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View Full Version : Atlanta Braves Players Boycotted Chipper Jones' First Pitch



superman7515
October 8th, 2013, 11:02 PM
http://tracking.si.com/2013/10/08/chipper-jones-braves-first-pitch/


In June, Chipper Jones enjoyed a send-off worthy (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130628/braves-retire-chipper-jones-number/) of his status as a Braves legend. The 1999 National League Most Valuable Player and eight-time All-Star felt adored when the team retired his jersey after he played his entire 19-season career in Atlanta.

Three months later, Jones threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the NLDS in Atlanta to a dubious target — the Braves’ mascot.

After the Braves’ 6-1 loss to the Dodgers that night, Jones sarcastically posted a mention of the perceived slight by the Braves on Twitter:

“Wanna thank the Braves organization for having me throw out the first pitch to the mascot tonite. Quite sure that’s never been done before!”
A followup tweet left no doubt as to Jones’ disappointment:

“Nor will it EVER happen again!”
The New York Post reported Monday that Braves players were not happy with Jones’ pregame prediction that the team would lose the NLDS. Jones told the team’s flagship station, 680 The Fan, that the Dodgers would win in four games. When word got to the Braves’ clubhouse, no player volunteered to catch Jones’ first pitch.

As it turns out, Jones’ prediction was correct. The Dodgers eliminated the Braves in Game 4 on Monday night.

PaladinFan
October 9th, 2013, 05:21 AM
Kind of bizarre story. Have not heard anything about it other than the same circulated story.

Chipper played with Atlanta for a long time. He knows many of those guys really well. I have a hard time believing that 25 grown men refused to catch a baseball because Jones picked the Dodgers on the radio. Sounds to me like there might be more to the story. That's just my opinion.