CHIPPER JONES HALL OF FAME SPEECH

Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Chipper Jones:

Born Larry Wayne Jones – Jones received the nickname “Chipper” from his father and other family members, who saw the younger Larry as a “chip off the old block.”   He showed an early love for baseball predominantly because of his father’s position as coach, and began to play Little League teams at age 7.

Chipper played for one & one team only during his entire Mid-West Baseball League career.  My very own Chicago Mobsters.   He was the Mobsters’ primary starting third baseman for nearly all of the period from 1995–2013, including time within the Iowa Baseball Confederacy.    In 2003 and 2004, Jones played some outfield before returning to third base in 2005. Standing 6′ 4″ tall and weighing 210 pounds during his playing career, Jones threw right-handed and was a switch hitter.

Chipper Jones received All-Star Starting Third baseman in 1999, 2001 & 2002.  He also was an All-Star reserve in 1998, 2000, & 2004.   Co-Winner of the 2008 World Series (C.C. Sabathia), Jones hit 1 Home Run, drove in 5 RBI’s & Batted .471 in the Series.

A Career .293 Hitter in over 8638 At-Bats with 2532 hits, including 544 Doubles, 405 Home Runs & walking 1350 times.   Joes struck out only 1387 times in his career – so when you look at the K’s / BB it is an astounding accomplishment.

Chipper played for my Mobsters & was one of the core players in helping the Mobsters always play above a .500 Winning Percentage.

It is with great honor that I can now say to Chipper sitting down here to my left “Welcome to the Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame.

Chipper Jones Speech:

This is a great honor here today to be standing here at this podium in front of these Hall of Famers sitting behind me.   I’ve played against them all, I’ve admired a lot of them, but I have respected all of them.

I’d like to thank the Commissioner Mr. Stray Corrado for your years as my manager, owner & as Commissioner of this great League.   Thank you for keeping me a Mobster.  I played each game for you as if it was my last game of my career; I gave it my all as in baseball you never know if there is a tomorrow.

Many thanks to Deputy Commissioner Steve Cutler & Hall of Fame Chairman Casey Hoch for all you do for the MWBL Hall of Fame & the League itself.

I’d like to thank the voting owners for allowing me to be part of the greatest MWBL team ever (Motioning his hands to his left & right – pointing to the Hall of Famers sitting behind him), I truly am honored to be here.

I can’t go on without saying how lucky I am to be standing on this stage with my fellow teammate & now Hall of Famer going in – in the same year as myself – Billy Wagner.   For a small dude from Virginia you pitched for our Mobsters as though you were 6’8 & brought the gas every night.  I’m honored Billy to go into the Hall of Fame with you.   Manny & Bag’s (Pointing to Manny Ramirez & Jeff Bagwell) I’m honored just as much.

I was and still am to this day honored to be a Chicago Mobster from Day 1.   It was a long journey these past 20 years, and through it all I gave everything I could for the organization.  Ownership was great, we won a World Series (2008) & now I’m standing here before you humbled, honored very – very proud to be a Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Famer.