Sad Sam Jones
| Sad Sam Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 26, 1892 Woodsfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: July 6, 1966 (aged 73) Barnesville, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 13, 1914, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 28, 1935, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 229–217 |
| Earned run average | 3.84 |
| Strikeouts | 1,223 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Samuel Pond "Sad Sam" Jones (July 26, 1892 – July 6, 1966) was an American
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 signed his first professional contract in 1913, with the Flood Sufferers in Zanesville, Ohio.[1] After brief stints with two other minor league teams, he made his major league debut 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
Jones lost a league-high 21 games in 1925. He pitched for the Browns a year later, and was waived to Washington in 1927. With the Senators, Jones regained his form, leading his team's staff with a 17–7 record. He enjoyed his last good season in 1930, ending with a 15–7 mark. After four years of service for the White Sox, Jones retired in 1935 as the oldest active player at the time (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 a better than average hitting pitcher in his career, compiling a .197
Sad Sam Jones died in Barnesville, Ohio, at the age of 73.
Quotation
- "Bill McGeehan of the New York Herald-Tribune dubbed him Sad Sam because, to him, Jones looked downcast on the field. Jones told Lawrence Ritter 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'." – Ed Walton, at Baseball Library [1]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- The Glory of Their Times, 1966 book
References
- ^ "Sad Sam Jones Minor League Statistics". www.statscrew.com.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Retrosheet
- Sad Sam Jones at Find a Grave
