Some new Stars join former big-leaguers at NBC World Series

One year later, Chipper Jones will finally play baseball in Wichita.

Jones, the former Atlanta Braves third baseman, is the headliner for the second version of the Kansas Stars, a team of former major-league players who made their debut in the National Baseball Congress World Series last summer. The team announced the roster at a Friday press conference.

Jones was originally scheduled to play for last year’s Stars, but a prior commitment forced him to remove his name from the roster. The 45-year-old Jones, who had a .303 average and 468 home runs for the Braves from 1993-2012, is eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time this winter.

The Stars, organized last year by Adam LaRoche and Nate Robertson, play their first tournament game on July 29, one week after the NBC World Series begins. Their 29-player roster included three to-be-announced slots.

“He’s a transcending baseball player,” Robertson said of Jones. “There’s going to be young baseball fans who remember Chipper Jones’ playing days, as do the older fans. It’s good to have a guy who played as long as he did who can attach to many different fan bases and different generations.”

Jones is one of several first-time Stars with impressive big-league accolades. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay and Jake Peavy, who won the award for the Padres in 2007, join a pitching staff that includes returners Tim Hudson, Brad Penny, Nate Robertson and Roy Oswalt.

Joe Nathan, who had 377 saves in 16 seasons, and 219-game winner Kenny Rogers, 52, are also included among the pitchers.

Several former Royals will play for the Stars, including returners Jeremy Guthrie and Brett Tomko. They’re joined by Jonny Gomes, who was acquired by Kansas City for its World Series run in 2015, and John Buck, a Royals catcher from 2004-09.

“What’s so cool about this, and nothing against the Hall of Fame game and some of the charity events, but they’re not really playing for anything,” LaRoche said. “They’re to be seen and shake some hands. The drawing point here is to have competition against teams that want to beat you.”

Some notable non-returners are seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, along with Josh Beckett and J.D. Drew, who doubled as the Stars’ first batter in their 2016 debut.

The Stars also announced a benefit concert for July 30 at Kansas Star Arena, to be headlined by country star Craig Morgan.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Some new Stars join former big-leaguers at NBC World Series."