Chipper Jones is the Braves’ Derek Jeter.
And in the classiest of endings with Mets fans yesterday, Jones doffed his helmet in one final salute to his new best friends as the Braves came away with a sweep, beating the overmatched Mets, 3-2 in 10 innings at Citi Field.
Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez noted the Jeter comparison, pointing out how important Jones has been to the Braves franchise, and it’s not just his lifetime .304 average and 468 home runs that make him special. It’s the way Jones cares about his team and the game.
Jones wanted to start his final game in New York (unless the Yankees and Braves somehow meet again in the World Series), but Gonzalez decided Jones needed to rest his aching left knee. Jones pinch-hit in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game, walked on four pitches and was removed for a pinch-runner. Frank Francisco did not give Jones the chance to hit his 50th home run against the Mets.
Showing their class, the 23,161 fans gave Jones a warm send-off, a standing ovation, mixed with some diehard boos, as he came to the plate, and then another standing ovation as he left the field. Three steps from the dugout, Jones took off his helmet to acknowledge the cheers. It was a wonderful baseball moment.
“It was cool,’’ Jones said. “I heard a bunch of boos in there, smattered, but for once the cheers outnumbered the boos.’’
Jones also brought out the lineup card, snapped a picture with the umpires, and was cheered.
“You can’t say enough about the fans in New York this year, they’ve been awfully supportive, both in person, out on the field, on Twitter,’’ Chipper explained. “The Mets organization rolled out the red carpet all weekend and has been extremely nice. I’m very appreciative.’’
Jones went 0-for-7 in the series, but said, “It’s a good way to get out of here the last time winning three straight.”
I asked if his perception of Mets fans has changed.
“I’ve had a gradual changing of my perception of the fans for about the last five or six years,’’ he said. “It’s certainly a lot more cordial. I’m getting a lot of hits on Twitter from Mets fans saying they still hate me, but respect the career.
“I think they are more frustrated with the Mets than they are with me.’’
That comment told the story of the two franchises that used to be rivals.
“It’s been great,’’ Jones added of his New York weekend. “It’s kind of bittersweet. It’s the last time I will be coming here as a player unless we possibly face the Yankees in the World Series. It’s been awesome to come out here and play on this stage. I’m grateful to have the opportunity, grateful to the Mets organization for all their generosity and their hospitality this weekend and the fans.’’
Gonzalez said when Jones retires after the season, “it’s going to be hard because he is a big presence. Guys like this don’t come around often. He’s like a Jeter.’’
It starts with the little things, Gonzalez said, noting Jones will tell a teammate the right way to act.
“Guys come over from other organizations wearing the sunglasses, covering up the ‘A’ on their caps,’’ Gonzalez noted. “He’ll tell them, ‘We don’t cover the ‘A’ here.’ It’s the way he carries himself.’’
Jones learned from his baseball elders.
“I think Derek would tell you the same thing,’’ Jones told The Post. “He had good veteran leadership when he got to the big leagues and he learned a lot from them. When I got here it was Terry Pendleton, David Justice, Fred McGriff, John Smoltz, not just great players, but good people and they all had the same goal in mind and it rubbed off on me. … I just felt it would be my duty at one point to relay that same attitude and persona with the next generation.’’
Mission accomplished. And someday, Jones and Jeter will be in the Hall of Fame together.