Randy Jones became a San Diego icon, not only for a pitching peak that rivaled the best in baseball, but for his everyman approach to the game and to fame.
Jones, the 1976 National League Cy Young Award winner, died on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Padres on Wednesday. He was 75.
“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones," the statement read. "Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for over five decades, highlighted by becoming the first Padres pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. Inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 1999, his impact and popularity only grew in his post-playing career, becoming a tremendous ambassador for the team and a true fan favorite. Crossing paths with RJ and talking baseball or life was a joy for everyone fortunate 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 our franchise history.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Marie and the entire Jones family during this difficult time. RJ will be greatly missed.”
Jones had a 10-year Major League career, from 1973-82. His two-season stretch from 1975-76 vaulted him to the game’s elite and made him the first true face of the Padres franchise, which began play in ’69.
In those two seasons, Jones posted a 42-26 record for teams that didn’t approach .500, along with a 2.50 ERA, 11 shutouts and 43 complete games. He was an All-Star both seasons, earning the save in 1975 and notching the win as the NL starter in ’76. He finished second behind Tom Seaver in the ’75 NL Cy Young voting before claiming the prize the following year.
"When he was on," Padres teammate Merv Rettenmund once said, "I've never seen a better pitcher."
That is not faint praise. Rettenmund also played alongside Hall of Famers Jim Palmer and Nolan Ryan.
Jones led the NL with a 2.24 ERA in ’75 and topped the Majors the next year in wins (22), starts (40), innings (315 1/3) and complete games (25). He gained a national profile in his Cy Young season, earning the cover of Sports Illustrated when he reached the All-Star break with a 16-3 record. “Threat to win 30,” the cover blurb blared.
Jones’ star turn wasn’t just because of the on-field success. He appealed to fans because of his unassuming appearance -- a vintage 1970s man perm was his trademark -- and his even more unassuming fastball. The left-hander fed right-handed hitters a steady diet of sinkers that topped out at 80 mph. Lefties got a mix of sinkers and sliders.
Jones’ sinker so befuddled Pete Rose that the all-time hits leader once eschewed switch-hitting and tried hitting lefty instead. Jones struck him out looking at three sliders.
Jones’ starts became a sensation in San Diego. During his pregame stroll to the bullpen -- tucked in foul territory near the left-field corner of San Diego Stadium -- fans rose to their feet and applause grew with his every step. In 1976, attendance averaged 27,400 for his 21 home starts. The Padres averaged 15,769 on their other home dates.
“Part of it was that he wasn’t a Dave Winfield. He wasn’t 6-foot-6, cut and lean,” former San Diego sportscaster and news anchor Hal Clement recounted in a 1996 interview. “He was an average-sized guy who didn’t throw especially hard. He got by on guile and intelligence. There was an everyman quality about him.”
Former Padres broadcaster Bob Chandler echoed those sentiments.
“In a way, it was kind of David against Goliath,” Chandler said. “It was Randy Jones, this little guy who didn’t throw the ball hard, playing for the San Diego Padres, who hadn’t ever had a winning season. But when he took the mound, we were as good as anybody. We expected to win.”
His peak workload proved costly: Jones tore a nerve near his left biceps tendon in his 40th and final start of 1976, requiring postseason surgery. He never regained his top form and was traded to the Mets after the ’80 campaign. Jones played two seasons in New York and retired after spending the 1983 spring with the Pirates but failing to crack the Opening Day roster.
In San Diego, Jones’ popularity never waned. He settled in north San Diego County and worked as an ambassador for the Padres. Jones was a regular at Petco Park in recent years, meeting and greeting fans. His Randy Jones BBQ stands were a staple at Qualcomm Stadium and made the migration to Petco Park. He had several stints working on Padres pregame and postgame broadcasts.
A lifetime user of chewing tobacco, Jones revealed in 2017 that he was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. He was touched by the outpouring of support during his treatment -- and after he announced in May 2018 that he was cancer-free.
“It was a magical relationship that we had when I was pitching, the way the fans supported me in ’75 and ’76, and even after that,” Jones told MLB.com reporter AJ Cassavell in 2018. “I enjoy them. I still look forward to seeing a lot of those folks.”
Randall Leo Jones was born on Jan. 12, 1950, in Fullerton, Calif. He was a fifth-round Draft choice out of nearby Chapman College in 1972 and cracked the Majors the following year. His 10-year totals included a 100-123 record and a 3.42 ERA.
Those numbers don’t hint at his impact in San Diego, where he was known for his influence on a franchise in its infancy and his affection for the city that embraced him. The Padres retired his uniform No. 35 in 1997 and included him in the inaugural class of the Padres Hall of Fame in ’99.