Chipper Jones Number Retired By Atlanta Braves

Chipper Jones entered the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame on Friday and then had his number retired by the team before the game against the Diamondbacks. The 19-year veteran retired from the game after last season and he was honored by his ball club in front of a packed house at Turner Field.

An eight-time all-star, Jones was not only a fan favorite in Atlanta, but also one of the best infielders in the majors. He was clutch at the plate and drove in 1,623 runs during his career with a lifetime .303 batting average.

On Friday, he joined former teammates and legends of the game in the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. He joins a very select group, which includes Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and the one and only Hank Aaron.

His career speaks for itself, as that group alone is three of his Braves’ teammates that dominated on the mound and one of the best hitters in baseball history. In honor of his achievement, Chipper Jones took the field before the game and spoke to the fans while enjoying the moment.

“It still doesn’t seem real,” he said. “I played baseball. I haven’t cured cancer or anything. It’s almost embarrassing to be getting all this attention and all the accolades. It’s so humbling.”

Getting your number retired looks to be pretty overwhelming and Jones had a top-class audience in front of him. Former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter sat in Ted Turner’s box down the first baseline.

Turner is the former owner of the Braves and he was also on the stage with Chipper during the ceremony.

The 41-year-old Jones will surely go down as one of the best in Braves’ history and the MLB Hall of Fame looks to be right around the corner. He’s currently taking a break from the game and enjoying life with his family, though he could consider becoming a coach in the future.

Do you think Chipper Jones would make a good manager with the Atlanta Braves or another team in the MLB?