Mack Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mack Jones |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 6, 1938 Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Died: June 8, 2004 (aged 65) Atlanta, Georgia |
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| debut | |||
| July 13, 1961, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 1, 1971, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .252 | ||
| Home runs | 133 | ||
| Runs batted in | 415 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Mack Fletcher Jones (November 6, 1938 – June 8, 2004) was a professional baseball player. People often called him "Mack The Knife." He played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Mack played for the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos. He batted with his left hand and threw with his right hand. He was about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed 180 pounds.
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Mack Jones: A Baseball Star
Early Career and Big Debut
Mack Jones was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Henry McNeal Turner High School. After playing for a local semi-pro team, the Milwaukee Braves signed him in 1958.
Mack made his big league debut on July 13, 1961. It was a very special first game! He got four hits in his first game. This tied a record for the National League since 1900. He hit three singles and one double. The Braves won the game 6-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He even got his first hit off Bob Gibson, a future Hall of Famer. Later in the game, he hit a double that brought in his first run batted in (RBI).
Amazing Season in Triple-A
In 1964, the Braves sent Mack to play for the Syracuse Chiefs. This team was their Triple-A affiliate. Triple-A is a level below the major leagues. Mack had one of the best seasons ever for a Syracuse player that year.
He hit for a batting average of .317. He also hit 15 doubles, 18 triples, and 39 home runs. He brought in 102 runs for his team. Mack still holds many modern-day Syracuse records from that season. These records include runs (111), total bases (337), RBIs, triples, and home runs.
Becoming a Braves Star
Mack returned to the major leagues in 1965. This was his most successful season. He batted .262 and hit 31 home runs. He also had 75 RBIs. That year, the Braves had six players who hit 20 or more home runs. This set a new National League record! Mack played alongside famous players like Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews.
In 1966, the Braves team moved to Mack's hometown of Atlanta. He hit 23 home runs that year, even though he had a shoulder injury.
Joining the Montreal Expos
After the 1967 season, the Braves traded Mack to the Cincinnati Reds. He played only one season with the Reds in 1968.
In 1968, new teams were being added to Major League Baseball. The Montreal Expos chose Mack Jones as their second player in the expansion draft. He made his Expos debut on April 8, 1969. This was on Opening Day against the Mets.
Just six days later, Mack made history for the Expos. He hit a three-run home run and a two-run triple. This helped the Expos win their first home game ever! It was an 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. His home run was the very first one hit in a Major League regular season game in Canada.
Mack had a great season in 1969. He had a career-high .270 batting average. He also hit 22 home runs and had 79 RBIs. Mack was so popular in Montreal that the left-field seats in their stadium were nicknamed "Jonesville." He played for the Expos until 1971.
Career Highlights
Mack Jones played in Major League Baseball for 11 years. In his career, he had:
- 778 hits
- 133 home runs
- 415 RBIs
- 485 runs
- 132 doubles
- 31 triples
- 65 stolen bases
He played in a total of 1,002 games.
Mack was honored for his great career. In 2000, he was added to the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame. In 2013, he was also inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.
Life After Baseball
Mack Jones passed away in Atlanta on June 8, 2004. He was 65 years old. He died from problems related to stomach cancer. He was survived by his wife, Esther, his daughter, Gayle, his son, Rontae, and three grandchildren.
Mack in Movies
Mack Jones's story was even told in a movie! An actor named Phillip Jarrett played him. This was in a French-Canadian baseball film called A No-Hit No-Run Summer.
