ATLANTA – Curaçao baseball legend Andruw Jones has received another prestigious honor ahead of his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Delta Air Lines and the Atlanta Braves have permanently dedicated Gate A25 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in his name.
The gate number pays tribute to Jones' iconic No. 25 jersey, which he wore during his 12 seasons with the Braves. During a ceremony in Terminal A, a permanent commemorative plaque was unveiled, and Jones joined representatives of Delta Air Lines and the Braves in cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
The area surrounding Gate A25 also features memorabilia celebrating both the Atlanta Braves and Delta Air Lines from the late 1990s and early 2000s, the era in which Jones established himself as one of the franchise's greatest players.
Jones spent 12 of his 17 Major League Baseball seasons with Atlanta, earning 10 Gold Glove Awards for his outstanding defensive play in center field and being selected to five All-Star Games.
Earlier this year, the Curaçao native was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after receiving 78.4 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, surpassing the required 75 percent threshold in his ninth year on the ballot.
His official induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 26, in Cooperstown, New York, where he will be enshrined alongside Carlos Beltrán and Jeff Kent. Jones' Hall of Fame plaque will feature the Atlanta Braves logo, reflecting the organization where he built his legendary career.
Jones said he is proud that the Braves' iconic "A" will appear on his Hall of Fame plaque, noting that Atlanta was the club that gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream of playing professional baseball.
Delta Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian described Jones as a legend of both the city of Atlanta and baseball history, while Braves President Derek Schiller said Gate A25 will serve as a lasting tribute to Jones' impact on the franchise and the city.
The commemorative plaque will remain permanently displayed at the gate, where it will be seen by millions of travelers passing through the world's busiest airport each year.
From left to right: Tim Mapes, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Delta Air Lines; Andruw Jones, National Baseball Hall of Famer and Atlanta Braves legend; Derek Schiller, President and CEO of the Atlanta Braves. Photo: Casey Sykes.