Books and articles about Sheldon Jones

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Jones' nickname, 2 x x Available, came from a character in the Li'l Abner comic strip, but it suited the hard-throwing righthander during his days with the Giants. He both started and relieved on a regular basis from 1948 to 1951. He was most effective in 1948, when he went 16-8, with five saves, but for the four-year period, he started 88 games and relieved in 90 others. (FS)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 26, 1948: Leo Durocher makes his 1st appearance at Ebbets Field since taking over the Giants, but a turnaway crowd is disappointed as the Dodgers lose, 13–4. Preacher Roe is the losing pitcher while Sheldon Jones takes the victory. » August 18, 1948: The Giants crush the first-place Braves, 8–2, behind Sheldon Jones. Sid Gordon hits his 24th and John Mize his 29th, both off Vern Bickford, to pace the New Yorkers. The Braves lead Brooklyn by a game. » May 5, 1949: At the Polo Grounds, Johnny Mize pounds a 10th-inning homer and the Giants beat the Pirates 3–2 to sweep their three-game series. The homer, off Murry Dickson, is Big John's 300th. Reliever Hank Behrman, in for Sheldon Jones, pitches out of tight jams in the 9th and 10th to win. Wally Westlake is stranded in the 10th after reaching Behrman for a leadoff triple. » May 9, 1949: The first-place Giants win their 7th in a row as Sheldon "Available" Jones stops the Cubs, 7–2. Aided by ten walks and homers by Sid Gordon and Willard Marshall, the Giants pin the loss on starter Ralph Hamner, who allows one hit in three innings. » June 24, 1950: With just 11 career homers, catcher Wes Westrum has three home runs and a triple today, as the Giants beat Cincinnati 12–2. The Giants belt seven home runs (Thompson, Dark, Lockman, Irvin) in the game, with Westrum driving in four runs and scoring five. Sheldon Jones is the winner, scattering eight hits. » July 23, 1950: Sheldon Jones of the NY Giants pitches a one-hitter against the Cubs, winning 3–0 in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. Rube Walker's hit in the 8th is the only safety. Larry Jansen takes the first, 5–3. » September 28, 1950: The Phils lose their second doubleheader in a row at the Polo Grounds. Sal Maglie tops them in the opener 3–1, and Sheldon Jones outmatches Roberts to win 3–1 in the second game. » April 30, 1951: The Giants break an 11-game losing streak with an 8–5 win over the Dodgers. New York scores six runs in the first inning as Chris Van Cuyk lasts exactly 11 pitches before Earl Mosser, making his ML debut, takes over. After three walks, Mosser leaves for Joe Hatten, the 3rd of six pitchers. Sal Maglie wins, with relief help from Sheldon Jones. » June 28, 1951: Monty Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the Giants edge the Dodgers, 5–4. The second homer, a three-run shot in the eighth, gives the win the reliever Sheldon Jones. The Dodgers now lead the Giants by five games. » August 22, 1951: At the Polo Grounds, the Giants win their 11th straight, again coming from behind to top the Reds, 4–3. Irvin homers in the 2nd off Ewell Blackwell, but it is Whitey Lockman's double in the 8th that wins it for reliever Sheldon Jones. » August 28, 1951: At the Polo Grounds, the Pirates Howie Pollet (5-14) shuts out the Giants 2–0 on six hits—3 by Thomson—to end New York's 16-game winning streak, best in the National League since 1935. Errors in the 8th by Stanky and Mueller do in Sheldon Jones. » September 5, 1951: After a day off, the Giants sweep two games in Boston, winning 3–2 and 9–1. In the opener, Sheldon Jones scatters six hits to beat Warren Spahn. Spahn allows just five hits in his attempt to become the National League's first 19-game winner. The Giants tally 13 hits in the second game to help Sal Maglie win his first-ever victory against Boston. » September 15, 1951: The Giants trim the Dodger lead to five games when they cash in homers by Thomson, Mays, and Mueller for a 5–2 win over Chicago. Sheldon Jones tops Paul Minner. » October 2, 1951: The Dodgers bounce back as rookie Clem Labine evens the playoff with a 10–0 win, besting the Giants' Sheldon Jones. Home runs are smashed by Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Andy Pafko, and Rube Walker. Willie Mays grounds into three double plays.