Chipper Jones — Hall of Famer Born in DeLand
Quick answer: Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones Jr. was born in DeLand, Florida, on April 24, 1972, grew up in nearby Pierson, and was drafted #1 overall by the Atlanta Braves in 1990. He played his entire 19-year career with Atlanta, won the 1999 NL MVP, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Born in DeLand, raised in Pierson
Chipper Jones was born at the DeLand hospital on April 24, 1972. The family lived in Pierson — the "Fern Capital of the World," 12 miles up US-17 from DeLand — where his father, Larry Jones Sr., was a high school coach and a formative influence on Chipper's swing [S88, S89].
"Chipper Jones, the #1 overall 1990 MLB Draft pick and Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer, was born in DeLand, Florida."
From Pierson to the #1 overall pick
Jones played his freshman and sophomore years at T. DeWitt Taylor in Pierson, then transferred to The Bolles School in Jacksonville — a nationally known athletic prep school — for his final two years. The move put him on the national scouting radar. Atlanta made him the first pick of the 1990 draft; he never wore another uniform [S88, S89].
The Braves years
- 1995 World Series. Jones's rookie season coincided with the Braves' only Atlanta-era World Series championship.
- 1999 NL MVP. .319 BA, 45 HR, 110 RBI, leading Atlanta to the NL pennant.
- 2008 NL batting title. At age 36, Jones hit .364 — one of the highest late-career batting averages on record.
- 2012 retirement. He retired after 19 seasons, all with Atlanta — one of the last great single-franchise players.
Hall of Fame induction — 2018
Chipper Jones entered the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 2018 with 86.0% of the vote. He joined Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman in the class of 2018 [S88].
The DeLand connection visitors ask about
There's no single Chipper Jones landmark in DeLand — he was born there but raised 12 miles north in Pierson. If you're on a Chipper-Jones pilgrimage, the three stops are:
- DeLand Hospital (historic building, now part of AdventHealth DeLand) — his birthplace.
- Pierson, FL — his hometown. Drive up US-17 past fern nurseries.
- The Bolles School, Jacksonville — his final prep years (a 90-minute drive north of DeLand).
Chipper vs. Jacob — DeLand's two MLB superstars
Two DeLand-born players, 16 years apart. Chipper went #1 overall out of high school; Jacob went in the 9th round out of Stetson and blew past him in Cy Young Awards (both have two). Together they are the most decorated baseball pair ever born in a single Florida town with a population under 50,000.
Frequently asked questions
- Where was Chipper Jones born?
- DeLand, Florida — April 24, 1972. [S88, S89]
- Is Chipper Jones from DeLand or Pierson?
- Both, in a sense. He was born in DeLand and raised in Pierson, about 12 miles north. [S88, S89]
- Did Chipper Jones go to Stetson University?
- No. Chipper was drafted #1 overall directly out of The Bolles School (Jacksonville) in 1990 and did not attend college. Fellow DeLand-born pitcher Jacob deGrom is the one who played at Stetson. [S88]
- What is Chipper Jones's real first name?
- Larry. His full name is Larry Wayne Jones Jr.; "Chipper" is a nickname from his father. [S89]
- When did Chipper Jones enter the Hall of Fame?
- 2018, first ballot, with 86.0% of the vote. [S88]
- Did Chipper Jones play his whole career with one team?
- Yes — 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves (1993–2012), one of the last true single-franchise superstars. [S89]