C'Mon Kid!

As I sit here in bed tonight watching the Major League Baseball All Star Game, I have a lot on my mind. I have the upcoming birth of my first child at any moment. Believe me, I am super excited and cannot wait to meet my daughter for the first time. If you'd like read about our adventures on my other blog or my wife's blog about our new addition, Raleigh. However, I have been sitting here on pins and needles since the beginning of Fox's broadcast waiting for Chipper Jones.

Chipper Jones Card from Macon Braves

Chipper Jones has been my hero and favorite baseball player since he played for the Macon Braves (now Rome Braves) during the 1991 season when he came to play my hometown Fayetteville Generals. So, for the last 21 years I have had the same favorite player and that player has played for the same team that entire time. That is something that will probably never be seen again once Chipper calls it a career at the end of this season and Derek Jeter retires in the future.

As Chipper stepped to the plate tonight he received his second standing ovation of the night and it was very much deserved. A standing ovation in front of fans in a city that until tonight he had never played in front of. Chipper singled to right on a little duck snort past second baseman Ian Kinsler, of the Texas Rangers. As he rounded first, Chipper was grinning from ear to ear. That is something that I have seen a lot of so far this season. He is having fun playing the game. I think that an amazing and exciting second half is in store for Chipper and the Braves as we head down the home stretch of Chipper's final season.

Chipper Jones during batting practice at tonight's All Star Game

Is Chipper the greatest to ever play the game? No. Is he the greatest of this generation? Maybe not. But he is definitely in the conversation for one of the 50 best players of all time and top 2-3 third baseman of all time as well. As a switch hitter he has comparable numbers to Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray. He has more hits than Mantle and a higher batting average than Murray; thus, Chipper is at the top of the conversation for the greatest switch hitter of all time. That, my friends, makes him a no question first ballot Hall of Famer!


I know at some point this season, probably the last game I attend in person that he plays in, it will hit me that the baseball player that I grew up idolizing will not play beyond this season. And I know that at that point I will probably reflect on all the memories that helped shape my childhood and early adulthood. And yes, I will probably shed a tear! So, here's to my baseball hero and his final season! And here's to one more "C'Mon Kid," from the now retired Braves legendary manager Bobby Cox!