Remembering Mets History (1975) The Drama & Release of All Time Met Left Fielder Cleon Jones
In the off season the club made some moves to improve run production.
They acquired slugger Dave Kingman, who would set a club record hitting 36 HRs.
They acquired Del Unser from Philadelphia in the Tug McGraw trade; Unser became the everyday center fielder batting .294. They also got another outfielder; the speedy Gene Clines from Pittsburgh, he hit just .227.
In Spring Training 1975 there were a bunch of players who were now fighting for outfield & first base spots on the club.
Ten-year veteran outfielder, Cleon Jones was there as well assuming the left field job was still his. But during Spring Training, Jones injured his knee. At the time the Mets were holding their Spring Training in St. Petersburg, Florida. As the team went North for the start of the '75 season, Jones stayed in Florida to rehab his knee.
Cleon's Florida Drama: On May 6th, St. Petersburg Police, found Cleon Jones with a young woman, asleep in a van. News reports at the time say the two were both sleeping in the nude. At first Jones told the police he was a laborer who worked at the Mets Spring Training complex, trying to hide his identity. But he later admitted the truth, that he was Cleon Jones the baseball player.
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Cleon Jones was 32years old at the time & still married. He was charged with indecent exposure as well but was eventually released on his own recognizance. Jones was fined a record sum at that time of $2000 by the ball club.
The Mets organization was not happy with the bad press & wanted the matter addressed to the media. In what they thought would help clear the issue up, Mets Chairman, M. Donald Grant, had Cleon Jones publicly apologize in a press conference with his wife Angela at his side.
Quotes-Cleon Jones: "I have promised the management that if they permit me to rejoin the team where I can regain the confidence of everyone & the support of my family, no one will regret having done so." It was the beginning of the end for Cleon Jones.
Looking back, this situation could have been handled much better. The club could have supported Jones better as the whole drama was blown way out of proportion due to the era it happened in.
By the end of May, Jones was off the DL & back with the ball club. On May 27th he came in the game as a pinch hitter collecting a base hit off Dodger pitcher Burt Hooton in a 10-4 Mets Loss.
By the end of May, Jones was off the DL & back with the ball club. On May 27th he came in the game as a pinch hitter collecting a base hit off Dodger pitcher Burt Hooton in a 10-4 Mets Loss.
On May31st, he got his first start in the outfield, going 3-3 with an RBI double in a Mets 7-2 win.
In June he got just eight starts in the outfield, Cleon was batting .282 without a HR & had just two RBIs since his return.
Manager Yogi Berra claimed Jones had been late for work outs numerous times, but he overlooked it each time.
Jones & Berra Confrontation in the Dugout: On July 18th, in a 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium, Jones was sent in to pinch hit for Ed Kranepool in the 7th inning. He lined out to the short stop for the second out. When he returned to the dugout he did not or slowly wrap up his injured knee.
Manager Yogi Berra claimed Jones had been late for work outs numerous times, but he overlooked it each time.
Manager, Yogi Berra instructed him to play left field for the 8th inning. Jones refused to go to the field, saying he still had to wrap his knee up. After being questioned by Berra, Jones shouted "get someone else out there".
The two got into a shouting match with Jones storming off into the club house. On his way thru the dugout, he threw his glove and knocked down a towel rack. Yogi Berra was furious.
The two got into a shouting match with Jones storming off into the club house. On his way thru the dugout, he threw his glove and knocked down a towel rack. Yogi Berra was furious. The usually laid-back manager was not going to let this situation go away. He demanded the organization stand behind him to discipline Jones. Cleon was already upset about his lack of playing time & was batting just .240.
Quotes-Yogi Berra: “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”.
Yogi gave the club an ultimatum, it was either him or Jones, someone had to go. M. Donald Grant tried to change Berra's mind but to no avail, this time Yogi stood his ground. The club waited four days then suspended Cleon Jones.
They attempted to trade him, but he vetoed an original deal going to the Chicago White Sox. On July 27th, the Mets gave Cleon Jones his unconditional release.
Quotes- Mets General Manager Joe McDonald: "Having exhausted all avenues in attempting to reconcile the problem, we are offering Cleon Jones his unconditional release. We see nothing to be gained in going to arbitration proceedings. Regardless of the result, the problem would not be resolved."
Yogi Berra: "I'm glad it's over. I'm relieved. I feel I did the right thing. I feel the way Joe does, I wish Cleon all the luck in the world. He's got talent if he wants to play."
Berra dismissed the notion that race was an issue, saying he would do the same thing to any player. Marvin Miller, head of the players Union, filed a grievance against the Mets ball club.
Quotes-Yogi Berra: “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”.
Yogi gave the club an ultimatum, it was either him or Jones, someone had to go. M. Donald Grant tried to change Berra's mind but to no avail, this time Yogi stood his ground. The club waited four days then suspended Cleon Jones.
They attempted to trade him, but he vetoed an original deal going to the Chicago White Sox. On July 27th, the Mets gave Cleon Jones his unconditional release.
Quotes- Mets General Manager Joe McDonald: "Having exhausted all avenues in attempting to reconcile the problem, we are offering Cleon Jones his unconditional release. We see nothing to be gained in going to arbitration proceedings. Regardless of the result, the problem would not be resolved." Yogi Berra: "I'm glad it's over. I'm relieved. I feel I did the right thing. I feel the way Joe does, I wish Cleon all the luck in the world. He's got talent if he wants to play."
Berra dismissed the notion that race was an issue, saying he would do the same thing to any player. Marvin Miller, head of the players Union, filed a grievance against the Mets ball club.
After a ten-year Mets career, Cleon Jones who held many club records, had played in two World Series, winning one championship & had been a popular fan favorite was now gone from the team.
Aftermath:
Within two weeks the Mets' upper management fired Yogi Berra, replacing him with coach Roy McMillan. It was agreed at the time it was only for the rest of the season as McMillan did not want the manager's job permanently. On August 9th the Mets were 58-54 in fourth place seven 1/2 games back. They finished the year at 82-80 in third place.
Within two weeks the Mets' upper management fired Yogi Berra, replacing him with coach Roy McMillan. It was agreed at the time it was only for the rest of the season as McMillan did not want the manager's job permanently. On August 9th the Mets were 58-54 in fourth place seven 1/2 games back. They finished the year at 82-80 in third place.On April 3rd, 1976, Cleon Jones signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox. He would appear in just 12 games with them, batting .200 (8-40) with three RBIs.
On May 3rd he was released & eventually retired at age 33.