The baseball world mourns the loss of Randy Jones, the left-handed pitcher who shone with the San Diego Padres and won the Cy Young Award in 1976. Jones passed away at the age of 75.
The news was confirmed by the Padres, who announced his passing on Tuesday, without revealing the cause or place.
Jones left an indelible mark on the history of the Padres, where he played for eight seasons, and also had a stint with the New York Mets for two seasons. His record in the Major Leagues was 100 wins and 123 losses, with an ERA of 3.42.Randy Jones fue uno de los mejores lanzadores de las mayores en 1975 y 1976, ganando dos selecciones All-Star y convirtiéndose en el primer jugador de los Padres en ganar el Cy Young. Lanzó ocho temporadas para los Padres y dos para los Mets, con un balance de 100-123 y una efectividad de 3.42.He holds Padres franchise records with 253 starts, 71 complete games, 18 shutouts, and 1,766 innings pitched.
He was one of the most outstanding pitchers in the majors in 1975 and 1976, earning two All-Star selections and being the first Padres player to win the Cy Young, since the team was founded in 1969.
In 1975, he finished second in the Cy Young voting, behind Tom Seaver, after recording a 20-12 record with a 2.24 ERA, the best in the National League.
A year later, Jones conquered the Cy Young award, achieving 22 victories and pitching 315 1/3 innings in 40 starts, including 25 complete games, the most in the league. His playing style, close to the fans, boosted attendance at Padres games.
He earned the save in the 1975 All-Star Game and achieved the victory for the National League in 1976.
After injuring his arm in his last start of 1976, he did not regain his best form, but continued as a starter in the Major Leagues until 1982 with the Mets.
Nicknamed “Junkman”, Jones specialized in low-ball pitches, using cunning and control instead of speed. His career reflects a golden era of baseball, with 285 starts and 1,933 innings pitched in 10 years, although he only recorded 735 strikeouts in his career.
Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for more than five decades. His impact and popularity grew in his post-playing career, becoming a great ambassador for the team and a true fan favorite. Running into RJ and talking about baseball or life was a joy for everyone who was lucky 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 in the history of our franchise.
Padres Statement
After his retirement, Jones returned to San Diego County and became a Padres symbol, participating in events and in the community. A barbecue restaurant with his name was established in the former Padres stadium, Qualcomm Stadium, and then moved to Petco Park.
In 2017, Jones announced that he suffered from throat cancer, possibly due to prolonged use of chewing tobacco. In 2018, he announced that he was cancer-free.
In 1997, the Padres retired Jones’ number 35, and in 1999, he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
