First published 2017
Chipper Jones grew up as a country kid in Pierson, Florida, playing backyard baseball with his father and dreaming of the major leagues. The Atlanta Braves selected him first overall in the 1990 draft, launching a Hall of Fame career that spanned nineteen seasons with one organization. Jones mastered switch-hitting and became the cornerstone of Atlanta's historic fourteen consecutive division titles. He shares candid details about the Braves' 1995 World Series championship and their dynasty years through 2005. Jones opens up about his relationships with manager Bobby Cox and legendary teammates like Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz. He recalls memorable plate battles against elite pitchers including Clemens, Johnson, Wagner, and Papelbon. The eight-time All-Star discusses his National League MVP season, his intense rivalry with the New York Mets, and the personal challenges that accompanied sudden fame. Jones reflects on modern baseball's evolution, including massive contracts and the steroid era, before concluding with his emotional final season in 2012.
Genres: sports, biography-memoir, baseball, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, sports
Setting: Pierson, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia
Period: 1990s, 2000s, 2012
369 pages · Hardcover · Dutton