Is it cheating if I use a picture of myself from approximately 13 years ago? Probably. Do I care? Not today.
For anyone that grew up an Atlanta Braves fan, or even a baseball fan, today might be a sad day. At 38 years old, Chipper Jones announced that he tore his ACL on a terrific play at Houston on Tuesday. While there is still a chance that he may attempt rehab and a comeback next season following surgery, I think this is the end. The man that really started his career with an ACL injury, now may end his career on one as well.
My first memories of the Braves don’t involve Chipper, but he was one of my favorites for years. In his first season, he was robbed of the Rookie of the Year (by Hideo Nomo), and he helped the Braves win their first World Series in Atlanta (and sadly only WS of the 14-year Division Champion run). When John Smoltz left for Boston following the 2008 season, Chipper officially became the last player remaining on the team from that championship season. Several times he took less money in order to allow the Braves to be competitive. He was drafted by the Braves 20 years ago, has never worn another team’s jersey and has played his entire career for the same manager (which ends this year, one way or another).
While I hope this is not the end and I know Chipper would want to go out on his own terms, I have a feeling this is it. And in a few years, he’ll have his number hung up in the stands by Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Bobby Cox (#6 will be up there soon), and shortly thereafter, he’ll join the Hall of Fame with these same guys (minus Murphy, but that’s a whole different travesty). Nothing is official yet, but it’s been fun growing up watching Chipper over the last 16 years.
