1975: The Saga of the Release of Cleon Jones (end of an era)

JULY 27, 1975 marked the end of Cleon Jones’ career with the Mets. Jones came up in 1963 and started playing regularly in 1966. In 1969 he hit .340 a long time Mets single season mark and remained one of their top players until 1975. When the Mets acquired Dave Kingman, Cleon Jones had pretty much lost his left field position. In Spring Training 1975 Jones injured his knee. He stayed in Florida to rehab the knee as the team went North at the start of the season.

On May 6th 1975, St. Petersburg Police found Jones with a young woman, both asleep naked in a van. At first Jones told the police he was a laborer who worked at the Mets Spring Training complex. But later admitted he was Cleon Jones the ballplayer. Some reports say the woman was still a teenager, but the St. Petersburg newspaper of the time says she was 21 years old. The woman, named Sharon Ann was an unemployed waitress, she was charged with indecent exposure, possession of marijuana and possession of two marijuana pipes. Jones was 32 at the time, and still married. He too was charged for indecent exposure, but was eventually released on his own recognizance. He was fined a record sum of $2000 by the ball club. To clear the issue up, Mets C.E.O. M. Donald Grant, had Jones publicly apologize in a press conference with his wife Angela at his side. It was the beginning of the end for Jonesy.

In July Cleon was upset about his lack of playing time. Right after the All Star break, in a game at Atlanta, Jones pinch hit in the 7th inning. Yogi Berra then told him to play left field for the 8th inning. Jones refused to go, the two got into a shouting match and Jones stormed into the club house. On his way he threw his glove and knocked down a towel rack. Berra was furious. The usually lax manager wouldn’t let the situation die; he demanded the organization support him to discipline Jones. Berra said “It was the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me as manager. I had to change my whole line up around because of him”. He told the club, it was either him or Jones. M. Donald Grant tried to convince Berra otherwise but to no avail. Yogi stood his ground. The club waited four days then suspended Jones for four days.

They attempted to trade him, but he vetoed a trade to the White Sox for Terry Harper. Then on July 27th, the Mets gave Jones his unconditional release. Berra said he wished Cleon all the best, but he couldn’t take him back. Berra dismissed race being an issue as well, saying he would do the same thing with any player. Marvin Miller, head of the players Union filed a grievance against the Mets club. After a ten year Mets career Cleon Jones was gone, leaving behind many club records. He will always be remembered for catching the final out of the 1969 World Series on one knee.

He signed with the White Sox in 1976 but was released & retired after 12 games. Life time he hit 93 HRs 524 RBIs 183 doubles, 93 stolen bases and batted .281. In the post season he is a .284 hitter with 2 HRs & 8 RBIs.