Chipper a Hall of Famer?

Question

i just read an article by and SI writer talking about chipper jones being a candidate in the hall of fame when his career is over. just wondering what all you think.

Answer 1

G'day Andrew B,

Thanks for your question.

I think that Chipper Jones is a deadset certainty for the Hall of Fame given that he is one of the leading switch hitters of all time.

In a 12-season career, Jones is a .305/.402/.539 hitter with 346 home runs, 1,056 walks and 1,170 RBIs in 1,731 games. He is behind only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray on the all-time switch hitters career home run list. Today, he is considered one of the game's best all-around hitters.

He is the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career batting average and more than 300 home runs. Mickey Mantle, arguably the greatest switch hitter of all time, ended his career with a .298 batting average.

Jones has emerged as a team leader in recent years and is well-respected in the clubhouse. Following the 2005 season, Jones reworked his contract with Braves to free up more money to pursue elite free agents, as well as virtually assure he will end his career in Atlanta. The revamped deal gave the Braves fifteen million dollars over the course of the next three years, as well as six million to use in 2006. The new deal also converted two final team option years to guaranteed contracts.

On June 10, 2006, Jones became the Atlanta Braves all-time RBI leader when he drove in his 1,144th RBI against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, passing former outfielder Dale Murphy. Jones remains behind Hank Aaron (2,202) and Eddie Mathews (1,388) on the franchise's all-time list.

On July 15, 2006, Jones recorded his 1,902 career hit to become the Atlanta Braves' all-time hits leader, thus passing Hank Aaron. The next day he hit a home run to extend his extra-base hitting streak to 14 games, matching the Major League record set by Pittsburgh's Paul Waner in 1927.

On August 14, 2006, Chipper had his first career 3 home run game. Jones homered in his final three at bats in the Braves 10-4 win over the Washington Nationals. Jones finished the night going 4-5 with 5 RBIs.

Some of his accomplishments during his career include:

* TSN Rookie of the Year (1995)
* 5-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000-01)
* National League MVP (1999)
* 2-time Silver Slugger at 3rd Base (1999-2000)
* Holds the Major League Record for most consecutive games with an extra-base hit (14, tied with Paul Waner).
* 8 straight 100 plus RBI seasons (1996-2003)
* Most homeruns in a single season by a National League switch hitter. (45 in 1999)

When you consider that many of his most notable contemporaries have considerable clouds hanging over them, the likelihood becomes even greater.

I have attached some sources for your reference.

Regards

Answer 2

Chipper turned 34 in April of this year.

Totals so far (going into this season) are 1,811 hits, 331 HR 1,111 RBI a .303 average.
While it's true Mantle finished his career with a .298 average, that was because of his last two years... if Chipper plays until he's 40 or 41, his average will drop below .300 as well. But Mantle's slugging and OB percentages are both 20 points higher than Chipper's, and Chipper hasn't hit the true decline phase of his career yet. He's not nearly as good as Mantle.

Incredibly, Chipper's only made the all-star team 5(!) times, according to baseball-reference.com. that almost seems like it HAS to be a mis-print... but it doesn't bode well when evaluating HOF candidates. He hasn't made the All Star team since 2001.

He's won an MVP award, with four other finishes in the top 10. Plus, although his MVP season was in fact his best year, it hardly stands out among his other excellent seasons...he's had a lot of years with numbers close to his MVP sesaon (other than HRs), which will help his HOF case.

If Chipper plays reasonably well until he's 40 or so, he should have good enough career numbers to make the HOF...

So far, he's played about 80% of his career games at third base...and his career offensive numbers are very strong for a third baseman. Splitting a career between two positions can sometimes hurt a player's HOF chances because such players tend to be underrated. His numbers, at this point, are about average for a Hall of Famer. So he'll be well above average by the time he retires.

His overall post-season performance is a slight drop off from his play in the regular season. It would certainly have helped his chances if the Braves had won the Series more than once.

Also, he's never led the league in any offensive category, although he has a number of top 10 finishes in various categories....(he did lead the NL in 'runs created', a Bill James stat, in 1999, his MVP year).

I would expect Chipper to make the HOF, but probably not necessarily in his first year of eligibility... his chances are, I believe, somewhat enhanced if he compiles his career numbers without the aid of steroids.

Answer 3

He definitely needs to play for a few more years to get in, especially with the gaudy offensive numbers others are putting up. Chipper's been a very good player for a long time though.

I have a feeling he might end up being like a Jim Rice... the kind who probably deserves to be there, but doesn't get in.

Career .300+ average, .400+ OBP... but only 352 homers and 1183 RBIs in an era where the elite guys are all going to break 500 homers.

Plus Chipper's only at a little over 1900 hits, and has never had a 200+ hit season.

Answer 4

If Chipper's career were to end today, his current stats don't necessarily warrant getting voted in, although a case could still be made for it. I think the assumption is that he will continue to play at the level he does, and will do so for at least another 5-10 years. If those years are similar to his career to date, he will go, no questions asked. Maybe not first year, as some of the voters are pretty weird about that, but eventually. The knock against him is that his post-season numbers have never been great, and his lack of production when it counts has cost the Braves many of their playoff chances throughout the '90s and '00s. As a hardcore Braves fan, I absolutely want to see him in Cooperstown. Dale Murphy too, but that's another question.

Answer 5

I believe that he will be a Hall of Famer especially with a few more good seasons before he retires. He may have numbers of close to 500 homers over .300 batting average and 2500 hits or so which should get him in plus he has played in some world series and playoff games which of course doesn't hurt along with an MVP award and a home run crown .

Answer 6

Perhaps. As someone said below, he wouldn't be today. He is going to have to get back to playing 150 games per year.

My problem with HOF voters is that they don't often take position into account. Ted Simmons, for example, belongs in the Hall. Next to OF's and 1B's, his numbers don't look great. Compared to the catchers of his time, they are awesome.

Kurt, all games for which they keep stats count. Look at his career playoff numbers, though.

Third base is under-represented in the Hall. There are very few guys with the skill to play third base AND the bat to get into Cooperstown. Chipper may be one of them.

Answer 7

Definitely, career batting average over .300, probably 400+ HRs by the time he retires, what was it 8 straight seasons of 100+ RBIs?

Yeah, I could see him getting into the Hall of Fame.

Answer 8

I'm a Mets fan, but must admit- Chipper will probably make in on the first round of voting.

Answer 9

You bet he's a HOFer. He has 350+ career HRs, and he was maybe the biggest offensive contributer on the majority of those division titles.

Answer 10

First things first, he needs to stay healthy!

Great numbers, good D at third, unselfishly played LF for a while, and didn't embarrass himself out there.

I think if he breaks 400 HRs, he's a shoe-in.