Chipper Jones was the last Atlanta Brave to win the NL MVP. Now, he sends his congratulations to Freddie Freeman.
Prior to Thursday night, legendary third baseman Chipper Jones was the last member of the Atlanta Braves to win the award. Jones now has some company in the MVP suite, as first baseman Freddie Freeman won the award by receiving 28-of-30 first-place votes by the Baseball Writer’s Association of America.
Shortly after the announcement was made, Jones sent his congratulations to Freeman in a tweet, while challenging him to win the award again in 2021.
From one Braves MVP to another
Since Jones took home the NL MVP award, there have only been two Braves players to receive a top-three finish in the BBWAA voting process. Outfielder Gary Sheffield finished in third-place following the 2003 season, while Andruw Jones earned a second-place finish in 2005.
In 1999, Jones won the MVP award after slashing .319/.441/.633, while recording 45 home runs, 110 RBI, 181 hits and 116 runs scored. Jones’ number played a significant factor in the Braves reaching the World Series that year, but they were swept by the AL-juggernaut in the New York Yankees.
Freeman played in all 60 games of the truncated season, where he recorded a .341 batting average, .462 on-base percentage and .640 slugging percentage, along with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. Furthermore, Freeman led the NL in runs scored (51) and doubles (23). Freeman helped the Braves get within one game of reaching their first World Series since, ironically, 1999. However, they ended up blowing a 3-1 lead in the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Regardless of the end result, Freeman was the best player in the league.
Now, the first baseman is the fifth player in franchise history to win MVP, joining Jones, Terry Pendleton (1991), Dale Murphy (1982-83), Hank Aaron (1957), Robert Elliott (1947) and John Evers (1914). Welcome to the club, Freddie!