Chipper Jones Ends All Star Game Career In Style

Before Tuesday night’s Major League Baseball All Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City National League manager Tony La Russa enlisted Atlanta Braves legendary third baseman Chipper Jones to give a speech to rally the troops. The 40-year old told his All Star teammates, which he referred to as the “elite of the elite” that he was “not going out losing his last one.”

You can see Chipper’s complete pregame speech: HERE

Well, Jones’ speech must have really gotten into his teammates heads, because they came out swinging in full force against American League starting pitcher and Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander, the best pitcher in baseball in my opinion, and slapped him around for five first inning runs.

With one out in the first San Francisco Giants center fielder Melky Cabrera single and then scored on a RBI double by Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun. After Braun’s double, St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey were both walked by Verlander. San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who I thought was wrongfully voted to start the game by Giants fans stuffing the ballots, cleared the bases with a three RBI triple. Sandoval was then driven home by Braves second baseman Dan Uggla on an infield single.

The NL squad would add three more runs in the fourth inning off of Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison when Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal triples and then was driven home by Cardinals Matt Holliday, as a designated hitter, on a single. Cabrera than followed that up with a two-run homer, which solidified his winning the game’s MVP Award.

Chipper Jones entered the game for the National League in the top half of the sixth inning in the designated hitter role. My excitement level jumped immediately even before I saw Jones on the television screen, because I knew he was going to bat before seeing him thanks to the Kauffman Stadium PA playing Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”, Chipper’s longtime at-bat music, in tribute to the third sacker.

The at-bat marked Chipper’s first at Kauffman Stadium, the only ballpark in baseball that Jones hadn’t previously played at during his 19-year career in baseball. As Jones took to homeplate the Kauffman Stadium fans gave him a fantastic ovation, just as they had during the player introductions, and Jones acknowledged the ovation by stepping out of the batter’s box to tip his cap. Jones’ only rival as far as ovations during the game was the Kansas City Royals hometown player Billy Butler, who went 0-for-2 during the game, much to the crowd’s chagrin.

Fittingly in Chipper’s final career All Star at-bat he got a base hit off of Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale on a perfect placed single just past Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler. It wasn’t a blast by any means, but as former Braves legend Tom Glavine said on his newly started Twitter profile said it’ll look like a line drive in the box score. Chipper had a smile on his face almost immediately upon hitting the ball and legging it out to first base. It wasn’t a Cal Ripken Jr. 2001 All Star Game home run moment, but it was just fine for Chipper and fans everywhere. I can honestly say that I’ve never cheered as loudly for a squibber that just eeked through the hole.

Jones said about the hit after the game: “I was trying to run it out all the way. I mean, 40 years old legging out an infield hit in the All-Star game – that’s exactly the way I scripted it.”

You can see Chipper’s final career All Star Game at-bat: HERE

The National League would go on to win the All Star game 8-0 behind fabulous pitching performances. The National League pitching staff frankly made the best hitters in the American Leaguer look like Little Leaguers on Tuesday night. The shutout was the first in an All Star game since the NL shutout the AL 6-0 in 1996, when fellow Braves legend John Smoltz earned the win and Chipper made his All Star Game debut. It’s also fitting that Jones began and ended his All Star tenure in shutout games.

Jones ended his All Star Game career with a .429 batting average (6-for-14) with a home run and RBI in eight All Star Games (only played in seven).

It was just a magical night all around for both Chipper Jones, his fans and especially this fan. There have been many of those along the way, and hopefully there will be many more during the final second half of Chipper’s career.

Click HERE to see box score of game

Chipper Embarks on Final All Star Game as Baseball's Future Harper, Trout Debut

Tomorrow night’s Major League Baseball All Star Game will truly feature a changing of the guard moment when phenom rookies Mike Trout (20 years old) of the Los Angeles Angels and Bryce Harper (19 years old) of the Washington Nationals take the field in the first All Star Game as Atlanta Braves future hall of fame third baseman Chipper Jones takes his All Star bow in his eighth appearance.

Phenoms Bryce Harper, left, and Mike Trout to make All Star debuts

I’ve  thoroughly enjoyed watching Chipper Jones career ever since his rookie season in 1995 (the very first year I became a baseball fanatic) and I hope to do the same with both Trout and Harper, both who appear to be the real deal. Though, tonight’s All Star Game kind of has that out with the old, in with the new feel to it and I can’t wait to watch Harper (who I’ve only seen play once) and Mike Trout (who I haven’t seen play yet) in action there’s no doubt that for me tonight is about Chipper Jones (of course because that is who this blog is dedicated too).

Chipper's last All Star Game workout

When I went to St. Louis in May to say my in person farewell to my baseball hero I thought I might shed a tear upon seeing Jones play up close for the last time, but I didn’t. My emotions may not be kept that in check later this evening when he takes to the baseline with his fellow National League All Stars for player introductions at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Oh I can picture his ovation now from the fans as he tips his cap. Despite the NL being the visitor, it wouldn’t surprise me if Chipper got an even bigger ovation than the Royals own Billy Butler.

While being at the All Star Game with his children and getting that ovation from the fans would be a great moment I just hope that National League manager Tony La Russa finds a way to put Jones into the ballgame. Chipper has to at least take one final All Star at-bat in his final appearance. I know that it might be hard though to find the playing time for Jones as the National League squad as an incredible four third baseman with San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval starting at the hot corner and New York Met and St. Louis Cardinal David Freese on the bench with Jones. Wright is having the best season among all third baseman in the NL and deserves to play. Freese is likely a favorite of La Russa’s as he was the World Series MVP on the La Russa managed Cardinals last year, which might get him playing time over Jones.

If La Russa can’t find a way to get Chipper into the game than it truly will be a crime perpetrated against baseball fans everywhere. 

I’ll be watching tonight’s All Star Game with great anticipation of Chipper stepping out onto the field at Kauffman Stadium, which by the way is the only field in baseball that Jones has never played at in his career. Maybe he’ll have a truly magical moment like Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. did in his final All Star game back in 2001 when he hit a home run and won the game’s MVP award? Either way I’m sure it’ll be a moment that neither Chipper nor myself will ever forget.