Books and articles about Sam Jones

Known as Red in the Negro leagues for his reddish complexion, in the majors Jones became Sad Sam, after the original Sad Sam Jones, and Toothpick Sam for the toothpick he always chewed on the mound. Jones pitched the Cleveland Buckeyes to the Negro World Series in 1947. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1950 but never got a chance in the rotation of Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Early Wynn, and Mike Garcia, spending most of five years in the minors. Swapped to the Cubs in a deal for Ralph Kiner, on May 12, 1955 Jones no-hit Pittsburgh, walking seven in the process. He led the NL in losses (20), strikeouts, and walks (185, while allowing only 175 hits). He repeated as strikeout and walk leader in 1956, and again in 1958 after his trade to the Cardinals. With the Giants in 1959, he was both a leading starter and most effective reliever in a tight race. On June 30 of that season, at Los Angeles, a bobble by Giant shortstop Andre Rodgers was scored a single, depriving Jones of a second no-hitter; he got it instead on September 26, though it was a rain-shortened, seven-inning one against St. Louis. His 21 wins in 1959 led the NL, as did his 2.83 ERA and 109 walks. After an 18-14 1960 season, Jones was hampered by arm trouble, winning 12 more over four seasons.

RELATED LINKS » 1923: The Haunting Eviction Photos » Photo: Sam Jones from Black Baseball in Detroit

Recalled Hobie Landrith, who caught Jones with the Cubs, Cards, and Giants, "You've never seen a curveball until you've seen Sam Jones's curveball. If you were a righthanded hitter that ball was a good four feet behind you. It took a little courage to stay in there because he was wild and he could throw a fastball very hard. He wasn't very expressive, he wasn't the gregarious type (but) he injected humor." (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 3, 1952: The Indians lose, but go down swinging as they use a record 23 players including the first black battery in the American League. 39-year-old Negro League veteran Quincy Trouppe is behind the plate when reliever Sam Jones comes in. Bob Chakales loses it for the Tribe with two outs in the 9th. Jones and Trouppe are the battery tomorrow as Jones will pick up a 9–6 win against the Red Sox in relief. » November 17, 1954: The Cubs trade Ralph Kiner to the Indians for $60,000 plus OF Gale Wade and P Sam Jones. Kiner's home run total fell to 22 in 1954, though he hit .285. » May 12, 1955: Sam "Toothpick" Jones of the Cubs no-hits the Pirates 4–0, fanning the last three batters in the 9th after walking the bases loaded. It is the first no-hitter in Wrigley Field since the double no-hitter of 1917, and the first no-hitter in the ML by a black pitcher. The Cubs lace 15 hits against Nellie King and Vernon Law. TV announcer Harry Creighton joked in a pre-game interview with Jones that he'd give him a gold toothpick if he pitched a no-hitter. Creighton keeps his word. » August 3, 1955: With his record at 18-1, the Dodgers Don Newcombe loses a 1-0 game to the Cubs Sam Jones. » December 10, 1956: The Cubs buy perennial backup C Charlie Silvera from the Yankees. They also trade pitchers Sad Sam Jones and Jim Davis, IF Eddie Miksis, and C Hobie Landrith to the Cardinals for pitchers Tom Poholsky and Jackie Collum, C Ray Katt, and a minor league pitcher. » March 23, 1959: The Giants send OF/1B Bill White and 3B Ray Jablonski to St. Louis for P Sam Jones. » April 11, 1959: Sad Sam Jones strikes out seven in facing his former teammates the Cards as the Giants win 5–2. Orlando Cepeda has four RBIs for SF. » June 30, 1959: The Giants Sam Jones throws a 2–0 one-hitter against the Dodgers, allowing only Jim Gilliam's controversial single in the 8th, a grounder SS Andre Rodgers has difficulty picking up. Willie Mays's 2-run home run against Don Drysdale accounts for all the scoring. » September 12, 1959: Sam Jones's 20th victory of the season, 9-1 over the Phillies, puts the Giants back in first place by a game. » September 26, 1959: At St. Louis, Sam Jones pitches a 7-inning no-hitter, but NL President Warren Giles will rule it unofficial after rain wipes out the last 2 innings. But Jones gets credit for his 21st win 4-0 and Willie Mays and Willie McCovey HRs account for the runs. » April 12, 1960: With 42,269 fans in attendance, the Giants edge the Cardinals 3–1 in the first game at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Sam Jones pitches a 3-hitter, and Cardinals OF Leon Wagner hits the first home run in the $15 million stadium. In the 3rd inning, the umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines: the Giants will make the correction after the season. » April 16, 1960: Sam Jones's no-hit bid is spoiled with two out in the 8th by Walt Moryn's pinch home run. The Giants beat the Cubs 6–1. » May 11, 1960: At San Francisco, Sam Jones hurls a 2-hitter and draws a bases loaded walk for the only run as the Giants edge the Phils, 1–0. Jim Owens is the loser. » May 12, 1960: Duplicating Sam Jones' effort of yesterday, the Giants Jack Sanford pitches a 2-hit, 1–0 win over the Phils. He matches Jones by striking out 11 and walking 3. » May 13, 1960: Mike McCormick's shutout of the Dodgers is the 3rd straight by San Francisco pitchers, following 2-hitters against Philadelphia by Sam Jones and Jack Sanford. The first-place Giants have seven straight wins. » August 30, 1960: At San Francisco, Sam Jones strikes out 14 Phillies and drives in the winning run in the 5th to beat Robin Roberts, 2–1. » April 28, 1961: Five days past his 40th birthday, Warren Spahn becomes the 2nd-oldest ML pitcher (after Cy Young) to hurl a no-hitter, blanking San Francisco 1–0. Hank Aaron drives in the only run off loser Sam Jones, who strikes out 10. It is Spahn's 290th win and 52nd shutout. Spahn faces just 27 men, following each walk by starting a DP. » June 29, 1961: With three round-trippers at Philadelphia—one a 10th-inning shot to win 8–7—Willie Mays becomes the 4th ML player with three or more home runs twice in one season. Manager Gene Mauch's efforts to conceal his starting pitcher and force Al Dark's hand has a Phillie lineup including hurlers Don Ferrarese (batting leadoff, playing CF), Jim Owens (3rd, RF), Chris Short (7th, C), and Ken Lehman (9th, P) against San Francisco. When Dark sends a lefty to the mound, Mauch replaces Ferrarese. Dark then replaces Billy O'Dell with Sam Jones. Mauch replaces Lehman with Dallas Green after two batters. All the maneuvering takes three hours and 20 minutes. The Giants then take the nitecap, 4–1, as Mays triples and doubles home two runs and completes a DP with a throw home. » August 22, 1961: The hot Giants sweep a pair from the National League-leading Reds, winning 12–2 and 5–3. Visiting SF features 20 hits in the opener to back Mike McCormick. Orlando Cepeda's 35th home run, NL high, starts the scoring in the nitecap, as Sam Jones and Stu Miller combine. Mays has his 32nd and 33rd homers in the twinbill.