Andruw Jones
Encyclopedia
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
who is a free agent
.
Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series
, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason. In the 996 World Series Jones became just the second player every to homered in his first 2 World Series at bats. The following season, Jones batted .231 with 18 home runs and finished 5th in voting for Rookie of the Year. In 1998, Jones batted .271 with 31 home runs and in 1999, he batted .275 with 26 home runs. Jones batted .303 with 36 home runs and 104 runs batted in in 2000 and made his first All-Star team. The following season, Jones again blasted over 30 home runs and drove in 104 runs but his average dipped to .251 while his strikeouts increased. Jones played better in 2002 and 2003 and made the All-Star team in both seasons. However, Jones struggled in 2004 and failed to hit at least 30 home runs for the first time since 1999. However, Jones had a breakout season in 2005. He led the league with 51 home runs and also led the National League with 128 runs batted in. He finished 2nd to Albert Pujols
for National League MVP. In 2006, Jones batted .262 with 41 home runs and 129 runs batted in. In 2007, Jones batted just .222 with 26 home runs and 94 runs batted in. That was also his last season with the Braves.
After the 2007 season, Jones signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
as a free agent to a 2 year deal, worth $36.2 million. However, Jones would struggle mightily with the Dodgers, batting just .158 with 3 home runs and 14 runs batted in. Shortly after the season, Jones was released by the Dodgers. Since then, Jones has played for the Texas Rangers
, Chicago White Sox
, and New York Yankees
. While with the White Sox, Jones belted his 400th career home run.
Jones has been a noted defensive specialist, and won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
for outfielders every year from 1998 through 2007.
Jones has appeared in the All-Star Game
five times, and he won both the Hank Aaron Award
and a Silver Slugger Award for outfielders in 2005. In 2002, he was the inaugural National League
All-Star Final Vote
winner.
By the time Andruw was six, he was already dreaming of being a major leaguer. He would bounce around singing to himself, “I’m going to play ball in the United States, I’m going to play ball in the United States.” Back then, he played most of his baseball on the dusty field near the family's house. Those who watched Andruw in his early years remember how calm and confident he was.
By the age of 11, Andruw was on a youth select team that traveled all the way to Japan to play in a tournament. He could handle any position on the field, but because of his powerful arm, Andruw often found himself at catcher or third base. He switched to the outfield a couple of years later.
Stories of Andruw’s early accomplishments are the stuff of legend. As a 13-year-old, playing for his father’s Royal Scorpions team, he sent a ball screaming over 400 feet to the tennis court of a nearby hotel. In the same game, Andruw came up again and hit the hotel. By his early teens, he was competing against adults. He even played on Curaçao’s national team in the Latin American Games.
By the time Andruw turned 15, he was the best player on the island. He had yet to be discovered, however, for Curaçao was still well off the beaten path for major league scouts—even though countryman Hensley Meulens had done well in the New York Yankee farm system.
in 1993 at the age of 16. Jones would be promoted to Danville of the Appalachian League after only 27 games with the Braves farm team in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Jones would play for Class-A Macon in 1995. In his first at bat, he belted a homer. He would finished the season with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in. Jones also led the South Atlantic League with 56 steals. His outstanding season was capped of when he was named Minor League Player of the Year.
The Braves brought Jones up to Atlanta on August 15, 1996, when he was just 19 years old. In his first career Major League game, Jones went 1 for 5 with a run batted in and a runs scored. In his second game, he went 2 for 5 with a home run and a triple. He had his first milti-homer game against the Reds on August 22. He spent his early time in the majors playing in right field because established center fielders Marquis Grissom
and Kenny Lofton
were already entrenched in the position. He would finished the season batting .217 with 5 home runs and 13 RBIs.
In the National Championship Series against the Cardinals, Jones batted .222 with a home run and 3 RBIs. The Braves would win the Series and adavance to the World Series.
In Game 1 of the 1996 World Series
on October 20, 1996, Jones was able to demonstrate his talents on the national stage. He connected for two home run
s to left field on his first two at bat
s as the Braves routed the New York Yankees
12-1. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series at the age of 19 years, 180 days, breaking Mickey Mantle
's record of 20 years, 362 days - on what would have been Mantle's 65th birthday. Jones joined Gene Tenace
as the only other player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at bats. Tenace did it in 1972 with the Oakland Athletics
.
of the Rockies. Jones had his first multi-homer game against the Cubs on July 22. On August 31, Jones went 3 for 3 with a home run and 5 runs batted in in a game against the Boston Red Sox
. Jones finished his rookie season with a .231 batting average
, 18 home runs, and 70 runs batted in. Jones also showed his speed by stealing 20 bases. He finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1998, he moved to center field nearly full-time, and had a much more encouraging season. His average improved to .271, he hit 31 homers, and stole
27 bases. He hit his 30th home run of the season against Florida on September 13. He also won his first of ten straight Gold Glove Awards. In the 1998 National League Division Series, Jones went 0 for 9 but did drew 3 walks. The Braves would win the series against the Cubs. In the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres
, Jones batted .273 with a home run and 2 RBIs. However, The Braves would lose the series.
Whether he was in the batter's box or gliding under a fly ball to make an easy basket catch, Jones played the game in a very relaxed manner. This temporarily earned him the ire of manager Bobby Cox
in June 1998 in an incident in which Cox pulled Jones out of a game, in the midst of an inning, because he felt Jones had lazily allowed a single
to drop in center field. Jones would go on to hit .271 with 31 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Jones would also stole 27 bases.
Still just 22 years old, Jones had similar numbers in 1999, and though he was a dependable (he played all 162 games that season) and a good player, many began to wonder if or when he would live up to the potential that they believed he possessed. He had a moderate-breakout season with his bat in 2000 with career highs up until that point in batting average (.303), home runs (36), and RBIs (104). He also earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He would also led the National Leagie in Plate Apperances (729) and At Bats (656). Jones would struggle in the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. He would go 1 for 9 with a home run. The Braves would lose the series.
However, in 2001, Jones' batting average fell and his strikeout
s went up. Jones finished with 34 home runs and 104 RBIs but his average dropped to only .251 and he struck out 142 times. By now, Jones had gained nearly 30 pounds since arriving at the Major Leagues, greatly diminishing his speed on the basepaths (he would not steal more than 11 bases after 2001). He maintained a similar batting performance in 2002, but was still playing superb defense. He would hit 35 home runs and 94 RBIs. Jones would have some great games in September. On September 7, he belted 2 home runs in his last 2 at bats. In his first 2 at bats on September 10, he belted 2 more home runs. He became the 11th player in history to homer in 4 straight at bats. Then on September 25, Jones belted 3 home runs against the Phillies. Jones became the first Braves player to hit 3 home runs in a game since Jeff Blauser
did it in 1992. Jones was named to his second All Star team.
In 2003, with the power-hitting Gary Sheffield
in the line-up, Jones achieved a new career high-water-mark in RBIs, with 116. Jones would make his third All Star team and later homer in the game. The American League would beat the National League, 7-6. Unfortunately, he took a step backward in 2004 when he hit fewer than 30 homers and struck out 147 times. At the end of the season, Jones was the subject of trade rumors.
, widened his batting stance. The result was his most productive offensive season ever. After Chipper Jones went down with an injury early in 2005, Jones would carry the Braves. By the All Star Break, Jones was leading the National League in home runs with 27. Jones was named to the All Star team, his fourth of his career. Jones would hit his 40th home run of the season on August 23 in a loss against the Cubs. It marked the first time in his career that he has hit at least 40 home runs in a season. Jones became the first Braves hitter to hit 40 home runs in a season since Chipper Jones did it in 1999. On September 14, 2005, Jones hit his 300th career home run which went 430 feet (131.1 m) off Philadelphia Phillies
reliever Geoff Geary
in a 12–4 Phillies win. The ball landed in the upper deck in left field at Citizens Bank Park
. Jones became the first hitter since Alex Rodriguez
(57) and Jim Thome
(52) to hit at least 50 home runs in a season. Jones also became the 12th player in history to hit 300 home runs before his 30th birthday.
Jones hit a major league-leading 51 home runs, surpassing Hank Aaron's and Eddie Mathews
' single-season club record, and winning the Babe Ruth Home Run Award
. He also led the National League
with a career-high 128 RBI. Jones' torrid hitting in the summer, especially while teammate Chipper Jones
was out with an injury, helped carry the Braves to their 14th consecutive division championship. He finished just behind St. Louis Cardinals
' first baseman
Albert Pujols
in the 2005 NL MVP
vote.
In the 2005 National League Divisional Series against the Houston Astros
, Jones hit .471 with a home run and 5 RBIs. However, the Astros would take the series, 3-1.
for the Netherlands
.
Jones started the season by hitting a home run, hitting it on a pitch from Derek Lowe
. Jones finished the game by going 2 for 4 with a home run, 4 runs batted in, a strikeout, and a base on balls. The Braves won the game, 11-10. From April 16 through April 19, Jones homered in 4 consecutive games. During that stretch, he batted .438 with 5 home runs and 8 runs batted in. Jones finished the month of April with a .281 average, 8 home runs and 23 runs batted in.
Jones would matched his career high with 6 runs batted in on July 18 against the Cardinals. He also went 5 for 5 with 2 home runs. On August 29, in a game against the Giants, Jones drove in 3 runs, which gave him his 1000th career runs batted it. On September 26, in a game against the New York Mets
, Jones hit his 40th home run of the season. He became the first hitter in Atlanta's history to have consecutive seasons of at least 40 homers. Jones finished the 2006 season with 41 home runs and 129 RBIs. Jones also became more selective at the plate (82 walks
, as compared to 64 the prior season), which helped him score 107 runs
during 2006, an increase of 12 over the prior year and his most in a single season since 2000. He won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove award. The Braves would go on to finish with a 79-83 record and missed the postseason for the first time since 1990.
On April 30, Jones hit a three-run walk-off home run
against the Philadelphia Phillies
. On May 28, Jones hit his 350th career homer off Chris Capuano
. After the All-Star break, Jones continued to have productive power numbers; however, his batting average remained poor. He was honored with a Fielding Bible Award
as the best fielding center fielder in MLB. Jones finished the 2007 season with 26 home runs and 94 RBIs. On the downside, Jones hit only .222 and struck out a career high 138 times.
On October 2, the Braves announced they would not be bringing Jones back for the 2008 season.
Italic text
On December 5, 2007, Jones agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, worth $36.2 million. After showing up out of shape and over 20 pounds overweight, he continued to struggle, hitting below .200 for most of the season. Additionally, he had only 10 hits
in 116 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Due to his lack of production, Jones was dropped to eighth in the Dodger line-up. This was the first time since 1998 that Jones had hit eighth in any line-up.
On April 19, Jones hit his first home run as a Dodger, at Turner Field
against his former Braves teammates.
Jones was put on the disabled list
for the first time in his entire career on May 25, 2008. He had knee surgery after injuring his knee during batting practice earlier that day.
On July 27, 2008, the Dodgers manager Joe Torre
benched Jones and said that he would only be used as a spot starter in the future. At that time, Jones had a .166 batting average, two home runs and 12 RBIs combined with an incredible 68 strikeouts in 187 at-bats.
On September 13, 2008, Jones was put on the 60-day disabled list, putting an end to his very disappointing season with the Dodgers. Jones finished the season with a .158 batting average, just three home runs, and 14 RBI. He was not seen in the dugout during any of the postseason games, nor the celebrations in the locker rooms, since he had been removed from the playoff roster and sent home for the winter. Jones stated that he did not wish to return to the Dodgers in 2009, saying that the Los Angeles fans did not give him a fair chance.
During the 2009 off-season, the Dodgers reached an agreement with Jones to trade or release him before spring training in exchange for a deferral of some of the remaining money due on his contract. On January 15, 2009, Jones was officially released by the Dodgers.
On February 8, 2009, Jones signed a one-year minor league contract with the Texas Rangers
; the deal paid him $500,000 for making the major league team, and offered $1 million in incentives. Jones reportedly turned down a similar offer from the New York Yankees
to compete for their center field job and expressed an interest in staying with the Rangers even though he would likely not be a starter. He earned the Rangers' final roster spot.
He was originally planned to pinch-hit for the Rangers, but found a starting outfield role due to an injury to Josh Hamilton. Jones would go 3 for 5 in his Rangers debut with a RBI and 2 runs scored. In his next game, Jones went 2 for 3 and scored 2 runs. He also hit his first home run as a member of the Rangers in the seventh inning off of Danny Baez. By the end of April, Jones was batting .344 with 3 home runs and 6 runs batted in.
Jones would also get to faced his old club, the Dodgers. Jones would play 2 games against them from June 13 and June 14, hitting a home run in both games. On July 4, Jones went 2 for 5 with a home run and 4 runs batted in against the Rays. On July 8, in a game against the Angels, Jones hit 3 home runs and drove in 4 runs in a 8-1win. It was his second career 3-homer game in his career. Jones had a chance to hit his fourth home run of the game but he pop out and then struck out in his final 2 at bats. “I was thinking about it. I tried. I just didn’t get it done,” Jones said. “I’m just happy we won.”
Jones ultimately hit only .214 for the season, but did have 17 home runs in 82 games - a comeback of sorts for the slugger.
On April 23, 2010, Jones hit two home runs on his 33rd birthday, including a walk-off
to help the White Sox win 7-6 over the Seattle Mariners
. On July 11 he hit his 400th home run.
He finished the year with nineteen home runs in 278 at bats. He scored 41 runs, had 48 RBI and 64 base hits
in 107 games, the most games he has appeared in since 2007.
agreed to a contract for the 2011 season for $2 million, with an additional $1.2 million in performance bonuses.
In his first Yankees at-bat on April 5, 2011, Jones hit a home run over the left field wall at Yankee Stadium
off the Minnesota Twins
' Brian Duensing
.
Jones would finished the season with a .247 average with 13 home runs and 33 runs batted in. He became a free agent after the World Series.
Jones was also known for his speed early in his career. In fact, his speed earned him the last playoff spot on the Braves' roster in 1996. Jones stole 20+ bases from 1997-2000. However, his speed declined as he hit for more power. Jones has not stolen at least 10 bases since he stole 11 in 2001.
Jones also owned the lowest batting average
, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and runs scored in a season for a hitter that belted 50+ home runs in a season. Jones hit 51 in 2005 but batted just .263, with a .575 slugging, .347 on base, and 95 runs scored.
From 1998-2007, Jones won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves. His 10 Gold Gloves for an outfielder ranks him in a tie for second with Al Kaline
, Ichiro Suzuki
, and Ken Griffey Jr. for most Gold Gloves won by an outfielder. Jones is also one of five center fielders to record at least 400 putouts in a season six times. The others are Willie Mays
, Richie Ashburn
, Kirby Puckett
, and Max Carey
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series
1996 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason. In the 996 World Series Jones became just the second player every to homered in his first 2 World Series at bats. The following season, Jones batted .231 with 18 home runs and finished 5th in voting for Rookie of the Year. In 1998, Jones batted .271 with 31 home runs and in 1999, he batted .275 with 26 home runs. Jones batted .303 with 36 home runs and 104 runs batted in in 2000 and made his first All-Star team. The following season, Jones again blasted over 30 home runs and drove in 104 runs but his average dipped to .251 while his strikeouts increased. Jones played better in 2002 and 2003 and made the All-Star team in both seasons. However, Jones struggled in 2004 and failed to hit at least 30 home runs for the first time since 1999. However, Jones had a breakout season in 2005. He led the league with 51 home runs and also led the National League with 128 runs batted in. He finished 2nd to Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
for National League MVP. In 2006, Jones batted .262 with 41 home runs and 129 runs batted in. In 2007, Jones batted just .222 with 26 home runs and 94 runs batted in. That was also his last season with the Braves.
After the 2007 season, Jones signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as a free agent to a 2 year deal, worth $36.2 million. However, Jones would struggle mightily with the Dodgers, batting just .158 with 3 home runs and 14 runs batted in. Shortly after the season, Jones was released by the Dodgers. Since then, Jones has played for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. While with the White Sox, Jones belted his 400th career home run.
Jones has been a noted defensive specialist, and won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for outfielders every year from 1998 through 2007.
Jones has appeared in the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
five times, and he won both the Hank Aaron Award
Hank Aaron Award
The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark...
and a Silver Slugger Award for outfielders in 2005. In 2002, he was the inaugural National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star Final Vote
All-Star Final Vote
All-Star Final Vote is an annual Internet and text message ballot by Major League Baseball fans to elect the final player for each team that participates in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game after all other selections have been made and announced on national television. The first 33 players...
winner.
Early life
Jones was born on April 23, 1977 in the capital city of Willemstad on the Caribbean island nation of Curaçao, off the coast of Venezuela.By the time Andruw was six, he was already dreaming of being a major leaguer. He would bounce around singing to himself, “I’m going to play ball in the United States, I’m going to play ball in the United States.” Back then, he played most of his baseball on the dusty field near the family's house. Those who watched Andruw in his early years remember how calm and confident he was.
By the age of 11, Andruw was on a youth select team that traveled all the way to Japan to play in a tournament. He could handle any position on the field, but because of his powerful arm, Andruw often found himself at catcher or third base. He switched to the outfield a couple of years later.
Stories of Andruw’s early accomplishments are the stuff of legend. As a 13-year-old, playing for his father’s Royal Scorpions team, he sent a ball screaming over 400 feet to the tennis court of a nearby hotel. In the same game, Andruw came up again and hit the hotel. By his early teens, he was competing against adults. He even played on Curaçao’s national team in the Latin American Games.
By the time Andruw turned 15, he was the best player on the island. He had yet to be discovered, however, for Curaçao was still well off the beaten path for major league scouts—even though countryman Hensley Meulens had done well in the New York Yankee farm system.
Early professional career
Jones signed with the Atlanta Braves organization as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1993 at the age of 16. Jones would be promoted to Danville of the Appalachian League after only 27 games with the Braves farm team in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Jones would play for Class-A Macon in 1995. In his first at bat, he belted a homer. He would finished the season with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in. Jones also led the South Atlantic League with 56 steals. His outstanding season was capped of when he was named Minor League Player of the Year.
The Braves brought Jones up to Atlanta on August 15, 1996, when he was just 19 years old. In his first career Major League game, Jones went 1 for 5 with a run batted in and a runs scored. In his second game, he went 2 for 5 with a home run and a triple. He had his first milti-homer game against the Reds on August 22. He spent his early time in the majors playing in right field because established center fielders Marquis Grissom
Marquis Grissom
Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
and Kenny Lofton
Kenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...
were already entrenched in the position. He would finished the season batting .217 with 5 home runs and 13 RBIs.
In the National Championship Series against the Cardinals, Jones batted .222 with a home run and 3 RBIs. The Braves would win the Series and adavance to the World Series.
In Game 1 of the 1996 World Series
1996 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
on October 20, 1996, Jones was able to demonstrate his talents on the national stage. He connected for two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s to left field on his first two at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s as the Braves routed the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
12-1. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series at the age of 19 years, 180 days, breaking Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
's record of 20 years, 362 days - on what would have been Mantle's 65th birthday. Jones joined Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
as the only other player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at bats. Tenace did it in 1972 with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Atlanta Braves (1996-2007)
Jones became the Braves' everyday right fielder in 1997. Jones hit his first home run of the season against Jeff McCurryJeff McCurry
Jeffrey Dee McCurry is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during five seasons at the major league level for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Houston Astros. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 14th round of the 1990 amateur draft...
of the Rockies. Jones had his first multi-homer game against the Cubs on July 22. On August 31, Jones went 3 for 3 with a home run and 5 runs batted in in a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Jones finished his rookie season with a .231 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, 18 home runs, and 70 runs batted in. Jones also showed his speed by stealing 20 bases. He finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1998, he moved to center field nearly full-time, and had a much more encouraging season. His average improved to .271, he hit 31 homers, and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
27 bases. He hit his 30th home run of the season against Florida on September 13. He also won his first of ten straight Gold Glove Awards. In the 1998 National League Division Series, Jones went 0 for 9 but did drew 3 walks. The Braves would win the series against the Cubs. In the National League Championship Series against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Jones batted .273 with a home run and 2 RBIs. However, The Braves would lose the series.
Whether he was in the batter's box or gliding under a fly ball to make an easy basket catch, Jones played the game in a very relaxed manner. This temporarily earned him the ire of manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
in June 1998 in an incident in which Cox pulled Jones out of a game, in the midst of an inning, because he felt Jones had lazily allowed a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to drop in center field. Jones would go on to hit .271 with 31 home runs and 90 runs batted in. Jones would also stole 27 bases.
Still just 22 years old, Jones had similar numbers in 1999, and though he was a dependable (he played all 162 games that season) and a good player, many began to wonder if or when he would live up to the potential that they believed he possessed. He had a moderate-breakout season with his bat in 2000 with career highs up until that point in batting average (.303), home runs (36), and RBIs (104). He also earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He would also led the National Leagie in Plate Apperances (729) and At Bats (656). Jones would struggle in the National League Division Series against the Cardinals. He would go 1 for 9 with a home run. The Braves would lose the series.
However, in 2001, Jones' batting average fell and his strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s went up. Jones finished with 34 home runs and 104 RBIs but his average dropped to only .251 and he struck out 142 times. By now, Jones had gained nearly 30 pounds since arriving at the Major Leagues, greatly diminishing his speed on the basepaths (he would not steal more than 11 bases after 2001). He maintained a similar batting performance in 2002, but was still playing superb defense. He would hit 35 home runs and 94 RBIs. Jones would have some great games in September. On September 7, he belted 2 home runs in his last 2 at bats. In his first 2 at bats on September 10, he belted 2 more home runs. He became the 11th player in history to homer in 4 straight at bats. Then on September 25, Jones belted 3 home runs against the Phillies. Jones became the first Braves player to hit 3 home runs in a game since Jeff Blauser
Jeff Blauser
Jeffrey Michael Blauser is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1987 to 1999.-Career:...
did it in 1992. Jones was named to his second All Star team.
In 2003, with the power-hitting Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
in the line-up, Jones achieved a new career high-water-mark in RBIs, with 116. Jones would make his third All Star team and later homer in the game. The American League would beat the National League, 7-6. Unfortunately, he took a step backward in 2004 when he hit fewer than 30 homers and struck out 147 times. At the end of the season, Jones was the subject of trade rumors.
Breakout in 2005
Prior to the 2005 season, Jones increased his workout regimen and, following advice given by Willie MaysWillie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, widened his batting stance. The result was his most productive offensive season ever. After Chipper Jones went down with an injury early in 2005, Jones would carry the Braves. By the All Star Break, Jones was leading the National League in home runs with 27. Jones was named to the All Star team, his fourth of his career. Jones would hit his 40th home run of the season on August 23 in a loss against the Cubs. It marked the first time in his career that he has hit at least 40 home runs in a season. Jones became the first Braves hitter to hit 40 home runs in a season since Chipper Jones did it in 1999. On September 14, 2005, Jones hit his 300th career home run which went 430 feet (131.1 m) off Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
reliever Geoff Geary
Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.-Biography:...
in a 12–4 Phillies win. The ball landed in the upper deck in left field at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
. Jones became the first hitter since Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
(57) and Jim Thome
Jim Thome
James Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is the eighth player to hit 600 home runs in the major leagues. He is widely considered a future Hall of Famer.-Cleveland Indians :...
(52) to hit at least 50 home runs in a season. Jones also became the 12th player in history to hit 300 home runs before his 30th birthday.
Jones hit a major league-leading 51 home runs, surpassing Hank Aaron's and Eddie Mathews
Eddie Mathews
Edwin Lee "Eddie" Mathews was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen ever to play the game.-Early life:...
' single-season club record, and winning the Babe Ruth Home Run Award
Babe Ruth Home Run Award
The Babe Ruth Home Run Award is an annual award presented to the previous season's leading home run hitter in Major League Baseball .. The award is named after the legendary Babe Ruth, who led the American League in homers 12 times. It was first awarded to Mark McGwire after his record-setting...
. He also led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with a career-high 128 RBI. Jones' torrid hitting in the summer, especially while teammate Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
was out with an injury, helped carry the Braves to their 14th consecutive division championship. He finished just behind St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
' first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
in the 2005 NL MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
vote.
In the 2005 National League Divisional Series against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Jones hit .471 with a home run and 5 RBIs. However, the Astros would take the series, 3-1.
2006
Before the 2006 season, Jones played in the World Baseball ClassicWorld Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
for the Netherlands
Netherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
.
Jones started the season by hitting a home run, hitting it on a pitch from Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
. Jones finished the game by going 2 for 4 with a home run, 4 runs batted in, a strikeout, and a base on balls. The Braves won the game, 11-10. From April 16 through April 19, Jones homered in 4 consecutive games. During that stretch, he batted .438 with 5 home runs and 8 runs batted in. Jones finished the month of April with a .281 average, 8 home runs and 23 runs batted in.
Jones would matched his career high with 6 runs batted in on July 18 against the Cardinals. He also went 5 for 5 with 2 home runs. On August 29, in a game against the Giants, Jones drove in 3 runs, which gave him his 1000th career runs batted it. On September 26, in a game against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Jones hit his 40th home run of the season. He became the first hitter in Atlanta's history to have consecutive seasons of at least 40 homers. Jones finished the 2006 season with 41 home runs and 129 RBIs. Jones also became more selective at the plate (82 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, as compared to 64 the prior season), which helped him score 107 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
during 2006, an increase of 12 over the prior year and his most in a single season since 2000. He won his ninth consecutive Gold Glove award. The Braves would go on to finish with a 79-83 record and missed the postseason for the first time since 1990.
2007
Coming into the last year of his contract with the Braves, many fans and sports analysts alike felt that 2007 would be the last year in which Jones would be a Brave, mostly because of his potential value on the market that the Braves would not be able to afford. Jones, however, had an unexpectedly poor start to the season, striking out 51 times in 41 games and carrying a batting average in the low .200s for the majority of April and May.On April 30, Jones hit a three-run walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. On May 28, Jones hit his 350th career homer off Chris Capuano
Chris Capuano
Christopher "Chris" Frank Capuano is an American professional baseball player.-Early life:Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield in 8th grade...
. After the All-Star break, Jones continued to have productive power numbers; however, his batting average remained poor. He was honored with a Fielding Bible Award
Fielding Bible Award
A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
as the best fielding center fielder in MLB. Jones finished the 2007 season with 26 home runs and 94 RBIs. On the downside, Jones hit only .222 and struck out a career high 138 times.
On October 2, the Braves announced they would not be bringing Jones back for the 2008 season.
Italic text
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008)
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 116 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Due to his lack of production, Jones was dropped to eighth in the Dodger line-up. This was the first time since 1998 that Jones had hit eighth in any line-up.
On April 19, Jones hit his first home run as a Dodger, at Turner Field
Turner Field
Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
against his former Braves teammates.
Jones was put on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for the first time in his entire career on May 25, 2008. He had knee surgery after injuring his knee during batting practice earlier that day.
On July 27, 2008, the Dodgers manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
benched Jones and said that he would only be used as a spot starter in the future. At that time, Jones had a .166 batting average, two home runs and 12 RBIs combined with an incredible 68 strikeouts in 187 at-bats.
On September 13, 2008, Jones was put on the 60-day disabled list, putting an end to his very disappointing season with the Dodgers. Jones finished the season with a .158 batting average, just three home runs, and 14 RBI. He was not seen in the dugout during any of the postseason games, nor the celebrations in the locker rooms, since he had been removed from the playoff roster and sent home for the winter. Jones stated that he did not wish to return to the Dodgers in 2009, saying that the Los Angeles fans did not give him a fair chance.
During the 2009 off-season, the Dodgers reached an agreement with Jones to trade or release him before spring training in exchange for a deferral of some of the remaining money due on his contract. On January 15, 2009, Jones was officially released by the Dodgers.
Texas Rangers (2009)
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
; the deal paid him $500,000 for making the major league team, and offered $1 million in incentives. Jones reportedly turned down a similar offer from the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
to compete for their center field job and expressed an interest in staying with the Rangers even though he would likely not be a starter. He earned the Rangers' final roster spot.
He was originally planned to pinch-hit for the Rangers, but found a starting outfield role due to an injury to Josh Hamilton. Jones would go 3 for 5 in his Rangers debut with a RBI and 2 runs scored. In his next game, Jones went 2 for 3 and scored 2 runs. He also hit his first home run as a member of the Rangers in the seventh inning off of Danny Baez. By the end of April, Jones was batting .344 with 3 home runs and 6 runs batted in.
Jones would also get to faced his old club, the Dodgers. Jones would play 2 games against them from June 13 and June 14, hitting a home run in both games. On July 4, Jones went 2 for 5 with a home run and 4 runs batted in against the Rays. On July 8, in a game against the Angels, Jones hit 3 home runs and drove in 4 runs in a 8-1win. It was his second career 3-homer game in his career. Jones had a chance to hit his fourth home run of the game but he pop out and then struck out in his final 2 at bats. “I was thinking about it. I tried. I just didn’t get it done,” Jones said. “I’m just happy we won.”
Jones ultimately hit only .214 for the season, but did have 17 home runs in 82 games - a comeback of sorts for the slugger.
Chicago White Sox (2010)
On November 25, 2009, Jones signed a $500,000 deal for 2010 with up to an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Unlike what he had done with the Braves and Dodgers in previous seasons, Jones showed up to camp in shape, a full 30 pounds under his previous weight.On April 23, 2010, Jones hit two home runs on his 33rd birthday, including a walk-off
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
to help the White Sox win 7-6 over the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. On July 11 he hit his 400th home run.
He finished the year with nineteen home runs in 278 at bats. He scored 41 runs, had 48 RBI and 64 base hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 107 games, the most games he has appeared in since 2007.
New York Yankees (2011)
On January 20, 2011, Jones and the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
agreed to a contract for the 2011 season for $2 million, with an additional $1.2 million in performance bonuses.
In his first Yankees at-bat on April 5, 2011, Jones hit a home run over the left field wall at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
off the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
' Brian Duensing
Brian Duensing
Brian Matthew Duensing is a major league baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-High school:...
.
Jones would finished the season with a .247 average with 13 home runs and 33 runs batted in. He became a free agent after the World Series.
Career Summary
As at end of the 2011 season, Jones owned a career .256 average, with 420 home runs, and 1,255 runs batted in. He currently ranks at 45 on the career home run list. However, Jones' weakness has been hitting against the breaking ball and hitting for good average. Only once in his career has Jones batted .300 or better. He batted .303 in 2000.Jones was also known for his speed early in his career. In fact, his speed earned him the last playoff spot on the Braves' roster in 1996. Jones stole 20+ bases from 1997-2000. However, his speed declined as he hit for more power. Jones has not stolen at least 10 bases since he stole 11 in 2001.
Jones also owned the lowest batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and runs scored in a season for a hitter that belted 50+ home runs in a season. Jones hit 51 in 2005 but batted just .263, with a .575 slugging, .347 on base, and 95 runs scored.
From 1998-2007, Jones won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves. His 10 Gold Gloves for an outfielder ranks him in a tie for second with Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
, Ichiro Suzuki
Ichiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
, and Ken Griffey Jr. for most Gold Gloves won by an outfielder. Jones is also one of five center fielders to record at least 400 putouts in a season six times. The others are Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, Richie Ashburn
Richie Ashburn
Don Richard "Richie" Ashburn , also known by the nicknames, "Putt-Putt", "The Tilden Flash", and "Whitey" due to his light-blond hair, was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball. He was born in Tilden, Nebraska...
, Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
, and Max Carey
Max Carey
Max George Carey was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961...
.
Personal life
Jones is married to Nicole Derick. They are the parents of one son, Druw, and one daughter, Madison.Awards and Accomplishments
- Won Minor League Player of the Year Award in 1995 and 1996
- Youngest player in the National League in 1996 and 1997
- 10-Time NL Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
Winner (1998–2007) - 5-Time All-StarAll-starAll-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
(2000, 2002–03, 2005–06) - Inaugural National League All-Star Final VoteAll-Star Final VoteAll-Star Final Vote is an annual Internet and text message ballot by Major League Baseball fans to elect the final player for each team that participates in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game after all other selections have been made and announced on national television. The first 33 players...
winner (2002) - Led the majors with 51 home runs in 2005
- Holds Braves record for most home runs in a season (2005, with 51)
- Led the National League with 656 at bats in 2000
- Led the National League with 128 RBIs in 2005
- NL Silver Slugger Award in 2005
- NL Hank Aaron AwardHank Aaron AwardThe Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark...
as the league's best offensive player in 2005 - NL Player of the MonthPlayer of the MonthThe Player of the Month Award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league every month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award on June 4, 1958. National League president Warren Giles conducted a poll of baseball writers in each Major League city and...
for June and August 2005 - Major League Player of the Year for 2005, as chosen by the Major League Baseball Players AssociationMajor League Baseball Players AssociationThe Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
- Fielding Bible AwardFielding Bible AwardA Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
at center field (2007)
See also
- 50 home run club50 home run clubIn Major League Baseball, the 50 home run club is an informal term applied to the group of players who have hit 50 or more home runs in a single season. The 50 Home Run Club was "founded" by Babe Ruth in 1920...
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions