Charley Jones
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley Jones was an American
left fielder
in the National Association and Major League Baseball
who hit 56 home run
s and batted
.298 during his twelve-year career. Born in Alamance County, North Carolina
, he played for several teams: the Keokuk Westerns
, Hartford Dark Blues
, Cincinnati Reds
(NL), Chicago White Stockings
, Boston Red Caps
, Cincinnati Red Stockings
(AA), New York Metropolitans
, and Kansas City Cowboys
. A popular but controversial player, despite his hitting ability he never played for a league champion.
His best period was from 1883–1885, when he hit 22 home runs, had 186 RBI
, and batted .310. Through the first nine seasons of the major leagues' existence, Jones held the career record for home runs, despite missing two of those seasons (1881–82) as a result of being blackballed from the sport. In 1887, he dropped to 4th place. By 1889, he was just tenth, and by 1890 he was no longer among the top ten.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in the National Association and 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 hit 56 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.298 during his twelve-year career. Born in Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, he played for several teams: the Keokuk Westerns
Keokuk Westerns
The Western club of Keokuk, Iowa, or Keokuk Westerns, were a professional baseball team in the National Association in 1875, the last season of that first professional league. They are considered a major league team by those who count the NA as a major league....
, Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (1876-1880)
The Cincinnati Reds, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, were a professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio that played from 1876–1880. The Reds were a charter member of the National League.-History:...
(NL), Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Boston Red Caps
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Cincinnati Red Stockings
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....
(AA), New York Metropolitans
New York Metropolitans
The Metropolitan Club was a 19th-century professional baseball team that played in New York City from 1880 to 1887...
, and Kansas City Cowboys
Kansas City Cowboys (American Association)
The Kansas City Cowboys were a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri for two seasons from to in the American Association. They were the third, and last incarnation of this franchise name, following the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association in and the Kansas City...
. A popular but controversial player, despite his hitting ability he never played for a league champion.
His best period was from 1883–1885, when he hit 22 home runs, had 186 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, and batted .310. Through the first nine seasons of the major leagues' existence, Jones held the career record for home runs, despite missing two of those seasons (1881–82) as a result of being blackballed from the sport. In 1887, he dropped to 4th place. By 1889, he was just tenth, and by 1890 he was no longer among the top ten.
Fact
- On June 10, 1880, Jones became the first big leaguer to hit two homers in the same inning. Both home runs came off Buffalo Bisons' pitcher Tom PoormanTom PoormanThomas Iverson Poorman , was a Major League Baseball outfielder and pitcher...
in the eighth inning of a 19–3 rout.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions