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Randy Jones, the left-hander who won the 1976 National League Cy Young Award, died Tuesday at age 75.
Jones made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 1973 and impressed as a rookie with a 3.16 ERA in 20 appearances, 19 of them starts. After going 8-22 in his second season, he rebounded with an NL-leading 2.24 ERA in 1975, earning his first All-Star nod and finishing second in Cy Young Award voting behind Tom Seaver.
The following season, he racked up an MLB-leading 315.1 innings, and while five others in the National League had a higher ERA than his 2.74, he led the majors with 25 complete games and his 1.03 WHIP was also the best mark in the National League. His 22 wins also led the majors, and all of that was enough to beat Jerry Koosman. Don Sutton finished third, Steve Carlton was fourth and Seaver dropped to eighth.
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San Diego Padres pitcher Randy Jones in action on the mound during the 1976 season. (Malcolm Emmons-USA Today Network)
In his last game of that magical season, he injured a nerve in his left arm and was never able to return to fitness. Despite a 2.88 ERA in 1978, he finished with an ERA above 4.50 in three of his final six seasons. Jones joined the New York Mets for their final two seasons in 1981 and 1982.
Jones was not known for striking out batters. In fact, he had only 93 strikeouts in his Cy Young Award-winning season, and his career-high was 124 in 1974. He remains the only pitcher to win a Cy Young Award, but he has a losing career record. Four times he was in the top 10 in innings pitched, walks per nine innings, starts and home runs per nine innings.
Former San Diego Padre Randy Jones salutes before the 87th Annual MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
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“It is with deep sadness and regret that the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones. Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise. Award winner CY Young, a Padres Hall of Famer and tremendous community ambassador, was a giant in our lives and will be greatly missed,” the Padres said in a statement.
Former San Diego Padre Randy Jones tips his hat to the crowd before the 87th Annual MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Andy Hayt/Getty Images)
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Jones’ number 35 was retired by the Padres in 1997, and two years later he was a member of the team’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. He is widely credited with putting the expansion franchise on the map, as the team struggled mightily during his tenure, but he provided a spark in the dark days.
