San Diego Padres Mount Rushmore
By David Hill
Randy Jones (1973-1980)
Randy Jones made history a couple of different ways with the San Diego Padres. He was the first player in team history to win a major award, as he took home the Cy Young award in 1976. Jones later became the only starting pitcher with a lifetime losing record to win the award.
Jones certainly did not look like a future Cy Young winner in his first two seasons. he led the league in losses in 1974, and had occasional command issues. As he did not throw hard, those walks led to trouble. However, after that 1974 campaign, pitching coach Tom Morgan altered Jones’ mechanics, and he suddenly became a star.
Jones was a back to back All Star in 1975 and 1976, a 20 game winner each year. he led the National League with a 2.24 ERA in 1975, finishing second in the Cy Young balloting. The next year, he became the Padres first major award winner, taking home the award as he led the league with 22 wins, 25 complete games, 315.1 innings, and a 1.027 WHiP. He appeared on his way to becoming a major star.
However, after the season, Jones had surgery on a nerve injury, and never found that success again. During his eight seasons with the Padres, he posted a 92-105 record, along with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.208 WHiP. Never a hard thrower, Jones struck out 677 batters, while issuing 414 walks, in 1766 innings.
Randy Jones was well on his way to stardom with the San Diego Padres. Then an injury ruined what was a promising career.