In the riveting memoir, “Ballplayer,” the iconic Atlanta Braves third baseman and National Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones, takes fans on a nostalgic tour through the highs and lows of his remarkable life both on and off the baseball diamond.
Among the many episodes within the book, Chapter 9, titled “Going Deep,” paints a vivid picture of April 26, 1995-Opening Day at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
It was Jones’ chance to prove himself as he stepped into the shoes of Terry Pendleton, after a year-long hiatus from the game.
Nervous and determined to make his mark, Chipper found himself in an unexpected on-field drama with none other than the legendary Greg Maddux.
With two outs in the first inning and Barry Bonds at bat, a high pop-up soared over the infield.
Jones, donning flip-down shades to shield the sun, charged forward, shouting, “I got it! I got it!”
In an instant, he collided with Maddux. The flip-downs ended up in Jones’ mouth, and the ball was secured by the ever-cool Fred McGriff.
Next, Maddux let loose a tirade of colorful language aimed at the rookie third baseman, saying:
“Settle the f**k down, you motherf*****g rookie. Stay the f**k away from me.”
The chastisement continued throughout the next few innings, with Maddux making sure Jones got the message loud and clear.
While everyone else, including McGriff, had a good laugh at the spectacle, Chipper was mortified.
He had just steamrolled the four-time Cy Young winner, the ace of the Braves, who was worth a cool $12 million.
Determined to redeem himself, Jones got his chance at bat in the bottom of the first inning, facing Terry Mulholland.
In a storybook twist, he smashed a base hit through the infield to drive in the first run of the season.
That hit set the stage for an explosive Braves offense, with the first six batters delivering base hits, and the team scoring twelve runs that day.
Source: Ballplayer by Chipper Jones
The 1995 Atlanta Braves went on to achieve great success, culminating in their victory over the Guardians in the championship series, with a 4-2 triumph.
Chipper Jones had officially arrived, and his remarkable journey from a small-town kid with dreams of playing in the majors to becoming an eight-time All-Star and an iconic figure in Braves history was well underway.
“Ballplayer” not only delves into these thrilling moments on the field but also provides readers with an intimate look at the personal challenges Jones faced in his rise to superstardom.
