COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- On the eve of his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones got some of the biggest cheers Saturday evening as he rode in the ceremony's traditional Hall of Fame parade.
Jones and his wife, due any day now with the couple's child, rode in the back of a huge Ford pickup along Main Street.
Jones spoke with 11Alive's Jeff Hullinger earlier in the day, as he prepared to take the 109 Leatherstocking Golf Course along the banks of Lake Otsego.
"All set to go with your speech? Your golf game? The day has come," asked Hullinger.
"Well, hopefully, the speech is going a little better than my golf game," Jones said. "It's been an exciting week so far. I can't explain how much fun the Jonses have had since we've been up here and we're looking forward to Sunday."
"How's your wife doing?" asked 11Alive's Jeff Hullinger.
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"She's doing well. Still pregnant, Still with child," Jones said.
"I know people around here are tired of hearing about the Braves coming in, but it's been an incredible -- kind of really full circle now," said Jones' teammate, Braves' Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz.
Hullinger also talked to Braves' Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux about Jones.
"With all the time you guys spent together as young men in Atlanta, what's it like to be here as older guys now?" he asked.
"Really cool," Maddux answered. "It's almost like you never grow up. You look older, but you don't feel any older -- it's good seeing the guys."
Teammates in greatness -- and Atlanta. On the shoulders of many, he stood.
Now, the moment for Chipper, is real.
"I've gotten so much advice from the other Hall of Famers; They said, take a deep breath, slow everything down," Jones said. "Because you're going to get to Monday and you're just going to wonder where it all went. It's been a lot of fun."
