Awesome Chipper Jones quote!

[Honus Wagner Rules]

This is why Chipper Jones rocks!

"The marriage between the Braves and myself has been a good one. It's been one with give and take on both sides. So I've never wanted to wear another uniform. And they've shown me throughout the years, by never even letting me get remotely close to free agency, that they want me here. And that means a lot to me. I wouldn't feel right going to the American League and DH-ing, just to get 3,000 hits or 500 homers. … Do I think I could stick around for another two or three years and get 3,000 hits or 500 homers if I really wanted it? Yeah. No doubt. Because I still have the ability to be productive. But that would mean me probably having to go somewhere else. And it means more to me to spend 19 years in one organization, in one uniform, and nobody else seeing me in a different 'uni.'

SOURCE

[ian2813]

Good stuff! Loyalty is a quality I've always admired.

[LI METS FAN]

Chipper Jones gets it that to be a life long Brave makes him special. Something Ken Griffey Jr, A-Rod, Albert Pujols, and the like will never have.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Chipper Jones gets it that to be a life long Brave makes him special. Something Ken Griffey Jr, A-Rod, Albert Pujols, and the like will never have.

Or Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, etc.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Or Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, etc.

Even before free agency it was generally uncommon for a star player to play for one team his entire career.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What does he mean about the Braves never LETTING him get close to free agency?

Surely if a player truly wants to play with only one team, he'll take whatever contract and salary they offer him. No need for negotiations or anything like that. So what is he talking about?

[SamtheBravesFan]

What does he mean about the Braves never LETTING him get close to free agency?

Surely if a player truly wants to play with only one team, he'll take whatever contract and salary they offer him. No need for negotiations or anything like that. So what is he talking about?

I think he's joking around a little. He tends to do that.

I want to say that Chipper isn't extra special because he's spent his entire career with one team. Like CCN pointed out, great players don't always spend their careers with one team. In the Braves' case, for instance, Aaron and Dale Murphy both requested trades out of Atlanta near the end of their careers. That doesn't make them any less revered around here.

[GiambiJuice]

The "loyalty" thing gets blown out of proportion, IMO. Let's not act like Chipper has done the Braves some kind of favor. The Braves have paid him $170 million dollars for his services. It's a business after all.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

The "loyalty" thing gets blown out of proportion, IMO. Let's not act like Chipper has done the Braves some kind of favor. The Braves have paid him $170 million dollars for his services. It's a business after all.

That's not even as much as the Yankees have paid Derek Jeter for his "loyalty".

[Captain Cold Nose]

That's not even as much as the Yankees have paid Derek Jeter for his "loyalty".

Cost of living expenses, you know.

While I do believe the whole playing a whole career with one team does get overblown, especially when it is used to cast dispersions against HOF-caliber players who did not, it's still kind of special given the rarity it happens.

[Bigfoot 88]

Go Lifers!

[Ben Grimm]

The "loyalty" thing gets blown out of proportion, IMO. Let's not act like Chipper has done the Braves some kind of favor. The Braves have paid him $170 million dollars for his services. It's a business after all.

Very true. Although, there were some mid-contract deals made to help the Braves deal with payroll while allowing Chipper some guaranteed years instead of options. It's a tough line to walk because if you don't sell the player on it, he can walk. Likewise, the player needs to feel appreciated and if you can give him that while adjusting your payroll options, it's a win for both sides. The Braves & Chipper worked well together in that.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Go Lifers!

Is that some other kind of uniform? Because how exactly the hell would we be seeing Jeter in Braves gear, outside of a major Photoshop job?

[dominik]

What does he mean about the Braves never LETTING him get close to free agency?

Surely if a player truly wants to play with only one team, he'll take whatever contract and salary they offer him. No need for negotiations or anything like that. So what is he talking about?

he talks about them paying him enough money for him not to consider going anywhere.

[GiambiJuice]

Is that some other kind of uniform? Because how exactly the hell would we be seeing Jeter in Braves gear, outside of a major Photoshop job?

That looks like it's from the World Baseball Classic.