Bumpus Jones
Encyclopedia
Charles Leander Jones (January 1, 1870 – June 25, 1938) was a right-handed starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Cincinnati Reds
and New York Giants
. He was born in Cedarville, Ohio
.
Though Jones made only eight appearances in his brief major league career, he saved himself from baseball anonymity when he threw a no-hitter
in his first major league appearance with the Cincinnati Reds on October 15, 1892, the last day of the season. The victim that day was the Pittsburgh Pirates
, who lost 7–1. Jones was not perfect, as he gave up four walks
, and he did not pitch a shutout
, as an error
led to an unearned run. But it was quite a start, and was his only outing of the season. This is still the latest date in the season that a no-hitter has ever been pitched in major league history.
After that, Jones split 1893 between Cincinnati and the New York Giants, appearing in seven games overall, while going 1-4 with a 10.19 ERA
. Jones would never pitch in the majors again. He remains the only player in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game. Only Bobo Holloman
of the St. Louis Browns
managed to join Jones as pitchers to throw no-hitters in their first major league start, but Holloman had previously appeared in a relief role. According to sabermetrician Bill James
, Jones edges out Holloman for the distinction of mathematically least likely pitcher ever to have thrown a no-hitter in the major leagues.
In a two-season major league career, Jones posted a 2-4 career record with 10 strikeout
s and a 7.99 ERA in 41⅔ innings
of labor. After leaving the major leagues, Jones continued to pitch professionally. Jones pitched for the Grand Rapids Rippers and Sioux City Cornhuskers in 1894. He pitched for the Columbus Clippers
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. Jones finished his minor league career with the St. Paul Saints in 1901.
Jones died in Xenia, Ohio
, at age 68, and was laid to rest at North Cemetery
in Cedarville, Ohio
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He was born in Cedarville, Ohio
Cedarville, Ohio
Cedarville is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,828 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Cedarville University and Cedarville High School.Cedarville is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Though Jones made only eight appearances in his brief major league career, he saved himself from baseball anonymity when he threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in his first major league appearance with the Cincinnati Reds on October 15, 1892, the last day of the season. The victim that day was the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, who lost 7–1. Jones was not perfect, as he gave up four walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and he did not pitch a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, as an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
led to an unearned run. But it was quite a start, and was his only outing of the season. This is still the latest date in the season that a no-hitter has ever been pitched in major league history.
After that, Jones split 1893 between Cincinnati and the New York Giants, appearing in seven games overall, while going 1-4 with a 10.19 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Jones would never pitch in the majors again. He remains the only player in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game. Only Bobo Holloman
Bobo Holloman
Alva Lee "Bobo" Holloman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Browns in . Holloman pitched in just 22 games in his lone year, with three wins against seven losses. However, he pitched a no-hitter in his first major league start against the Philadelphia...
of the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
managed to join Jones as pitchers to throw no-hitters in their first major league start, but Holloman had previously appeared in a relief role. According to sabermetrician Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
, Jones edges out Holloman for the distinction of mathematically least likely pitcher ever to have thrown a no-hitter in the major leagues.
In a two-season major league career, Jones posted a 2-4 career record with 10 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 7.99 ERA in 41⅔ innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
of labor. After leaving the major leagues, Jones continued to pitch professionally. Jones pitched for the Grand Rapids Rippers and Sioux City Cornhuskers in 1894. He pitched for the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
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. Jones finished his minor league career with the St. Paul Saints in 1901.
Jones died in Xenia, Ohio
Xenia, Ohio
Xenia is a city in and the county seat of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio 21 miles from Dayton and is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, at age 68, and was laid to rest at North Cemetery
North Cemetery
North Cemetery is a historic cemetery on Cold Street in Worthington, Massachusetts.The cemetery was founded in 1795 and added to the National Historic Register in 2004....
in Cedarville, Ohio
Cedarville, Ohio
Cedarville is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,828 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Cedarville University and Cedarville High School.Cedarville is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.