| Bumpus Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1870-01-01)January 1, 1870 Cedarville, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: June 25, 1938(1938-06-25) (aged 68) Xenia, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| October 15, 1892, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 14, 1893, for the New York Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–4 |
| Earned run average | 7.99 |
| Strikeouts | 10 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Charles Leander "Bumpus" Jones (January 1, 1870 – June 25, 1938) was an American right-handedstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theCincinnati Reds andNew York Giants.
He was born inCedarville, Ohio. Newspaper accounts from Cedarville have described him as being listed as black, albeit with skin that passed for Caucasian. Census reports listed him as a "mulatto".[1][2] Genealogical research has speculated that Jones came from "Pocahontas' people in Virginia."[3] In reality he wasOccaneechi-Saponi andCatawba.[4]
Prior to his work in major league baseball, Jomes played for the minor leagueMonmouth Maple Cities (Illinois–Iowa League) in 1890.
Jones made only eight appearances in his brief major league career. He threw ano-hitter in his first major league appearance with theCincinnati Reds on October 15, 1892, the last day of the season. The Reds defeated thePittsburgh Pirates, 7–1. Jones was not perfect, as he gave up fourwalks, and he did not pitch ashutout, as anerror led to anunearned run. He remains the only player in major league history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game.[5] It was one of the last games played with a "pitcher's box" with the pitcher beginning 55 1/2 feet from home plate; the following season, thepitcher's mound would be introduced, with pitchers starting their pitch on a rubber slab 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate.[6]
Jones split the 1893 season between Cincinnati and the New York Giants, appearing in seven games overall, while going 1–4 with a 10.19ERA. Jones would never pitch in the majors again.OnlyBobo Holloman of theSt. Louis Browns,Ted Breitenstein of theSt. Louis Browns, andTyler Gilbert of the Arizona Diamondbacks have managed to join Jones as pitchers to throw no-hitters in their first major league start, but they had previously appeared in a relief role. According to sabermetricianBill James, Jones edges out Holloman for the distinction of mathematically least likely pitcher ever to have thrown a no-hitter in the major leagues.[2]
In a two-season major league career, Jones posted a 2–4 career record with 10strikeouts and a 7.99 ERA in41+2⁄3innings pitched. After leaving the major leagues, Jones continued to pitch professionally. He pitched for theGrand Rapids Rustlers andSioux City Cornhuskers in 1894. He pitched for theColumbus Senators from 1896 to 1899, and until recently, was credited with the team record for career games pitched, with 212. Modern research, however, indicates that the actual total may be closer to 150.[7] Jones finished his minor league career with theSt. Paul Saints in 1901.
Jones died inXenia, Ohio at age 68 from complications of a stroke, and he was buried at North Cemetery inCedarville, Ohio.
· Baseball Almanac| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher October 15, 1892 | Succeeded by |