Braves great Chipper Jones was the player New York fans loved to hate. And hated to love. But they probably did both.
During games against the Mets, the crowd at Shea Stadium would often chant “Larry, Larry” in reference to the third baseman’s first name.
Chipper often responded with a smile or a wave and a big hit for the Braves. He also responded by naming one of his sons Shea.
Jones’s excellence and playful sense of humor earned the respect of New York fans and the media, too.
After Jones was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame Wednesday night, the New York Daily News had a photo of Chipper filling its back page along with a headline of "Go to Hall, Larry!"
A smaller headline read, “19 years of Met killing pays off as Chipper reaches Cooperstown.”
Cooperstown, the site of the Hall of Fame, is in New York state. It will be just a short drive for Mets fans to see Chipper’s shrine.
> Also: Watch Chipper receive Hall of Fame call
About the Author