“They wanted to put a right-hander in the lineup and I took advantage of that.” That’s how Andruw Jones described getting the opportunity from then-manager Bobby Cox and then-General Manager John Schuerholz to join that 1996 Atlanta Braves team that went on to win the pennant. Jones famously hit two homers in his first two at-bats during Game 1 of the World Series and became the youngest player in history to hit a homer during the Postseason — and the World Series, at that — at just age-19.
However, if you let Andruw tell it, he’d say that the World Series title would’ve been nice but there was another title that he had his eyes on in 1996. “I was kind of mad that I got moved up to Double-A because I really wanted to win a championship in A-Ball,” said Jones when he was asked about his experience in that season. “You didn’t think about [the World Series]. All of a sudden, you’re in the World Series. All I wanted to do was just learn, get better and win. I always wanted to win and just get the opportunity to play the game that you love […] My dad told me a long time ago, ‘Take advantage of the opportunity’ and that’s what. wanted to do for my whole career.”
Jones took full advantage of the opportunity he got back in ‘96 and that was the start of what is now a Baseball Hall of Fame career for the Curaçao native. The importance of being the first Hall of Famer from the island wasn’t lost upon Jones, who expressed gratitude for his home helping to shape him into the player that he’d eventually become. “Since we grew up, we [in Curaçao] wanted to play baseball,” stated Andruw. “I will say ‘Thank you’ to Hensley Meulens for giving us the opportunity to be the first guy who opened the door for us. Curaçao had so many guys that signed professionally that never made it. I used to work out with them and they taught me so much about what to look forward to in the minor leagues so I can be successful. I took advantage of all those opportunities that those guys gave me, so to be the first guy to make it from Curaçao is a great honor and I know we’re going to have more people coming.”
While Andruw Jones was quick to remember the role that Curaçao played in his path towards Cooperstown, he also made sure to remind everybody that he is still very much in love with the Braves organization. “Big shout-out to Braves Country,” stated Jones when asked about his connection to the city. “I know everybody supported me throughout my whole career. Even when I left, the fans supported me. They knew I was always going to be a Brave and it was just a great time. I went to different teams but I always was a Brave. I was always loyal to the Braves.”
“I still live in Atlanta, my kids grew up in Atlanta. I feel like I live in Atlanta more than Curaçao. I’m basically an Atlantan,” stated Andruw. Jones went on to talk about how he was excited about already being in the Braves Hall of Fame before saying that he was proud to help get another member of the Atlanta Braves into the Hall of Fame. So, if you had any question about what logo is going to be on Andruw’s hat on his plaque, I think it’s safe to assume that there’s going to be “A” logo on that plaque in Cooperstown.
While Andruw Jones is certainly happy to finally receive his day in the sun later on this Summer and also rubbed shoulders with a ton of Hall of Famers (both teammates and mentors alike) on his way to Cooperstown, Jones did admit that he never really saw it as a focus of his career. “I didn’t play this game to be a Hall of Famer,” stated Andruw when asked about how it felt to finally be inducted. “I played this game to help my team win. Obviously we didn’t win a championship but we won our division every single year for fourteen-straight [years].”
He was definitely proud of being part of that divisional dynasty but Jones did eventually admit that it was pretty cool to say that he could be considered in the same class as other baseball legends in the Hall of Fame. “To be honest with you, it’s just a great honor to just be within that class,” admitted Andruw. “As a baseball player, we all know how hard it is to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. To get that chance is just one of those things you would never forget. To be in a class with all of those greats all of those legends…it’s just a great honor.”
So while Andruw Jones was effusive in his praise and admiration of his fellow Hall of Famers, it was one thing from Chipper that helped keep him motivated while he was patiently waiting for his Hall of Fame chances to improve. “The one thing that Chipper said a long time ago is that ‘I don’t think the Hall of Fame would be complete without [Andruw] being in it. I think his wish came true. I’m so honored and so proud to be part of that big group,” which included Bobby Cox, Fred McGriff, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and then Chipper Jones as well.
While there’s always an aura of “What if” surrounding those ‘90s Braves teams, it’s clear based on their presence in Cooperstown that that group certainly made a significant impact on the landscape of baseball during their era. Andruw Jones always looked like he fit right in with the rest of those elite names and now he’ll have the plaque and spot in Cooperstown to prove it.
