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Chipper Jones to Name His Baby After Baseball Hall of Fame

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Chipper Jones was always known as a clutch performer.

Just ask the New York Mets, who saw him round the bases 49 times during his career. That one-sided rivalry led Jones to name his son Shea, after the Mets’ former stadium.

The Braves made the postseason 11 straight years during Jones’ 19-year career — highlighted by the 1995 World Series title — so he’s used to performing on a big stage.

But Jones wouldn’t be human if he didn’t have at least some butterflies before his Hall of Fame induction speech on Sunday.

While certainly personable, Jones was really more of a leader by example than by words. So speaking in front of thousands of fans while some of the greatest players in baseball history were seated right over his shoulder may have caused a few nerves.

And to add to the anxiety, Jones made his speech while knowing that his wife, Taylor, was due to give birth at any minute.

Will any team ever match the Braves' record of 14 straight division titles?
Considering Jones already has six sons, he knew how to be prepared on the cusp of No. 7’s arrival. So he was prepared — the Hall let him speak first, and just to be safe, he had recorded a version of his speech, too.

And to honor the day?

Well, when boy No. 7 comes, he’ll truly be a Hall of Fame baby, with a fitting name — Cooper — short for Cooperstown, the home of the Hall.

https://twitter.com/TwitterMoments/status/1023653585362591744

Jones, of course, was a no-brainer choice for the Hall. He collected 97.2% of the vote, the 11th-highest total in baseball history.

He was eight-time All-Star, who swatted 468 career home runs and drove in 1,623 runs. He won a batting title at 36 years old in 2008, was named National League MVP in 1999, and is the only switch-hitter to retire with a batting average higher than .300 (.303 to be exact).

He was the unquestioned offensive leader of the great Braves run of 14 consecutive division titles.

Perhaps even cooler, he’s helping produce a special beer made due out in August in his honor, CJ10.

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So this guy has a beer named after him, one son named after a former Major League stadium, and soon, another for the Hall of Fame.

It’s probably a good thing he didn’t play basketball, football or hockey; naming a son “Springfield,” “Canton,” or “Toronto” Jones doesn’t have the same ring.

Leave it to Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. to come up with something special.

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Mike is an 11-time Michigan Emmy Award winner who has spent nearly 30 years working in sports media.
Mike has spent nearly 30 years in all aspects of sports media, including on-air, 10 at ESPN and another 10 at Fox Sports Detroit. He now works as a TV agent, and lives with his family in West Bloomfield, MI.
Birthplace
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Honors/Awards
11-time Michigan Emmy winner
Education
Emerson College
Books Written
The Longest Year: One Family's Journey Of Life, Death, And Love/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Tigers/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Lions
Topics of Expertise
Sports




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