| Bumpus Jones | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: January 1, 1870 Cedarville, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: June 25, 1938 (aged 68) Xenia, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| October 15, 1892, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 14, 1893, for the New York Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–4 |
| Earned run average | 7.99 |
| Strikeouts | 10 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Charles Leander "Bumpus" Jones (January 1, 1870 – June 25, 1938) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants.
Early life
He was born in Cedarville, Ohio. Newspaper accounts from Cedarville have described him as being listed as black, albeit with skin that passed for Caucasian. Census reports listed him as a "mulatto".[1][2] Genealogical research has speculated that Jones came from "Pocahontas' people in Virginia."[3] In reality he was Occaneechi-Saponi and Catawba.[4]
Baseball career
Prior to his work in major league baseball, Jomes played for the minor league Monmouth Maple Cities (Illinois–Iowa League) in 1890.
Jones made only eight appearances in his brief major league career. He threw a no-hitter in his first major league appearance with the Cincinnati Reds on October 15, 1892, the last day of the season. The Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 7–1. Jones was not perfect, as he gave up four walks, and he did not pitch a shutout, as an error led to an unearned run. He remains the only player in major league history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game.[5] It was one of the last games played with a "pitcher's box" with the pitcher beginning 55 1/2 feet from home plate; the following season, the pitcher's mound would be introduced, with pitchers starting their pitch on a rubber slab 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate.[6]
Jones split the 1893 season between Cincinnati and the New York Giants, appearing in seven games overall, while going 1–4 with a 10.19 ERA. Jones would never pitch in the majors again. Only Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns, Ted Breitenstein of the St. Louis Browns, and Tyler Gilbert of the Arizona Diamondbacks have managed to join Jones as pitchers to throw no-hitters in their first major league start, but they had previously appeared in a relief role. According to sabermetrician Bill James, Jones edges out Holloman for the distinction of mathematically least likely pitcher ever to have thrown a no-hitter in the major leagues.[2]
In a two-season major league career, Jones posted a 2–4 career record with 10 strikeouts and a 7.99 ERA in 41+2⁄3 innings pitched. After leaving the major leagues, Jones continued to pitch professionally. He pitched for the Grand Rapids Rustlers and Sioux City Cornhuskers in 1894. He pitched for the Columbus Senators from 1896 to 1899, and until recently, was credited with the team record for career games pitched, with 212. Modern research, however, indicates that the actual total may be closer to 150.[7] Jones finished his minor league career with the St. Paul Saints in 1901.
Death
Jones died in Xenia, Ohio at age 68 from complications of a stroke, and he was buried at North Cemetery in Cedarville, Ohio.
See also
References
- ^ Ashwill, Gary (August 31, 2019). "Bumpus Jones: Passing as White?". Agate Type.
- ^ a b Ashwill, Gary (January 15, 2014). "Bumpus jones". Agate Type.
- ^ Rainey, Chris. "Bumpus Jones". Society for American Baseball Research.
- ^ "North Carolina Register" (PDF). January 4, 1999.[page needed]
- ^ "MLB rookies to throw no-hitters". MLB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Hill, David (March 7, 2017). "MLB History: Pitching Rubber Moved to Current Distance". FanSided. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
- ^ "Bean ties uncertain record[permanent dead link]", Craig Merz, The Columbus Dispatch, published August 16, 2006, accessed August 16, 2006.
External links
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- Baseball Almanac
- 1870 births
- 1938 deaths
- People from Cedarville, Ohio
- Sportspeople from Greene County, Ohio
- Cincinnati Reds players
- New York Giants (baseball) players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baseball players from Ohio
- 19th-century baseball players
- 19th-century American sportsmen
- Aurora (minor league baseball) players
- Monmouth (minor league baseball) players
- Aurora Maroons players
- Quincy Ravens players
- Portland Gladiators players
- Ottumwa Coal Palaces players
- Joliet Convicts players
- Aurora Indians players
- Atlanta Firecrackers players
- Providence Clamdiggers (baseball) players
- Sioux City Cornhuskers players
- Grand Rapids Rippers players
- Grand Rapids Gold Bugs players
- Columbus Buckeyes (minor league) players
- Columbus Senators players
- Grand Rapids Furniture Makers players
- Cleveland Lake Shores players
- Fort Wayne Indians players
- Wheeling Stogies players
- St. Paul Saints (Western League) players
