Tom Jones

Thomas Jones

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.

• Debut August 25, 1902
• Final Game October 9, 1910
• Born June 21, 1874 in Honesdale, PA USA
• Died June 21, 1923 in Danville, PA USA

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Biographical Information

"(Manager) Jennings has found it incumbent to rebuild his infield right at the hottest period of the pennant race. . . Claude Rossman went because of what seemed a complete, even if temporary, collapse in all departments of the game. . . Tom Jones will not only strengthen the club in speed, but will also aid materially in stopping the enemy on the bases, as well as furnishing an element of great strength when Detroit faces the left-handed pitchers . . ." - Sporting Life of August 28, 1909, talking about the Rossman-Jones trade

Tom Jones played eight seasons in the big leagues, mostly during the deadball era. Not a particularly strong hitter, he earned his keep by playing first base, which was a defensive position at the time.

Tom was born in Honesdale, PA, 100 miles northwest of New York City.

He broke into the majors with the 1902 Baltimore Orioles, and played for the Baltimore team in the Eastern League the next season. Thereafter, a couple major league teams wanted him, and the St. Louis Browns won the draw (source: Sporting Life of June 18, 1904). From 1904 through most of 1909 Tom was with the St. Louis Browns as an everyday player, always hitting between .240 and .260.

During the winter of 1907-08 there was talk about a trade of Jones for Bob Unglaub, but it never happened.

Jones was traded to the 1909 Tigers in August, in time to be part of their 1909 World Series team. The trade was for Claude Rossman, also a first baseman, but while Jones became the regular first baseman for the Tigers, Rossman played only two games for the Browns that year, ending his major league career.

Tom hit .250 in the Series, batting seventh in the lineup. At age 32, Tom was three years older than teammate Sam Crawford and ten years older than Ty Cobb.

He finished his major league career as a regular for the 1910 Tigers, hitting about the same as he always did. However, the next season Jim Delahanty, who had been playing second base for the Tigers, took over at first base.

It was reported in June 1910 that Jones needed three operations for a broken nose.

Jones spent 1911 to 1915 in the minors with the Milwaukee Brewers, and then in 1916 managed at Johnsonburg in the Interstate League.