal Pitfalls That Came With Fame, His Spirited Rivalry With The Mets, And His Reflections On Modern Baseball And His Special Last Season In 2012. Prologue: The Last Big Play -- Chip Off The Old Block -- I Got This -- The White Elephant -- Draft Day -- Carry A Big Stick -- Major Motivation -- On The Defensive -- Showtime -- Going Deep -- Our Time -- Raising The Stakes -- World Series Ghosts -- Inside The Clubhouse -- The Perks -- Leading A Double Life -- Coming Clean -- The Worm Has Turned -- Lar-ry -- Playing The Villain -- A One-team Guy -- Tools And Tricks Of The Trade -- Teaching Points -- The End Of An Era -- Walking Off -- Fireworks -- Curtain Calls. Chipper Jones ; With Carroll Rogers Walton. Includes Index. The Eight-time All-star Switch-hitter For The Atlanta Braves Shares The Story Of His Remarkable Career Against A Backdrop Of Meteoric Free Agency Years, Offering Additional Insights Into The Larger Stories Of The Braves And Major League Baseball.