Sad Sam Jones

I met Sad Sam Jones in 1964, when I spent a pleasant afternoon with him and his wife in their unpretentious but very comfortable home in Woodsfield, Ohio. That was when I was travelling the country interviewing old-time ballplayers for what later became The Glory of Their Times. Sam had pitched in the American League for a remarkable 22 years. He broke in with the Cleveland Indians in 1914 and went from there to the Red Sox (1916-21), the Yankees (1922-26), the Browns (1927), the Senators (1928-31), and the White Sox (1932-35). Twice a 20-game winner, overall he won 229 games and lost 217. When he left the majors, he retired to his home town, Woodsfield, and remained a highly respected elder of the community until he died in 1966, a few days before his 74th birthday.

Sam seemed in good health when we talked in 1964 and I was surprised by his death only two years later; his son, whom I got to know subsequently, told me that doctors attributed his unexpected demise to overuse of nasal decongestant inhalers!

Sam was a warm and unassuming person. He looked back on his baseball career with pride but no arrogance. Unlike the value system of too many modern athletes, he clearly put politeness and consideration for the feelings of others - including strangers - high among his priorities. If there is any one thing I always recall from our conversation, it is Sam's statement that over a five-year period he never once threw over to first base. He just looked baserunners back. And when he finally did throw over to first, and caught the runner out by a mile, the first baseman was so surprised he dropped the ball!