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Ballplayer cover art

Ballplayer

Written by: Chipper Jones, Carroll Rogers Walton, Bobby Cox - foreword
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
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Publisher's Summary

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones - one of the greatest switch-hitters in baseball history - shares his remarkable story while capturing the magic nostalgia that sets baseball apart from every other sport.

Before Chipper Jones became an eight-time All-Star who amassed Hall of Fame-worthy statistics during a 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves, he was just a country kid from small-town Pierson, Florida. A kid who grew up playing baseball in the backyard with his dad, dreaming that one day he'd be a major league ballplayer.

With his trademark candor and astonishing recall, Chipper Jones tells the story of his rise to the MLB ranks and what it took to stay with one organization his entire career in an era of booming free agency. His journey begins with learning the art of switch-hitting and takes off after the Braves made him the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, setting him on course to become the linchpin of their lineup at the height of their 14-straight division-title run.

Ballplayer takes listeners into the clubhouse of the Braves' extraordinary dynasty, from the climax of the World Series championship in 1995 to the last-gasp division win by the 2005 "Baby Braves", all the while sharing pitch-by-pitch dissections of clashes at the plate with some of the all-time great starters, such as Clemens and Johnson, as well as closers such as Wagner and Papelbon. He delves into his relationships with Bobby Cox and his famous Braves brothers - Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, among them - and opponents from Cal Ripken Jr. to Barry Bonds. The National League MVP also opens up about his overnight rise to superstardom and the personal pitfalls that came with fame; his spirited rivalry with the New York Mets; his reflections on baseball in the modern era - outrageous money, steroids, and all; and his special last season in 2012.

Ballplayer immerses us in the best of baseball, as if we're sitting next to Chipper in the dugout on an endless spring day.

©2017 Chipper Jones (P)2017 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

"Baseball fans will revel in the anecdotes and behind-the-scenes look at the game." (Booklist)

"Fans will find a clear, readable old-school account of a player who almost certainly will be voted into the Hall of Fame." (Kirkus)

"Jones, one of the best switch hitters in Major League Baseball history…offers an insider’s look into professional baseball." (Publishers Weekly)

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Amazing

I'm a Braves Fan since the 90s and I loved every minute of this book. Learned a lot about Chipper's childhood and got a lot of laughs reminiscing old moments. I grew up calling Chipper my favorite player and after this book its still very obvious how he won me over along with millions of other fans. Being a kid from Canada I never got to Atlanta to watch Chipper play, but I mailed a rookie card off to be autographed. Chipper was the only player who ever sent it back. Class Act.

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My favourite sports book by far

I bought this book because I idolized Chipper Jones when I used to play ball, it is a great memoir about everything it took for him to become a big league ball player and everything he went through to have a one team career. Very motivating book and would recommend it to anyone interested in MLB or sports in general. #Audible1

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Awesome

#Audible1 , if you like biographies and baseball, this is a must read/listen. It’s great that Chipper was the reader too.

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