Chipper Jones will not finish his career in Atlanta!

Newsflash huh?

Nope, it is my belief that if the “boy-wonder” retired today he would finish his career in Cooperstown in 2015.

He currently stands as possibly the best 3rd baseman in Atlanta history and perhaps Braves history. He is also one of the top 3 most prolific offensive switch-hitters of all time. One can only wonder, if he hadn’t had the Hooters incident, …well, we might be seeing his commercials all day long right behind Peyton Manning’s.

There are certain numbers that are a given to enter the HOF. Usually the criteria, among hitters, are 3,000 hits or 500 HR’s. Chipper is on the threshold of both.

His career stats include:

2,406-Hits

426-HR

.307-Avg

.406-OBP

.947-OPS

…and he was also MVP in 1999.

Here is what Chipper, who is now 37 years old, will need to do in order to cement his place in MLB history.  This is based on projected years played.

If Chipper plays another:

3 years, he will need to average: 198 hits and 25 HR’s. (Doubtful.)

4 years, he will need to average: 149 hits and 19 HR’s. (Do-able.)

5 years, he will need to average: 119 hits and 15 HR’s. (VERY do-able.)

Let me put this into perspective, …and perhaps elaborate on the elite company that this monumental achievement will elevate him to.

There are only 10 people who have achieved the 3000 hit / 300 HR mark in all of baseball history. As it turns out, 24 pitchers have hit the 300 Win plateau...Clemens, Maddux, Glavine, and Johnson being the latest…that coming on the heels of sportscasters nationwide proclaiming that MLB will never again see another 300 game winner.

Even more, there are only 8 players with 3,000 hits and 400 HR’s, …and to top that…

only 4 players with 3,000 hits and 500 HR’s:

Hank Aaron

Willie Mays

Eddie Murray

Rafael Palmeiro (wont make the HOF because of the congressional finger wagging incident!)

Chipper can quite possibly be the fifth guy on this list.

…I can hear them in NY now as we speak, …..”Larry……Larry…”

It’s got to be humiliating when a guy beats your own team down so bad that he names his own SON after your home stadium!

Thats probably why they tore the crap-hole down.

Chipper is the absolute best pure hitter that I have ever seen come out of the Braves own system…or even traded for. He is a once in a life-time commodity for this franchise and I hope they allow him to go out on his own terms, …as I would have wished for Glavine and Smoltz as well.