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Sad Sam Jones

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Samuel Pond "Sad Sam" Jones (July 26, 1892 - July 6, 1966) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in the American League with the Cleveland Indians (1914-15), Boston Red Sox (1916-21), New York Yankees (1922-26), St. Louis Browns (1927), Washington Senators (1928-31) and Chicago White Sox (1932-35). A native of Woodsfield, Ohio, Jones batted and threw right-handed. His sharp-breaking curveball also earned him the nickname "Horsewhips Sam".

Career

In a 22-year career, Jones compiled a 229-217 record with 1223 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA in 3,883 innings pitched.

Jones debuted with the Indians in 1914. Before the 1916 season, he was sent to Boston in the same trade that brought Tris Speaker to Cleveland.

In 1918, Jones joined the Red Sox starting rotation, ending with a 16-5 mark, a career-best 2.25 ERA, and a league-best .762 winning percentage. His most productive season came in 1921, when he posted career-highs in wins (23), strikeouts (98) and innings (298.2), and led the league in shutouts (5). But probably his most remembered season may have been in 1923 as the Yankees' ace staff. In that season, Jones pitched a no-hitter game against the Philadelphia Athletics (September 4), and finished 21-8 with a 3.63 ERA, leading his team to their first World Series title. He was 2-1 against the New York Giants, and his crucial relief work in the final game of the Series, clinched the championship for the Yankees. But it wasn't a surprise. Like most pitchers of his time, Jones relieved as well as started, and his eight saves in 1922 led the league's relief pitchers.

Jones lost a league-high 21 games in 1925. He pitched for the Browns a year later, and waived to Washington in 1927. With the Senators, Jones regained his form leading his team staff with a 17-7 record. He enjoyed his last good season in 1930, ending with a 15-7 mark. After three years of service for the White Sox, Jones retired in 1935 as the oldest player in that season (42). His 22 consecutive seasons pitching in one league is a major league record shared with Herb Pennock, Early Wynn, Red Ruffing and Steve Carlton.

He was famous for never attempting to pick a runner off first base. During the rare times that he did throw over, he usually caught the first baseman off guard.

Sam Jones died in Barnesville, Ohio, at age 83.

Fact

Quotation

  • Bill McGeehan of the New York Herald-Tribune dubbed him Sad Sam because, to him, Jones looked downcast on the field. Jones said that the reason he looked downcast was because, "I would always wear my cap down real low over my eyes. And the sportswriters were more used to fellows like Waite Hoyt, who'd always wear their caps way up so they wouldn't miss any pretty girls".

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