Sam “Toothpick” Jones – the definition of “effectively wild.”<\/p><\/div>\n

Sam \u201cToothpick\u201d Jones<\/strong><\/span> could be intimidating on the mound \u2013 not just because of his size (6\u20194\u201d, 192 pounds), his \u00a0fastball or his sweeping curve (Stan Musial said Jones had the best curveball he ever saw), but also because he was \u201ceffectively wild.\u201d\u00a0 As a Cub in 1955, the tall, lanky right hander led the National League not just in strikeouts, but also in walks and batters hit by pitch.\u00a0 On May 12 of that season, Jones proved just how effectively wild he could be \u2013 tossing a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Chicago.\u00a0 Three things about that no-hitter attracted BBRT\u2019s attention:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On that day, Jones became the first African-American to throw an MLB no-hitter;<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It came in what might be considered (statistically) Jone’s worst MLB season (he \u00a0led the NL in losses, going 14-20); and<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It had, perhaps, the \u201cwildest\u201d finish ever for an MLB no-no.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at that historic game\u2019s final inning.\u00a0 First, Jones came into the top of the ninth having notched three strikeouts against four walks.\u00a0 Despite the four free passes, he had faced only one more than the minimum number of hitters (or non-hitters in this case).\u00a0 The Pirates\u2019 number-five hitter, power-hitting first baseman Dale Long<\/strong>, had walked in all three of his plate appearances. Note: In 1956, Long set a still unbroken record by hitting home runs in eight consecutive games. Long\u2019s feat has never been equaled in the National League, but was matched in the AL by Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey, Jr. \u00a0(1993). \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>But, back to May 12, 1955. In the second inning, Long was tossed out on an attempted steal; in the fifth he was the lead out in a short-to-second-to first double play; and, in the eighth, he was doubled off first on a line drive to third.\u00a0 The only other Pittsburgh base runner to that point was catcher Toby Atwell<\/strong>, who led off the third with a walk, but was stranded as Jones induced a pop out, strikeout and ground out. \u00a0Meanwhile, over the first eight innings, the Cubs had scored four runs on fifteen hits off the Pirates\u2019 Nellie King<\/strong> and Vern Law<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So, with a 4-0 lead and the eight, nine and lead-off\u00a0 hitters scheduled to bat, Jones \u2013 ironically \u2013 seemed in control.\u00a0 That would not last long.\u00a0 Jones started the inning by walking the number-eight hitter, second baseman Gene Freese<\/strong>.\u00a0 The Pirates sent Preston Ward<\/strong> up to hit for pitcher Vern Law and, during the at bat, a Jones\u2019 wild pitch sent Freese to second.\u00a0 The WP didn\u2019t matter much, since Jones went on to walk Ward, bringing up lead-off hitter\/center fielder Tom Saffell<\/strong>, still looking for his first hit of the season.\u00a0 Jones walked Saffell to load the bases with no outs.<\/p>\n

Coming up?\u00a0 Shortstop Dick Groat<\/strong> (a future batting champion and NL MVP, who would strike out only 26 times in 151 games that season); future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente<\/strong> (right field); and left fielder\/clean-up hitter Frank Thomas<\/strong>.\u00a0 With the bases loaded, and both the no-hitter and game in jeopardy, Cubs manager Stan Hack made a trip to the mound (amid boos from the crowd) with some terse advice \u201cGet the ball over.\u201d \u00a0After the visit, Jones used just 11 more pitches to strike out Groat (looking), Clemente (swinging) and Thomas (looking).<\/p>\n

Note: It\u2019s reported that Cubs\u2019 broadcaster Harry Creighton promised Jones \u2013 who pitched with a flat-sided toothpick angling from his mouth \u2013 that he would buy him a \u201cgold toothpick\u201d if he threw a no-hitter \u2013 and that Creighton spent $11 to make good on his word.<\/em><\/p>\n

The final inning of Jones historic no-no – three walks and three strikeouts \u2013 was pretty indicative of Jones\u2019 pitching style. Jones, would in fact, lead his league in strikeouts and walks in the same season three times – 1955, 56, 58. \u00a0And, in his two All Star appearances, (1955, 1959) Jones’ \u00a0line was consistent with the term \u201ceffectively wild” \u2013 2 2\/3 innings pitched, one hit, one run (unearned), four walks, four strike outs, one hit by pitch.<\/p>\n

In all, Jones pitched in MLB \u00a0in all or parts of 12 seasons (1951-52, 1955-64), taking the mound for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles. His best season was 1959 (SF Giants) when he tied for the league lead in wins (21-15) and shutouts (4), and led the NL in ERA (2.83).\u00a0 That season, Jones also led the league in walks and finished second to Don Drysdale in strikeouts. Jones finished his MLB career with 102 wins, 101 losses and a 3.59 ERA.\u00a0 In ten minor league season, nine at Triple A, he went 104-66, 3.01. Jones also played in the Negro Leagues (Cleveland Buckeyes), as well as in Panama, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.<\/p>\n

Sam “Toothpick” \u00a0Jones died from cancer in 1971 at age 45<\/p>\n

I tween baseball \u00a0 @DavidBBRT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Sam \u201cToothpick\u201d Jones could be intimidating on the mound \u2013 not just because of his size (6\u20194\u201d, 192 pounds), his \u00a0fastball or his sweeping curve (Stan Musial said Jones had the best curveball he ever saw), but also because he was \u201ceffectively wild.\u201d\u00a0 As a Cub in 1955, the tall, lanky right hander led […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n