Sam Jones (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sam Jones |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 14, 1925 Stewartsville, Ohio |
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| Died: November 5, 1971 (aged 45) Morgantown, West Virginia |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1947, for the Cleveland Buckeyes | |||
| MLB: September 22, 1951, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1964, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 102–101 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.59 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,376 | ||
| Teams | |||
Negro leagues
Major League Baseball
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Samuel "Toothpick" Jones (December 14, 1925 – November 5, 1971) was a famous American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played from 1951 to 1964 for teams like the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants. Sam threw and batted with his right hand.
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Sam Jones's Early Baseball Career
Sam Jones was born in Stewartsville, Ohio. Before joining Major League Baseball, he played for several teams in the Negro leagues. These included the Orlando All-Stars and the Cleveland Buckeyes. With the Buckeyes, he played for manager Quincy Trouppe. He also played for the Kansas City Royals, a special team chosen by the legendary player Satchel Paige.
- After his time in the Negro leagues, Sam played baseball in Panama during 1948 and 1949.
- In 1949, the Cleveland Indians signed him to play in their minor league system.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Sam Jones started his Major League Baseball career with the Cleveland Indians in 1951. On May 3, 1952, something special happened. Sam pitched a game with 39-year-old rookie Quincy Trouppe catching for him. They were the first Black pitcher and catcher pair (called a "battery") in the American League's history. Both Sam and Quincy had played together before for the Cleveland Buckeyes in the Negro American League.
Over his career, Sam played for many different teams:
- After the 1954 season, he moved from the Indians to the Chicago Cubs.
- In 1956, the Cubs traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Before the 1959 season, he joined the San Francisco Giants.
- He was later traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1961.
- Sam returned to the Cardinals for the 1963 season.
- He finished his Major League career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1964.
- After leaving the Major Leagues, he played three more years as a relief pitcher for the Columbus Jets. He retired from baseball in 1967.
Sam Jones's Baseball Legacy
Sam Jones was known for his amazing "sweeping curveball" pitch. He also threw a fastball and a changeup. Famous baseball player Stan Musial once said, "Sam had the best curveball I ever saw... it was like a change of pace."
Sam led the National League in strikeouts three times: in 1955, 1956, and 1958.
Pitching a No-Hitter
On May 12, 1955, Sam Jones made history. He pitched a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. This means no player on the Pirates got a hit during the entire game. He was the first African American pitcher in Major League history to achieve a no-hitter.
- In the ninth inning of that game, he walked three players, meaning they got on base without hitting the ball.
- But then, with the bases loaded, he struck out the next three batters to finish the no-hitter!
Best Year in Baseball
Sam's best year was in 1959 with the San Francisco Giants.
- He led the league with 21 wins.
- He also had the best ERA (which measures how well a pitcher prevents runs) at 2.83.
- The Sporting News named him the National League Pitcher of the Year in 1959.
- He was also chosen to be an All-Star twice, in 1955 and 1959.
Later Life and Death
Sam Jones passed away on November 5, 1971, in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was 45 years old. He died from neck cancer, which he had first been diagnosed with in 1962.
