It all started in Houston when Craig Biggio gave Chipper Jones a cowboy hat on behalf of the Astros organization. It was Chippers last time in Houston as a professional baseball player. Since then, the memorabilia has not stopped coming.
After Jones announced his retirement from baseball follwing the 2012 season, opposing teams and fans have not stopped thanking Chipper for all the great years he has had as an Atlanta Brave.
Thursday night, the Cincinnati Reds awarded Chipper a third base bag, presented by third basebman and long time foe, Scott Rolen. The Reds also created a video tribute as Ozzie Osbourne's "Crazy Train," which is Jones' song before every at bat in Atlanta, played in the background.
The Atlanta Braves, the team that drafted Jones in 1990 as the first overall pick, have already made a few stops in opposing ballparks early in the season. Following the first tribute by the Astros, the Braves faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in Chase Field. The D'backs prepared a video tribute with highlights of Chipper, which was presented on their centerfield jumbotron at the end of the third inning.
The Chicago Cubs gave Chipper the Braves' standings flags, which fly high above Wrigley in centerfield. That same week, while in St. Louis, the Cardinals presented Chipper with a framed photograph of himself and a Stan Musial autographed Cardinals jersey. Musial was one of the players Chipper idolized the most.
Even though Chipper Jones has not played much against the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays took time over this past weekend to also honor Chipper with a video. Fans gave Chipper a standing ovation and took time to honor the 19-year veteran.
The Braves play a series of home games at the end of the month and in the beginning of June will play against division rivals. The next stop on Chipper's Farewell Tour will not be until late June when the Braves embark on a series against their 1996 and 1999 World Series opponents, New York Yankees, and will then stop by Fenway Park for a series against the Red Sox.
In his final season, Chipper will continue to enjoy the outpouring appreciation from fans both at home and away.
