Sheldon Jones
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Leslie "Available" Jones (February 2, 1922 — April 18, 1991) was an American
professional baseball
player, a right-handed pitcher
who played in the Major Leagues
from – for the New York Giants
, Boston Braves
, and Chicago Cubs
. He earned his nickname from a character in the Li'l Abner
comic strip
and because of his durability as both a starting pitcher
and a reliever
early in his MLB career as a member of the Giants. The native of Tecumseh, Nebraska
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
In , Jones appeared in 55 games played
(fourth that season among National League
pitchers), 21 as a starter and 34 in relief, worked in 201⅓ innings, and won 16 of 24 decision
s, with five saves and eight complete game
s, while posting a creditable earned run average
of 3.35. The following year, , Jones was mostly a starter (27 of his 42 games). He appeared in 207⅓ innings, won 15, lost 12, and had 11 complete games. He registered no saves, but still finished nine games, and lowered his ERA to 3.34. Finally, in , Jones worked in 40 games, 28 as a starter. He logged 199 innings, 11 more complete games and two saves, but his effectiveness diminished, as he posted a losing record (13–16) and a poor 4.61 ERA.
He pitched one more season in New York as a member of the 1951 National League pennant winners
, and although again ineffective during the regular season, he pitched well during the 1951 World Series
, appearing in two contests and saving Game 3 for Giants' starter Jim Hearn
.
Jones wrapped up his MLB career with 61 games played, mostly in relief, for the Braves and Cubs. All told he surrendered 909 hits
and 413 bases on balls (and amassed the same number of strikeouts) in 920 innings pitched during his Major League tenure. Of his 260 games pitched, 101 were as a starter and 159 came in relief. He finished with 12 saves.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played in the Major Leagues
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...
from – for the 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....
, Boston Braves
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....
, and Chicago Cubs
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...
. He earned his nickname from a character in the Li'l Abner
Li'l Abner
Li'l Abner is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe, featuring a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished town of Dogpatch, Kentucky. Written and drawn by Al Capp , the strip ran for 43 years, from August 13, 1934 through...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
and because of his durability as both a starting pitcher
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....
and a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
early in his MLB career as a member of the Giants. The native of Tecumseh, Nebraska
Tecumseh, Nebraska
Tecumseh is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,716 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tecumseh is located at ....
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (81.6 kg).
In , Jones appeared in 55 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
(fourth that season among National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pitchers), 21 as a starter and 34 in relief, worked in 201⅓ innings, and won 16 of 24 decision
Decision
A decision is the selection between possible actions.A choice is the selection between two or more objects.The term decision may refer to:* Judgment , as the outcome of a legal case...
s, with five saves and eight complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, while posting a creditable earned run average
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...
of 3.35. The following year, , Jones was mostly a starter (27 of his 42 games). He appeared in 207⅓ innings, won 15, lost 12, and had 11 complete games. He registered no saves, but still finished nine games, and lowered his ERA to 3.34. Finally, in , Jones worked in 40 games, 28 as a starter. He logged 199 innings, 11 more complete games and two saves, but his effectiveness diminished, as he posted a losing record (13–16) and a poor 4.61 ERA.
He pitched one more season in New York as a member of the 1951 National League pennant winners
1951 New York Giants (MLB) season
The New York Giants season saw the Giants finish the regular season in a tie for first place in the National League with a record of 96 wins and 58 losses. This prompted a three-game playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers, which the Giants won in three games, clinched by Bobby Thomson's walk-off...
, and although again ineffective during the regular season, he pitched well during the 1951 World Series
1951 World Series
The 1951 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the New York Giants, who had won the National League pennant in a thrilling three-game playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers on the legendary home run by Bobby Thomson .In the Series, the Yankees showed some power of...
, appearing in two contests and saving Game 3 for Giants' starter Jim Hearn
Jim Hearn
James Tolbert Hearn was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for 13 seasons . A right-hander, he stood tall and weighed .-Career:...
.
Jones wrapped up his MLB career with 61 games played, mostly in relief, for the Braves and Cubs. All told he surrendered 909 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 413 bases on balls (and amassed the same number of strikeouts) in 920 innings pitched during his Major League tenure. Of his 260 games pitched, 101 were as a starter and 159 came in relief. He finished with 12 saves.