Ruppert Jones

Ruppert Sanderson Jones
(Rupe)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Berkeley High School
• Debut August 1, 1976
• Final Game October 4, 1987
• Born March 12, 1955 in Dallas, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ruppert Jones was the first pick of the Seattle Mariners in the 1976 expansion draft. Before that, however, he was in the Kansas City Royals organization, and made his debut with the division-winning Royals of 1976. At age 21, he was one of the youngest players on the team, while Tommy Davis, at age 37, was the oldest.

On August 12, 1980, with the New York Yankees, Jones hit an extra-inning walk-off grand slam. On June 25, 1985, for the Detroit Tigers against the Cleveland Indians, he became the first player ever to do that twice in a career. Twice is still the record, although it has been tied by Jim Presley, Carlos Lee, Alex Rodriguez and Joe Crede.

Ruppert is excellent in the art of karate.

Notable Achievements

• 1977 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
• 2-time All-Star (1977 & 1982)
• 20-Home Run Seasons: 3 (1977, 1979 & 1985)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1979)
• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1984

Further Reading

• Adam J. Ulrey: "Ruppert Jones", in Mark Pattison and David Raglin, ed.: Detroit Tigers 1984: What A Start! What A Finish!, SABR Publications, Phoenix, AZ, 2012, pp. 99-102. ISBN 1933599448
• Ruppert Jones and Ryan Dempsey: #NeverGiveUp: A Memoir of Baseball and Traumatic Brain Injury, independently published, 2021. ISBN 979-8728527558
• Brian P. Wood: "Rupe's Troops, No Más Monge and Tempy Turns It Around: Part of the Padres Golden Era", in Cecilia M. Tan, ed.: Pacific Ghosts, The National Pastime, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2019, pp. 74-78.

Related Sites

• Ruppert Jones at the SABR Bio Project