University of Tennessee Athletics
Chipper Jones to Speak at Leadoff Banquet in February
November 04, 2004 | Baseball
Nov. 4, 2004
Tennessee head baseball coach Rod Delmonico announced that current Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will be featured speaker at the 13th annual Tennessee Leadoff Banquet. The event takes place at the Knoxville Marriott Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 at 7 p.m. ET.
A five-time Major League All-Star, Jones boasts a .304 career batting average with 310 home runs. He helped the Braves reach the World Series three times and has appeared in 18 total postseason series.
"We're obviously very excited to have a player of Chipper Jones' caliber speak at our program's leadoff banquet," Delmonico said. "This is the first time we've ever had an active major leaguer as our guest speaker, and we're really looking forward to the event. Our players have grown up watching him play, so it will be a treat for them to meet one of the top players in baseball."
This past August, Jones recorded his 1,000th career RBI, and one day later, became the fifth switch-hitter in Major League history to hit 300 home runs.
In 1999, Jones became the first Major League player in history to bat .300 (.319), score 100 runs (116), hit 40 doubles (41), slug 40 home runs (45), drive in 100 runs (110), collect 100 walks (126) and steal 20 bases (25) on his way to receiving National League MVP honors.
The DeLand, Fla., native was drafted No. 1 overall by the Braves in the 1990 amateur draft. He finished second in Rookie-of-the-Year balloting while helping the Braves win the 1995 World Series.
Away from the diamond, Jones has been active in the Braves' Reach Out Be Our Guest ticket program for disadvantaged youth.
Tickets for the Tennessee Leadoff Banquet are $30 per seat and $350 for a corporate table and can be purchased by calling (865) 974-1734.
FORMER LEADOFF BANQUET GUEST SPEAKERS
1993 Ron Fraser, Former University of Miami Head Coach
1994 Tommy Lasorda, Former Manager Los Angeles Dodgers
1995 Phil Garner, Manager Milwaukee Brewers/UT Player
1996 George Steinbrenner, Owner New York Yankees
1997 Tommy Lasorda, Former Manager Los Angeles Dodgers
1998 Rick Honeycutt, Former Major Leaguer/UT Player
1999 Brett Butler, Former Major Leaguer
2000 Jim Lefebvre, Former Major Leaguer
2001 Tony Perez, Former Major Leaguer
2002 Tommy John, Former Major Leaguer
2003 Harold Reynolds, Former Major Leaguer
2004 Buck O'Neil, Former Negro Leaguer; Former Manager Chicago Cubs
