An illustration shows the renovated Chipper Jones Stadium at The Bolles School. | The Bolles School
Published on July 25, 2025 at 2:12 pm
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The Bolles School will name its renovated baseball stadium after Hall of Famer Larry “Chipper” Jones, a Bolles alumnus who was the lead contributor to the $3.7 million project.
Chipper Jones Stadium will recognize Jones’ influence on professional baseball and the school where he graduated in 1990, Bolles said Friday.
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“The heart and soul of Bolles Baseball will reside at this stadium where lifelong friendships will
continue to form and teams grow stronger together,” Jones said in a news release. “I will always appreciate my coaches, teammates and teachers for their many contributions to our success.”
Designed by David Luke Architecture, the renovation will feature a fieldhouse named in honor of Jerry and Bruce Chappell that includes about 3,000 square feet of space with locker room, a video room for training, coaches’ offices and an entrance lobby designed to showcase more than a half century of baseball excellence.
The improvements also will include an upper-level terrace with dual towers and a traditional
architectural design that pays homage to historic Bolles Hall.
Planning for the facility began in 2021, with a ceremonial groundbreaking last December. Construction is expected to conclude before the 2026 baseball season.
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“The new stadium is a key piece to the overall enhancement of the baseball complex,” Bolles Athletic Director Rock Pillsbury said in the news release. “Bulldog Baseball fans will enjoy the improved aesthetics and design as well as the new viewing options from the upper-level patio. We are grateful to Chipper for helping us make this a reality.”
Bolles did not disclose how much Jones donated to the project.
Jones played his entire career with the Atlanta Braves after being selected first in the 1990 major league draft immediately after his Bolles career.
He earned eight all-star appearances, was named the 1999 National League MVP, helped the
Braves to the 1995 World Series title and won the 2008 National League batting title.
As a Bulldog, Jones earned all-state honors for three consecutive years, was named the 1989 state
tournament MVP in leading Bolles to a state title and was named the 1989 Florida Player of the Year.
Jones was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
