Randy Jones
On a mediocre Padres team, Randy Jones won the 1976 National League Cy Young Award despite having led the circuit in losses just two years earlier. The left-hander used his sinker and slider to stay ahead of batters, and once went 68 innings without walking a hitter, tying the NL mark. He was very tough in San Diego Stadium, posting a career 2.50 ERA there with a 54-42 record. Despite that success, he finished his career with a losing record, having tallied exactly 100 victories.
Played For
San Diego Padres (1973-1980)
New York Mets (1981-1982)
Best Season: 1976
Jones won the NL Cy Young Award based on his 22 wins, 25 complete games, 315-plus innings, and 2.74 ERA. At home in San Diego Stadium, he was stingy, posting a 13-5 record with a dazzling 1.89 ERA and 23 walks in 21 starts. He was especially tough on the Phillies, throwing three shutouts and allowing just 16 hits and four walks against Philadelphia in three starts.
Factoids
Randy Jones never pitched on a team that finished above fourth place, and he played on just one team with a winning record (the 1978 Padres).
Randy Jones is one of only two pitchers to win the Cy Young Award the season after he finished second in Cy Young voting. In 1975, Jones was runner-up to Tom Seaver, and went on to win the honor in 1976.
Winning with Finesse
In 1976, Jones became the first National League pitcher in 26 years to win at least 20 games and strike out fewer than 100 batters. Below are the NL pitchers to win 20 and strike out fewer than 100 batters in the same season, since 1940:
Name... Year, Team, W, SO
Johnny Beazley... 1942, STL, 21, 91
Rip Sewell... 1943, PIT, 21, 65
Elmer Riddle... 1943, CIN, 21, 69
Mort Cooper... 1944, STL, 22, 97
Bucky Walters... 1944, CIN, 23, 77
Rip Sewell... 1944, PIT, 21, 87
Hank Wyse... 1945, CHI, 22, 77
Red Barrett... 1945, STL, 21, 63
Johnny Sain... 1950, BOS, 20, 96
Randy Jones... 1976, SD, 22, 93
Bob Forsch... 1977, STL, 20, 95
Ross Grimsley... 1978, MON, 20, 84
Where He Played
Starting pitcher (285 games), relief (20).
Born
Randall Leo Jones was born on January 12, 1950, in Fullerton, CA.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: SDN
College: Chapman
Major League Debut
June 16, 1973 ... Jones came on in relief and the first batter he faced was the Mets' Ted Martinez, who grounded out.
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1973
Dave Winfield
George Brett
Dave Parker
Brian Downing
Frank White
Bill Madlock
Frank Tanana
Steve Rogers
Randy Jones
Uniform Numbers
#35 (1973-1980, 1982), #25 (1981)
Similar Players
Clyde Wright, Case Patten, Zane Smith
Related Players
Christy Mathewson
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1988 |
BBWAA |
0 |
% |
|
Awards and Honors
1976 NL Cy Young
Feats
On May 17, 1976, Jones walked Steve Ontiveros of the Giants in the eighth inning of a 12-2 victory. He didn't walk another batter until June 22, when he issued a free pass to Giants' catcher Marc Hill leading off the eighth inning. Jones had gone exactly 68 innings without walking a batter, tying Christy Mathewson's National League record.
Notes
Jones was a home-field ace, posting a 2.82 ERA and a 58-56 mark when pitching in his own environs (San Diego Stadium 1973-1980, and Shea Stadium 1981-1982). His record on the road was 42-67 with a 4.13 ERA.
Transactions
June 6, 1972: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 5th round of the 1972 amateur draft; December 15, 1980: Traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Mets for John Pacella and Jose Moreno; November 5, 1982: Released by the New York Mets; Before 1983 Season: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates; March 27, 1983: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
All-Star Selections
1975 NL
1976 NL
Replaced
Jones entered the Padres' 1973 rotation in place of the departed Mike Caldwell, who was shipped to the Giants.
Replaced By
Jones was one of four starters in the Mets' 1982 rotation who were not with the club in 1983. The others were Charlie Puleo, Pete Falcone, and Mike Scott. Scott would haunt the Mets, but the others, including Jones, were not missed.
Best Strength as a Player
His sinker.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Arm strength. Jones was burned out by the time he was 31 years old.
Learn More about Randy Jones
Search Amazon.com for Books about Randy Jones ⇒
Search for Randy Jones at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
