Claude Jonnard

Claude Alfred Jonnard

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 165 lb.
• High School Hume-Fogg High School
• Debut October 1, 1921
• Final Game July 26, 1929
• Born November 23, 1897 in Nashville, TN USA
• Died August 27, 1959 in Nashville, TN USA

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Biographical Information

The Jonnard Twins

Pitcher Claude Jonnard was the twin brother of catcher Clarence "Bubber" Jonnard. Jonnard pitched six seasons in the major leagues, and five of his six teams won the pennant. He appeared in the 1923 World Series and the 1924 World Series.

He also led the league in saves a couple of times, although saves were not an official statistic at the time.

He pitched for Marianao in Cuba in 1930, where a teammate was Oscar Charleston. Source: "Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History 1878-1961".

Prior to coming to major league baseball, Claude and his brother sometimes formed a battery when they played for Nashville.

An article about the Jonnards indicates that both of them responded to the name "Bubber", a corruption of "brother". Claude was signed in 1917 and set a record with a 2.33 ERA in 1919. He was blind in one eye. He signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers but did not appear in the majors with them.

After major league baseball he played and managed in the minors. Then he was a scout for the New York Giants for many years. He also managed the Minneapolis Millerettes in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1944, although many sources wrongly credit his twin brother with that gig.

One source: article about the Jonnards

Notable Achievements

• NL Games Pitched Leader (1923)
• 2-time NL Saves Leader (1922 & 1923)
• Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1922 (he did not play in the World Series)

Further Reading

• Bill Johnson: "Claude Jonnard", in Gregory H. Wolf, ed.: Winning on the North Side: the 1929 Chicago Cubs, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 111-113. ISBN 978-1-933599-89-2

Related Sites

• Claude Jonnard at the SABR Bio Project