A Star In The Making: Chipper Jones

I wanted to share an article I read today about an Atlanta Brave.

Here is the article from the NewsJournal about Chipper Jones growing up to be the switch-hitting stud who he is today.

Here are some highlights:

And to think back to the days when Chipper would play Whiffle Ball at the family farm imitating The Mick, a player he was too young to have seen but learned how to emulate through his dad.

“It’s hard to believe. I still think of it as yesterday,” Larry Jones said in a telephone interview Friday from Carrizo Springs, Texas, where he manages the Double Dime hunting ranch for his son. “I still am amazed and proud that all this started in one-stoplight Pierson.”

Todd Van Poppel was the best thing never to happen for the Atlanta Braves. Leading up to the 1990 draft, popular belief was the Braves would target the pitcher for the No. 1 pick when in fact Atlanta was leaving its options open after coming up with a final five of Jones, Van Poppel, Tony Clark, Mike Lieberthal and Mike Mussina.

When Van Poppel announced he didn’t want to pitch for the Braves, Atlanta didn’t hesitate jumping off that bus — that is, if the Braves were ever really on it.

Ha, Todd Van Poppel. Are you serious? I mean, imagine if the Atlanta Braves decided to go with Van Poppel over Chipper? Unbelievable. Good read, thanks, Sean.

Advertisement