You probably picture Larry Wayne Jones Jr., better known as Chipper Jones, standing at the plate in a packed stadium in Atlanta. The "Larry! Larry!" chants from Mets fans might even be ringing in your ears. But if you want to know where the Hall of Famer actually got his start, you have to look about 400 miles south of Atlanta to a tiny, quiet corner of Florida.
Where is Chipper Jones from exactly? He was born in DeLand, Florida, on April 24, 1972. However, he spent most of his childhood in Pierson, Florida, a small town known as the "Fern Capital of the World."
It wasn't a place of flashing lights or big-city dreams. Pierson was, and still is, a rural community where people work the land. For Chipper, it was the perfect laboratory to build a baseball swing that would eventually terrorize Major League pitching for nearly two decades.
The Fern Capital Roots
Pierson is a speck on the map. In the 1970s and 80s, it was a tight-knit place where everyone knew everyone. Chipper’s father, Larry Wayne Jones Sr., was a math teacher and the baseball coach at T. DeWitt Taylor High School. This connection to the game wasn't just casual; it was foundational.
Chipper wasn't born with a silver spoon, but he was born with a bat in his hand. His nickname, "Chipper," came from family members who thought he was a "chip off the old block" because he looked so much like his father.
Kinda funny, right? One of the most famous names in sports history is basically a tribute to his dad.
Growing up on a farm in Pierson, Chipper’s life revolved around two things: hunting and baseball. His dad taught him to switch-hit when he was only seven years old. Why? Because Larry Sr. was a massive Mickey Mantle fan and believed that being able to hit from both sides was the ultimate advantage. They would spend hours next to the family barn, with his father throwing tennis balls or baseballs while Chipper worked on making contact.
Moving North to Jacksonville
While he started his high school career at Taylor High—the school where his dad taught—it soon became clear that Chipper was a big fish in a very small pond. To get the scouting attention he needed, his parents made a tough call.
They sent him to The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bolles is a prestigious private boarding school. For a kid from a rural farm town, this was a massive culture shock. Chipper has openly talked about how he spent nights crying in his dorm room, feeling homesick and wondering if he could keep up with the rigorous academics.
He stuck it out, though.
At Bolles, he became a two-sport star. He wasn't just good at baseball; he was an All-State wide receiver and punter in football. But on the diamond, he was untouchable. In his senior year, he hit .488 and had a 7-3 record as a pitcher with a 1.00 ERA.
The Night Before the Big League
The story of how he officially left Florida for the pros is pure 1990s nostalgia. The night before the MLB Draft, instead of being at his prom, Chipper was at an Olive Garden in Daytona Beach.
He was meeting with Atlanta Braves scouts.
The Braves had the number one overall pick. Most people thought they were going to take a pitcher named Todd Van Poppel, but Van Poppel made it clear he wanted to play college ball or sign for a massive sum the Braves weren't ready to pay. The Braves pivoted to the kid from Pierson.
He signed his first professional contract right there in his parents' living room for a $275,000 signing bonus. The next day, he was officially the first pick of the 1990 draft.
Why the Florida Connection Matters
People often associate Chipper with Georgia because he spent his entire 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves. He is an Atlanta icon. But his "country boy" persona—the camouflage gear, the love for the outdoors, the straight-talking attitude—that is all Pierson.
Even at the height of his fame, Chipper would head back to the woods as soon as the season ended. There’s a famous story about him sleeping in his truck in a parking lot in Perry, Georgia, on the morning of Game 1 of the 1995 World Series. Why? Because it was the opening day of deer hunting season. He went hunting with his dad in the morning and drove to the stadium to play the Cleveland Indians that evening.
You can't take the Florida woods out of the man.
Takeaway Facts for Fans
If you're looking for the quick "cheat sheet" on Chipper's origins, here are the essential details:
- Birthplace: DeLand, FL (Volusia County)
- Hometown: Pierson, FL
- High Schools: Taylor High (Pierson) and The Bolles School (Jacksonville)
- Early Influence: His father, Larry Sr., who taught him to switch-hit at age seven
- Draft Status: 1st overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft out of high school
When you see his number 10 hanging in the rafters at Truist Park, remember it all started with tennis balls being thrown against a barn wall in a town known for ferns.
Next Steps for Chipper Fans:
To truly understand the legend, you should look into his 2017 memoir, Ballplayer. It goes into deep detail about his struggles at Bolles and the specific drills his father used to create a Hall of Fame swing. Also, if you're ever driving through Central Florida, a quick detour to Pierson will give you a real sense of the quiet, hardworking environment that produced one of the greatest third basemen to ever play the game.