During the 2008 season, Larry “Chipper” Jones, Jr. hit his 400th home run for his career and was named the National League Player of the Week, the first week of June. By the end of the season, Jones won his first batting title, hitting .364, which was one point lower than the all-time highest switch hitter record of .365 set by Mickey Mantle. He is considered to be one of the best switch hitters in baseball history.

The nickname “Chipper” originated from family members who felt he was a “chip off the old block” of his father.

Nate McLouth had an outstanding 2008 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The starting center fielder, won the starting position after batting over .300 in the 2008 preseason. McLouth then started the season with a 19-game hitting streak as well as having a record breaking defensive performance. McLouth finished the 2008 season phenomenally and was selected as a reserve to respresent the Pirates in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game, which was the first time that a Pirate received that honor since Andy Van Slyke in 1993. McLouth won the 2008 Rawlings Gold Glove Award after leading the National League center fielders with a .997 fielding percentage.

With all of his accolades, McLouth received the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, which is given to the MVP of the team, as well as the player that contributes the most to the community. In 2009, he was traded to the Braves.