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| Cleon Jones | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cleon Jones |
| Position | Outfielder / First baseman |
| Bats | Left |
| Throws | Left |
| Birth date | 24 June 1942 |
| Birth place | Pineville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | April 13 |
| Debutyear | 1963 |
| Debutteam | New York Mets |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | September 29 |
| Finalyear | 1976 |
| Finalteam | Chicago White Sox |
| Statleague | MLB |
| Stat1label | Batting average |
| Stat1value | .281 |
| Stat2label | Home runs |
| Stat2value | 60 |
| Stat3label | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value | 501 |
| Teams | * New York Mets (1963–1973) * Chicago White Sox (1975–1976) |
Cleon Jones (born June 24, 1942) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and first baseman who played in Major League Baseball primarily for the New York Mets. Jones was a central figure on the 1969 Mets team that won the 1969 World Series, earning a reputation for clutch hitting, defensive versatility, and a high on-base tendency during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Born in Pineville, Louisiana, Jones attended Lafayette High School and emerged as a standout in local high school sports before signing with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1962. His early development included time in the Mets' minor league system with stops such as the Williamsport Mets, Jacksonville Suns, and Buffalo Bisons, where he refined skills under coaches connected to franchises like the International League and managers who later worked in Major League Baseball front offices.
Jones made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 1963 during a period that followed the expansion of Major League Baseball and paralleled the careers of contemporaries on teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals. After platoon and backup roles in the early 1960s, he became an everyday outfielder by 1967, competing against players from the National League and participating in pennant races that involved clubs like the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. He remained with the Mets through the franchise's transformation under executives like Bob Scheffing and managers such as Gil Hodges, later finishing his major league playing career with the Chicago White Sox in the mid-1970s amid roster moves influenced by free agency and the evolving Major League Baseball Players Association.
During the Mets' 1969 "Miracle" season, Jones played a pivotal role in the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, contributing key hits and defensive plays in matchups managed by Earl Weaver and opposed by pitchers from clubs like the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. A signature moment came in the 1969 season when Jones was involved in a controversial incident tied to a foul ball and a disputed home run call that drew attention from sportswriters at outlets such as the New York Times and broadcasters from networks like NBC Sports. In the World Series, Jones faced pitchers including Jim Palmer and Dave McNally, and his performance helped the Mets secure their first World Series championship in franchise history.
Jones displayed a left-handed swing that produced a career batting average of .281 with 60 home runs and 501 RBIs, combining contact skills and situational hitting valued by managers like Gil Hodges and scouts from organizations such as the Baseball Hall of Fame electorate. Defensively, he covered left field and first base with range that was evaluated by metrics and observers from publications like Sporting News and analysts who tracked statistics from the National League era, contributing to run prevention alongside pitchers such as Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman.
After retiring as a player following stints that included time with the Chicago White Sox and international play common to veterans of his era, Jones remained associated with baseball through coaching, community engagement, and occasional veteran appearances at events run by the New York Mets and alumni groups. Honors for his contributions have included recognition from municipal institutions in New York City and commemorations during Mets ceremonies alongside other franchise notables like Tom Seaver and Jerry Grote, while historical assessments have appeared in retrospectives by institutions such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writers for Sports Illustrated.
Off the field, Jones has been connected with civic initiatives in his native Louisiana and the New York metropolitan area, participating in charity events that sometimes involved former teammates from the 1969 roster and later Mets generations. His legacy persists in cultural references to the 1969 Mets within books, documentaries, and broadcasts produced by outlets including ESPN, MLB Network, and public libraries that preserve regional sports history, and he is remembered among historians and fans for his role in transforming the Mets into a championship franchise.
Category:1942 births Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:New York Mets players Category:Chicago White Sox players