ATLANTA—Chipper Jones often thrived in the face of adversity during his 20-year career with the Atlanta Braves.
As such, it makes sense that his Hall of Fame induction speech would also be shrouded in mystery or drama, as the hours tick down to Sunday's big event.
For those living under a rock, Jones (1999 NL MVP, one world championship, 468 homers, 1,623 RBI, 1,619 runs, 150 steals and a lifetime batting average of .303) will become this century's seventh player with prominent Braves ties to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame—joining the likes of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Bruce Sutter, Joe Torre and longtime manager Bobby Cox.
He'll also join baseball's so-called Mount Rushmore of legendary switch-hitters (all Hall of Famers), featuring Pete Rose, Eddie Murray and Mickey Mantle.
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But ay the rub: Jones' wife, Taylor, is due any moment with the couple's second child (No. 7 for Chipper); and while she's in Cooperstown with Chipper, it's inconceivable Taylor Jones might have to give birth around the 1 p.m. hour—coinciding with her husband's HOF induction speech.
"I'm more nervous about the baby than I am the speech ... and I'm pretty nervous about the speech," Chipper Jones told the embedded weekend media at Cooperstown, including 11Alive's Jeff Hullinger.
The Hall of Fame powers-that-be made one concession, in lieu of Chipper's conundrum. They assigned Jones to the first speech for Sunday ... in case he'll need to leave in a huff to make the hospital in Cooperstown.
Speaking of which ...
Chipper Jones through the years
Chipper's third-eldest son bears the name of 'Shea,' an homage to Jones' favorite road stadium during his playing career—New York's now-defunct Shea Stadium.
The seventh son already has a name waiting for him: 'Cooper' ... as in the Cooperstown connection.
For Chipper and Taylor Jones, it's all about playing the waiting game.
Everything else should be good to go.
