Sam Jones.... 1st Negro to throw a no-hitter in Major League Baseball...
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May 13, 1955
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS, Michigan, May 13, 1955
* Sam Jones
* Chicago Cubs
* 1st Negro to throw a no-hitter in Major League Baseball
This 44 page newspaper has a banner headline above the masthead on the front page: "Cubs' Negro Hurls No-Hitter; Indians Beaten---Page 29".
Also a nice banner headline on page 29: "Bases Full as Sam Jones Wins No-Hitter" with subheads that include: "Cub Negro Strikes Out Side in 9th" and more with related photos. Tells of the 1st negro pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the MLB.
Other news of the day throughout. Light browning with little margin wear, otherwise in good condition..
wikipedia notes: Samuel "Sam" Jones (December 14, 1925 – November 5, 1971), known during his career as "Toothpick Sam" Jones or "Sad Sam" Jones, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1951 to 1964.
Born in Stewartsville, Ohio, Jones began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1951. When he entered a game on May 3, 1952, 39-year-old rookie Quincy Trouppe, a Negro League veteran, was behind the plate. Together they formed the first black battery in American League history.
After the 1954 season, the Tribe traded him to the Chicago Cubs for two players to be named later, one of whom was slugger Ralph Kiner. In 1956, the Cubs traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player deal; prior to the 1959 season, he was dealt once again, this time to the San Francisco Giants for Bill White and Ray Jablonski. He was picked up by the expansion Houston Colt .45s in the 1961 expansion draft and spent a year with them before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. He rejoined the Cardinals for the 1963 campaign and played 1964 with the Baltimore Orioles before retiring.
During his career, Jones was known for his sweeping curveball, in addition to a fastball and changeup. Stan Musial once remarked, "Sam had the best curveball I ever saw... He was quick and fast and that curve was terrific, so big it was like a change of pace. I've seen guys fall down on curves that became strikes." [1]
During his career, Jones led the National League in strikeouts three times: in 1955, 1956, and 1958. On May 12 of the former of these three seasons, he no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter. His greatest year came with the Giants in 1959, when he led the league in both wins with 21 (tying him with Milwaukee Braves starters Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn) and ERA with 2.83. He was named 1959 National League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News, but finished a distant second to Early Wynn of the Chicago White Sox for the Cy Young Award. He was named to the NL All-Star team twice, in 1955 and 1959.
Jones died in Morgantown, West Virginia at the age of 45.
* Sam Jones
* Chicago Cubs
* 1st Negro to throw a no-hitter in Major League Baseball
This 44 page newspaper has a banner headline above the masthead on the front page: "Cubs' Negro Hurls No-Hitter; Indians Beaten---Page 29".
Also a nice banner headline on page 29: "Bases Full as Sam Jones Wins No-Hitter" with subheads that include: "Cub Negro Strikes Out Side in 9th" and more with related photos. Tells of the 1st negro pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the MLB.
Other news of the day throughout. Light browning with little margin wear, otherwise in good condition..
wikipedia notes: Samuel "Sam" Jones (December 14, 1925 – November 5, 1971), known during his career as "Toothpick Sam" Jones or "Sad Sam" Jones, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1951 to 1964.
Born in Stewartsville, Ohio, Jones began his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1951. When he entered a game on May 3, 1952, 39-year-old rookie Quincy Trouppe, a Negro League veteran, was behind the plate. Together they formed the first black battery in American League history.
After the 1954 season, the Tribe traded him to the Chicago Cubs for two players to be named later, one of whom was slugger Ralph Kiner. In 1956, the Cubs traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player deal; prior to the 1959 season, he was dealt once again, this time to the San Francisco Giants for Bill White and Ray Jablonski. He was picked up by the expansion Houston Colt .45s in the 1961 expansion draft and spent a year with them before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. He rejoined the Cardinals for the 1963 campaign and played 1964 with the Baltimore Orioles before retiring.
During his career, Jones was known for his sweeping curveball, in addition to a fastball and changeup. Stan Musial once remarked, "Sam had the best curveball I ever saw... He was quick and fast and that curve was terrific, so big it was like a change of pace. I've seen guys fall down on curves that became strikes." [1]
During his career, Jones led the National League in strikeouts three times: in 1955, 1956, and 1958. On May 12 of the former of these three seasons, he no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field, becoming the first African American in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter. His greatest year came with the Giants in 1959, when he led the league in both wins with 21 (tying him with Milwaukee Braves starters Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn) and ERA with 2.83. He was named 1959 National League Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News, but finished a distant second to Early Wynn of the Chicago White Sox for the Cy Young Award. He was named to the NL All-Star team twice, in 1955 and 1959.
Jones died in Morgantown, West Virginia at the age of 45.
Category: The 20th Century
