Bumpus Jones

Charles Leander Jones

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Debut October 15, 1892
• Final Game July 14, 1893
• Born January 1, 1870 in Cedarville, OH USA
• Died June 25, 1938 in Xenia, OH USA

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Biographical Information

Bumpus Jones threw a no-hitter in his first big league appearance, the only pitcher to ever do so, but only recorded one more victory in his major league career.

After winning 24 games for Joliet and also playing for the Atlanta Firecrackers of the Southern League in 1892, Jones made his big league debut for the Cincinnati Reds on October 15th of that year. In a 7-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, he struck out three and walked four while giving up no hits. Since his debut was on the unlikely date of October 15, he is the pitcher who threw a no-hitter on the latest calendar date in the year. It was also the last no-hitter before the pitching rubber was moved to the current distance.

Jones appeared in seven more games the next year, split between the Reds and the New York Giants, winning just one. He never returned to the majors after 1893] and ended his big league career with a 2-4 record. As a batter, he hit .222.

Following his major league days, Jones pitched for the Columbus Clippers from 1896 to 1899. He spent most of 1900 in the Interstate League but also made three starts for the Cleveland Lake Shores of the American League, then still a minor-league circuit.

Bill James created a formula to calculate how likely a pitcher is to hurl a no-hitter. Based on that formula, Jones was the least likely pitcher in major league history to throw a no-no. See Expected No-Hitters for more information.

Related Sites

• Bumpus Jones at the SABR Bio Project