Books and articles about Cleon Jones

Jones was a major ingredient in the 1969 Mets' World Championship. His career-high .340 average was third in the NL, the highest a Met has ever finished in that category. He led the Mets with 10 game-winning RBI (not an official statistic at the time) and established personal bests with 92 runs and 75 RBI as one of the few offensive forces on a team that did it with pitching and mirrors. At the start of the year he was 26 years old, but he was the oldest regular on the team.

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RELATED LINKS » 1968: Teams Score One Run in 24 Innings » 1973: O, Charlie O. » 1973: The Incredible Stretch Run from The New York Mets Encyclopedia by Peter C. Bjarkman Submissions » Left Field Gold Gloves - National League by Paul White Around the Web » Cleon Jones found escape in baseball from mlb.com » Cleon Jones from mlb.com (01/19/02) » Cleon Jones from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Jones figures especially prominently in Mets history as a pivotal figure in the turning points of the 1969 and 1973 seasons. In 1969, manager Gil Hodges removed Jones from left field after Jones had not hustled after a hit during the first game of doubleheader on July 30 against the Astros; it signaled to the players that Hodges would accept only 100% effort and helped the Mets take themselves more seriously in their suprising pennant contention. In 1973, it was a fielding play that Jones did make that suggested that another miracle season was in the making. The evening Willie Mays announced that he would retire at the end of the season, September 20, the Mets were in the middle of a three-game series with the first-place Pirates. With the game tied 3-3 in the ninth inning, the Pirates had Richie Zisk on at first when Dave Augustine hit what seemed to be a certain home run. But the ball hit the top of the fence and bounced back into Jones's glove. Jones threw a strike to third baseman Wayne Garrett, whose relay caught Zisk at the plate. The Mets won in the thirteenth inning, and took over first place the next day. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 28, 1968: At Shea Stadium, Reds pitchers Jim Maloney and Clay Carroll combine on a one hit, 5–3, victory. Maloney gives up a run scoring double to Cleon Jones in the first inning and then is lifted in the 6th after walking three batters. Carroll gives up two run-scoring grounders, but pitches four hitless frames. » October 5, 1969: New York beats Atlanta 11–6. Tommie Agee, Ken Boswell, and Cleon Jones hit home runs for the Mets; Hank Aaron, for the Braves. » October 16, 1969: In game five Cleon Jones, awarded 1B when shoe polish on the ball proves he was hit by a pitch, scores on Donn Clendenon's home run. Al Weis's home run an inning later ties the game. Ron Swoboda's double and two Baltimore errors in the 8th give New York a 5–3 win and the Series. Jerry Koosman completes the Mets amazin' achievement with a 5-hitter. » June 25, 1971: Cleon Jones ties an National League record by drawing six walks, helping the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of the Expos, 4–1 and 4–2. Jerry Grote has three doubles in the opener, and Bud Harrelson knocks in three runs in the nite cap. Nolan Ryan (7-4) and Danny Frisella (4–1) are winners. » August 13, 1971: Reds pitchers Don Gullett and Wayne Granger combine on a one-hitter, beating the visiting Cubs, 8–2. The lone Cub safety is a 2-out double by Cleon Jones in the 8th inning. Granger pitches a hitless 9th. » August 7, 1972: When Cleon Jones misses a shoestring catch in the bottom of the 13th inning, Ted Sizemore races around with an inside-the-park homer to give the Cards a 3–2 win over the 2nd place Mets. Diego Segui, in relief of Bob Gibson who pitches 10 innings, is the winner. Mets 2B Ken Boswell has no chances to tie a major-league record for an extra inning game. » September 20, 1973: The Pirates lose 4–3 in 13 innings in New York and their lead over the Mets is cut to one-half game. A Wayne Garrett relay from Cleon Jones nails Richie Zisk at the plate in the top of the last inning. » October 18, 1973: The Mets win the 5th game 2–0 behind the 3-hit pitching of Jerry Koosman and Tug McGraw. Cleon Jones doubles in a run in the second and Don Hahn's triple scores the other run. » May 4, 1975: Mets outfielder Cleon Jones is arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida, after the police find him naked in a van with a teenage girl who is holding a stash of narcotics. Jones tells the cops that he is "C. Joseph Jones, a laborer." » July 27, 1975: The Mets release OF Cleon Jones, following a suspension for insubordination. He will not be picked up by another team this year, but will play for the White Sox in 1976.