His life in Baseball

In 1990, Chipper was named the Florida High School Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves as the first pick in the entire draft.

His first assignment was with the Gulf Coast Braves where he played 44 games in 1990. In 1991, Chipper played for the Macon Braves. He led the league with 71 double plays while playing shortstop. The next year Chipper split time with the Durham Bulls and the Greenville Braves. In 1993, Chipper found himself in Richmond playing triple A ball with the Richmond Braves. He was the Braves AAA Player of the Year and was named the #2 Prospect in the International League by Baseball America.

1993 also brought Chipper's pro debut. He went 2 for 3. But 1994 was not a good year for Chipper because he spent the year on the disabled list with a knee injury. His first full major league season was 1995. He should have been a consensus Rookie of the Year but Hideo Nomo beat him out for the League award. He did however win The Sporting News Rookie of the Year. 1996 brought an even more improved Chipper, who was now playing third base. He was named to the All Star Team and started after Matt Williams was hurt . His 96 season numbers proved to everyone that Chipper Jones was here to stay and he was going to make the headlines. He soon became a leader in the clubhouse and a model to Braves fans everywhere.

In 1997 Chipper had a year that would have been a great year for a lot of people, but not for him . He worked out earlier in the team's facilities in the winter. And it seems all the work paid off because he had a carrer year in 1998.But 1999 was even better. Not so much for statistics (although the stats where there) , but for what he meant to his team. For the way he carried them all year. In a team wrecked by injuries he was the one constant. The rock in the team. The one to look up to. His great season was rewared by the Baseball Writers with the NL MVP throphy. His first one, but many believe, not his last.

2000 was not a very good season. Not only Chipper spent the whole season injured, the season also marked the Braves latest postseason failure and their earlier exit from the postseason in a decade.

But there's always next year ... and the expectations are high for the 2001 season.