Former Met of the Day: Randy Jones (1981-1982)

Randall Leo Jones was born January 12, 1950 in Fullerton, California. He was drafted by the Padres in the 5th round of the 1972 draft and made the Padre rotation the next year. He was 7-6 in 1973 with a 3.16 ERA. In 1974 he led the league in losses with 22, posting a 4.45 ERA in 208 innings pitched. Somehow Jones turned it all around in 1975, and won the NL Comeback pitcher of the Year Award. He led the league with a 2.24 ERA, he was second with 18 complete games, and won 20 games for the first of two straight seasons. He also made the NL All Star squad both seasons, earning the save in 1975, while earning the victory in the 1976 Mid Summer Classic.

The next season he won the Cy Young Award beating out the Mets Jerry Koosman. Jones led the league in wins (22) complete games (25) starts (40) and an incredible 315 innings pitched. His 2.76 ERA was 6th in the league behind some good starters. That season he set a record for most chances by a pitcher without an error (112), posting a perfect fielding percentage (1.000.) He also tied the NL pitchers season record for the most double plays with 12. At the end of the season he injured a nerve in his pitching arm and required surgery. He was never the same pitcher, going just 6-12 the next season, then two sub .500 seasons.

On December 15, 1980 he was traded to the Mets for Jose Moreno and John Pacella. By the time the Mets got him he was completely washed up. In 1981 he lost his first five decisions in New York, then after one win he lost three more. He went on the DL from August until September and finished the year at 1-8 with a 4.85 ERA. 1982 would be his last year, he rebounded a bit going 7-10 posting a similar 4.60 ERA, allowing 11 HRs, with 51 walks while only striking out 44 batters. The Mets released him that winter, he finished his 10 year career at 100-123 with 3.42 ERA, 735 strikeouts. He is the only Cy Young Award winner to have a career losing record.

He is the owner of Randy Jones Big Stone Lodge, the home of his catering business that sells a Randy Jones BBQ sauce. In San Diego’ s new home Petco Park he has a concession stand named after him called the Randy Jones BBQ. He also does Padres radio pregame shows. Jones was inducted into the San Diego Hall of Champions and has his number retired by the Padres.