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Doug Jones (baseball)

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This article is about the baseball player. For other uses of the name Doug Jones, see Doug Jones (disambiguation).

Doug Jones
Jones with the Cleveland Indians in 1987
Pitcher
Born: (1957-06-24)June 24, 1957
Covina, California, U.S.
Died: November 22, 2021(2021-11-22) (aged 64)
Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 9, 1982, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 2000, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record69–79
Earned run average3.30
Strikeouts909
Saves303
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Douglas Reid Jones (June 24, 1957 – November 22, 2021) was an American professional baseball player. During a 16-year career in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1982, 1996–1998), Cleveland Indians (1986–1991, 1998), Houston Astros (1992–1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), Baltimore Orioles (1995), Chicago Cubs (1996) and Oakland Athletics (1999–2000). Jones was a five-time MLB All-Star and a member of the 300 save club.

Early life

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Douglas Reid Jones was born on June 24, 1957, in Covina, California. He moved to Lebanon, Indiana, with his family as a young child.[1] He attended Central Arizona College, and the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the third round of the January phase of the 1978 MLB draft.[2]

Playing career

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Jones spent seven years in the Brewers' minor league system. His only major league experience with the Brewers took place in four games in 1982. He was released after the 1984 season, and he signed with the Cleveland Indians. He became the Indians' full-time closer by 1988, breaking the Indians' record for saves in a season with 37.[3] He held the Indians' all-time record for saves with 129 until Bob Wickman broke it on May 7, 2006.[4]

Before the 1992 season, Jones signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.[5] After the 1993 season, the Astros traded Jones and Jeff Juden to the Philadelphia Phillies for Mitch Williams.[6] A free agent after the 1994 season, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[7] Jones threw an immaculate inning during a save on September 23, 1997, by striking out Johnny Damon, Scott Cooper, and Rod Myers of the Kansas City Royals.[8]

Jones announced his retirement on December 7, 2000.[3] His 303 career saves ranked 12th in major league history upon his retirement, and his 846 career appearances ranked 21st. A changeup specialist, he was known for keeping hitters off balance by throwing extremely slow pitches. He threw a two-seam fastball that topped out at speeds in the low-to-mid 80s mph range and a knuckle curve on occasion.[9]

Jones made the American League All-Star team three times (1988, 1989, and 1990) and the National League All-Star team twice (1992 and 1994).[10] He was the oldest player in the American League in 2000, at the age of 43.[11]

Coaching career

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In 2009, Jones coached Pusch Ridge Christian Academy to the Arizona 2A High School Championship.[12][13] In the early 2010s, he was the pitching coach for San Diego Christian College.[1]

On January 22, 2015, he was named pitching coach for the Boise Hawks, a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.[14]

Death

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Jones died from COVID-19 related complications in Arizona on November 22, 2021, at the age of 64.[15][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Riis, Richard. "Doug Jones". sabr.org. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Doug Jones Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Doug Jones". baseballbiography.com. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  4. ^ B. Hill, Justice (May 7, 2006). "Consistent Wickman claims saves mark". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "24 Jan 1992, Page 27 – Arizona Daily Star at". Newspapers.com. January 24, 1992. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  6. ^ Published: Fri, December 3, 1993, 12:00 AM (December 3, 1993). "Phils Ditch Mitch Williams Heads for Houston in Trade". Oklahoman.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Success change of pace for Jones". Baltimore Sun. April 10, 1995.
  8. ^ Radcliffe, JR (March 30, 2019). "After Josh Hader turned the rare feat Saturday, here are the Brewers' five 'immaculate innings'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Closer Jones eligible for Hall of Fame". Major League Baseball.
  10. ^ "Doug Jones, a former MLB All-Star closer, passes away". Usatoday.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "2000 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ Brazzle, Ken. "Former closer Jones can coach, too". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  13. ^ Davis, Luke (May 26, 2009). "This time, Lions' baseball took care of its business". Tucson Local Media. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. ^ Saunders, Patrick (January 22, 2015). "Rockies add Doug Jones to minor-league pitching staff". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  15. ^ Snyder, Matt (April 8, 1982). "Doug Jones, five-time MLB All-Star relief pitcher, dies at 64". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Bell, Mandy (November 22, 2021). "All-Star closer Doug Jones dies at 64". MLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
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