The visiting Atlanta Braves are in town to play the San Francisco Giants, and they’ve brought along one of the few players who’s been playing—and playing well—since I was just a toddler.

Larry “Chipper” Jones is sure to be a first ballot hall of famer. He’s just 300 hits shy of 3,000, and now leads the RBI list for a third basemen.

I absolutely loved and hated watching Chipper as a younger kid. He was exciting, young, popular, and free of controversy. Just like Griffey, Jones was one of the good kids in baseball. Likable, a good teammate, always there for the fans, consistently a great player, and not in any way tied to the steroid era. Hate, because the Braves played in the West division against my giants until ’94.

The Giants paid a short tribute to Jones before the start of their four game series this weekend, which likely could be Jones’ last trip to AT&T park as a ball player. He’s got to be taking it all in, in this, his last season. Every park’s got to feel like a victory lap, topping a career like his. He gets one more chance to interact with these fans—who maybe used to despise him, considering how good the Braves were (division winners for 14 years in a row!).

But now these fans cheer his name. He’s not there yet, but “legend” is going to be an easy title to bestow in five years when the Baseball Writers of America vote him in. Especially with that nickname, “Chipper.” He even sounds like a baseball player.

During that pre-game tribute, Jones sat stone-faced in the dugout. Baseball players don’t smile before games, unless they’re on the DL or a starting pitcher with the night off. Jones is no different. He stood and watched the short (and probably familiar) footage of him recording his record-breaking RBI. And he jogged up the dugout steps to say hello to the fans honoring him.

And at the very end of that, the stony face broke and Chipper gave a little smile. Maybe it was for the fans, but I think not. He’s recognized this as his victory lap, and he’s finally taking it all in—one last time.

I’ve changed my mind. If the Giants don’t make it to the World Series this year, I hope it’s the Braves with the pennant. It’s the only fitting end for one of baseball’s all-time greats.