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Chipper Jones to Retire After Season

Chipper Jones
In this photo taken, May 18, 2008, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones walks off the field before the Braves faced off against the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game at Turner Field in Atlanta. Jones says this will be his final season. Jones, who turns 40 next month, issued a statement through the team Thursday, March 22, 2012, saying he will retire after the season. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pouya Dianat)
jones
In this photo taken, May 18, 2008, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pouya Dianat)

Take it easy Mets fans—you only have to put up with Chipper Jones’ domination of your favorite team for one more year.

The lifelong Atlanta Braves slugger—who famously named one of his kids Shea—said he will call it quits when the 2012 season comes to a close.

Jones, 39, has spent his entire career with the Braves and battled several injuries that slowed down his career, curtailing his pursuit of 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

But, during the news conference, Jones wasn’t talking about what could’ve been, instead, he said, “I have fulfilled everything,” adding, “There’s nothing left for me to do.”

The Braves’ third baseman made the announcement in front of Braves executives and his teammates, sometimes fighting back tears as he spoke about his 18-year-career with the Braves that started in 1993, and includes an National League MVP award in 1999 and seven trips to the All-Star game. He also won a batting title in 2008, hitting his way to a .364 mark.

His numbers may quite possibly earn him a trip to Cooperstown one day to be introduced as a Hall of Famer.

“I’ve been thinking about this and the reason I stayed around is you guys,” Jones said, speaking to his teammates. “I played on teams where clubhouse cohesion wasn’t there. That never happened with you guys.”

During his tearful press conference, Jones also mentioned his former manager Bobby Cox, calling him “the greatest manager any of us will ever know.”

But the real question here is, what do the Mets think about this?

“He’s been so consistent, so good for so long and been part of a lot of great times,” said Mets third baseman David Wright. “It’s going be a little odd looking across there and not seeing Chipper in uniform, that’s for sure.”

And killing the Mets.

-With Associated Press