RetroSimba

(Updated July 29, 2018)

Chipper Jones, one of the all-time best switch hitters, played the last game of his major-league career against the Cardinals.

Jones, 40, batted cleanup and played third base for the Braves versus the Cardinals in the 2012 winner-take-all National League wild-card game. In his final big-league at-bat, he produced a single in the ninth inning against Jason Motte, but the Cardinals won, 6-3, at Atlanta. The Cardinals advanced to the NL Division Series; the Braves concluded their season. Video

For Jones, who had announced in spring training he would retire after the 2012 season, the game ended a career that earned him election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 19 seasons with the Braves, Jones batted .303, with 2,726 hits, and had an on-base percentage of .401. He ranks second all-time among switch hitters in RBI (1,623) and third in home runs (468).

Jones generated 116 hits in 114 regular-season games against the Cardinals. His regular-season statistics versus St. Louis include 23 home runs, 69 RBI, a .284 batting average and a .393 on-base percentage.

He was especially tough against the Cardinals in postseason series. In the seven-game 1996 NL Championship Series, Jones hit .440 (11-for-25) versus the Cardinals. He hit .333 against them in the three-game 2000 NL Division Series.

In his first game against the Cardinals, May 23, 1995, at St. Louis, Jones, batting third and playing third base, went 1-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI (on a ninth-inning single off John Habyan) in Atlanta’s 7-1 victory. Jones struck out three times (twice against starter Danny Jackson and once against Jeff Parrett). Boxscore

In chronological order, a look at Jones’ five most productive games against the Cardinals:

_ Braves 4, Cardinals 2, Game 1, NL Championship Series, Oct. 9, 1996, at Atlanta: Jones went 4-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. The four hits tied a NLCS single-game record held by 10 others. Boxscore

_ Braves 14, Cardinals 0, Game 5, NL Championship Series, Oct. 14, 1996, at St. Louis: With the Braves on the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven series, Jones’ two-run double off Todd Stottlemyre in the first inning triggered a blowout. Jones went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a walk and a run scored. With their hopes rekindled, the Braves beat St. Louis in the final two games and advanced to the World Series. Boxscore

_ Braves 7, Cardinals 5, May 6, 2001, at Atlanta: Jones hit two home runs against Darryl Kile to reach 200 for his career. Jones went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Boxscore

_ Braves 6, Cardinals 1, Aug. 3, 2002, at Atlanta: Playing left field and batting cleanup, Jones hit a pair of two-run home runs against Matt Morris and scored three runs. “Chipper is the key to their whole lineup.” Morris said to the Associated Press. “I threw him two meatballs. You can’t make those mistakes.” Boxscore

_ Braves 9, Cardinals 7, Aug. 14, 2004, at Atlanta: Jason Marquis, facing the Braves for the first time since being acquired by St. Louis in a trade for outfielder J.D. Drew, gave up solo home runs to Jones in the second and third innings. Boxscore

Previously: Gary Carter and his two 5-RBI games against the Cardinals