Fans flock to Cooperstown to honor Chipper Jones

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Walking around Cooperstown, you could probably find a jersey from every MLB team, and some that no longer exist. You can see gear from across the baseball landscape, autographed hats and shirts and people representing small minor league clubs from their hometown. More than anything, however, you probably see Braves gear, especially those emblazoned with the number 10.

"It took us about 18 hours to get up here," said Robert Baker from Kennesaw. "Yeah, we drove the whole way (from Georgia)."

Plenty of Braves fans from across the country and around the world are in Cooperstown, New York to watch Chipper Jones be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame on Sunday. One group carrying plenty of Atlanta items was from England, and said they fell in love with the club on vacation decades ago, watching the Braves on TBS. Chipper Jones was among their all-time favorites.

"I don't really believe we're here," said Lynn Budd from England. "It's everything. That was our team."

Jones means a lot to the fans; and as an extra bonus, his former teammates Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine are around town, along with former manager Bobby Cox and executive John Scheurholz; all Hall of Famers. Legends like Hank Aaron, Don Sutton and Phil Niekro draw 'chops' from fans on the streets as well.

"It means the world to me," said Brian Hulsey from Kennesaw. "Getting to see one of my heroes up close and personal get inducted into the greatest place on earth for an athlete. It's amazing to me."