| Sad Sam Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1892-07-26)July 26, 1892 Woodsfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: July 6, 1966(1966-07-06) (aged 73) Woodsfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 13, 1914, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 28, 1935, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 229–217 |
| Earned run average | 3.84 |
| Strikeouts | 1,223 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Samuel Pond "Sad Sam"Jones (July 26, 1892 – July 6, 1966) was an American professionalbaseballpitcher who played inMajor League Baseball with theCleveland Indians,Boston Red Sox,New York Yankees,St. Louis Browns,Washington Senators andChicago White Sox between 1914 and 1935. Jones batted and threw right-handed. His sharp breaking curveball also earned him the nickname "Horsewhips Sam".
In a 22-year career, Jones compiled a 229–217 record with 1223strikeouts and a 3.84ERA in 3,883innings pitched. Jones signed his first professional contract in 1913, with theFlood Sufferers inZanesville, Ohio.[1] After brief stints with two other minor league teams, he made his major league debut with the Indians in 1914. Before the 1916 season, he was sent to Boston in the same trade that broughtTris Speaker to Cleveland.
In 1918, Jones joined the Red Sox starting rotation, ending with a 16–5 mark, a career-best 2.25 ERA, and a league-best .762winning percentage. His most productive season came in 1921, when he posted career-highs inwins (23), strikeouts (98) and innings (298.2), and led the league inshutouts (5). But his most remembered season may have been 1923 as the ace of the Yankees' staff; he posted a 21–8 record with a 3.63 ERA and led his team to their firstWorld Series title. Jones alsono-hit thePhiladelphia Athletics 2-0 on September 4 atShibe Park, in a game in which he did not record astrikeout the entire game. Only two other pitchers (Earl Hamilton andKen Holtzman) have thrown a no-hitter with no strikeouts. Jones was 2–1 against theNew York Giants inthat World Series, and his crucialrelief work in the final game of the Series clinched the championship for the Yankees. Like most pitchers of his time, Jones relieved as well as started, and his eightsaves in 1922 led the league'srelief pitchers.
Jones lost a league-high 21 games in 1925. He pitched for the Browns a year later, and was waived to Washington in 1927. With the Senators, Jones regained his form, leading his team's staff with a 17–7 record. He enjoyed his last good season in 1930, ending with a 15–7 mark. After four years of service for the White Sox, Jones retired in 1935 as the oldest active player at the time (42). His 22 consecutive seasons pitching in one league is a major league record shared withHerb Pennock,Early Wynn,Red Ruffing andSteve Carlton.
He was a better than average hitting pitcher in his career, compiling a .197batting average (245-for-1243) with 151runs, 6home runs, 101RBI and drawing 139bases on balls.
Sad Sam Jones died at his home inWoodsfield, Ohio at the age of 73.[2]
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher September 4, 1923 | Succeeded by |
