Randy Jones, San Diego Padres Hall of Famer and 1976 NL Cy Young Award winner, has died at the of 75, the team announced on Wednesday.
“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones,” the statement read. “Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for over five decades, highlighted by becoming the first Padres pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. Inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 1999, his impact and popularity only grew in his post-playing career, becoming a tremendous ambassador for the team and a true fan favorite. Crossing paths with RJ and talking baseball or life was a joy for everyone fortunate enough to spend time with him. Randy was committed to San Diego, the Padres, and his family. He was a giant in our lives and our franchise history.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Marie and the entire Jones family during this difficult time. RJ will be greatly missed.”
A fifth-round pick in the 1972 MLB draft, Jones joined the Padres a year later, making 19 starts during his rookie season. During his time in San Diego from 1973-1980, he would win 92 games and make two All-Star Game appearances.
In 1975, Jones posted the first of two 20-win seasons and finished runner-up for the Cy Young behind New York Mets ace Tom Seaver. A year later, the award would be his after a season where he went 22-14 with 25 complete games, 315.1 innings pitched, a 2.74 ERA, and a 1.027 WHIP. The lefty’s sinker was so effective, he recorded only 93 strikeouts that season and opponents’ batting average with balls in play was .238, according to FanGraphs, third-lowest in MLB.
Jones even earned the cover of “Sports Illustrated” that summer.
When Jones took the mound, Padres fans came out as shown by the nearly 12,000-person increase in attendance during his 21 home starts in 1976.
“It was a magical relationship that we had when I was pitching, the way the fans supported me in ’75 and ’76, and even after that,” Jones told MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell in 2018. “I enjoy them. I still look forward to seeing a lot of those folks.”
During his final start in 1976, Jones suffered a torn nerve in his left biceps tendon and needed surgery that offseason. He would pitch only 147.1 innings the following year and was dealt to the Mets ahead of the 1981 season. He would play two seasons in New York before being released. He tried one last go with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was cut before the start of the 1983 season.
During his retirement, Jones became a mentor for pitcher Barry Zito with the longtime Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants lefty going to Jones’ home for lessons for three years. Zito would go on to win 165 games, make three All-Star games, and win the 2002 AL Cy Young Award and the 2012 World Series.
The Padres retired Jones’ No. 35 in 1997 and he was later a part of the franchise’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1999.
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