Chipper's Last Chop

Chipper Jones as a rookie in 1995.

The baseball stars of the 1990s are heading towards the sunset. Boston's Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek have hung up their cleats, as is New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada. On Thursday Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will call it a career after the 2012 season.

Jones's Major League journey began in 1993, but he didn't make any significant impact until the 1995 season, during which he led all rookies in RBIs, games played and started, plate appearances, at bats, and runs. Moreover, he led the Atlanta Braves to the World Series title that year over the Cleveland Indians in six games. At the time, Atlanta's success was credited to the pitching prowess of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, but who would've thought that Chipper would become their biggest beneficiary that season and in the years to come.

Jones continued to play a significant role in the Braves' success, even as they fall short of the World Series title twice to the Yankees in 1996 and 1999. Jones won the NL MVP award in the latter year and won the first of two consecutive Silver Sluggers for third baseman. However, the Braves fell out of contention as the new millennium began. They would win a playoff series only once from 2000-05, and then made the playoffs only once between 2006 and 2011, as Jones led a team in transition. During this period made the All-Star team from 1996-98, and 2000-01.

Injuries would then rob Jones of his once prodigious offensive talent, though he continued to rack milestones later in his career. In 2008, he averaged .364 to win his first batting title, the oldest switch-hitter to do so, while participating in his sixth All-Star Game and earned his 14th straight 20-homer season. In the 2011 season he hit his 450th homer, and also participated in his seventh All-Star Game. At season's end he had amassed over 200 doubles, 1,500 RBI and 2,500 hits. 

Chipper Jones in 2011

Those numbers will undoubtedly earn him a place in Cooperstown, and his jersey number 10 will be likely retired and will never be worn by another Braves player for good. Chipper Jones will go down as one of the greatest Braves players of all time, if not the greatest. If this was the last tomahawk chop for Chipper, this may be the sweetest of it all.