Call to the pen
Fansided

Seattle Mariners legend Ruppert Jones discusses career, today’s game

By Marcus Guy

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30, 1977: Outfielder Ruppert Jones #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the top of the fourth inning of a game on April 30, 1977 against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. The Yankees' catcher is Thurman Munson #15. The homeplate umpire is Joe Brinkman. The Yankees beat the Mariners, 7-2.19770430-0641977 Diamond Images
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 30, 1977: Outfielder Ruppert Jones #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the top of the fourth inning of a game on April 30, 1977 against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. The Yankees' catcher is Thurman Munson #15. The homeplate umpire is Joe Brinkman. The Yankees beat the Mariners, 7-2.19770430-0641977 Diamond Images /
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(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Interview with Ruppert Jones

Marcus Guy: You were a part of a historic moment or a potentially historic moment when you homered off Dennis Eckersley. (Eckersley was two outs shy of tying Cy Young‘s record of consecutive hitless innings.) Did you go up there hoping to hit a homerun? Did you have that that attitude or you were just going to get a hit?

Ruppert Jones: Well, no team likes to be no-hit. I’m not sure how they feel today. But no team likes to be no-hitted. So consequently, when you go to the plate, you’re thinking about not letting this guy no-hit us. I was very fortunate. Dennis was a great pitcher. He’s in the hall of fame. That’s all you need to know. Dennis was a really great pitcher.

MG: You’ve played on a number of teams with many Hall of Fame teammates, Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, I believe were your teammates…

Rupe: …Rod Carew, Don Sutton

MG: His (Don Sutton) numbers are unbelievable! He was on your team when he was in his 40’s!

Rupe: Well, one of the things that tripped me out is that it took so long for him to get into the Hall of Fame. To get the numbers that he had, you have to play a long time. So, you can’t penalize a man for longevity because that’s a good thing! He was durable. He pitched for a long time. He had over 3500 strikeouts and over 300 wins. What are the criteria? How many guys are not in the Hall of Fame that have 3,500 strikeouts and 300 wins?

MG: No one that has those numbers is not in the Hall of Fame besides Roger Clemens. CC Sabathia this year got his 3,000th strikeout and his 250th win and he’s nearly a lock for the Hall of Fame.

Rupe: He (Sabathia) has got 60/70 wins less that Don Sutton! He’s got less strikeouts than Don Sutton too!

MG: Another great pitcher you played with is Tommy John. He played when he was 46 years old! He had the famous Tommy John surgery, but he was pitching into his mid-40’s! It is unbelievable the age that these guys were pitching at.

Rupe: Tommy John was an incredible pitcher. He had 288 wins and he lost 231 games, with a 3.34 ERA. He was truly a great pitcher.

MG: Wow, those are Hall of Fame numbers right there. He is known for the famed Tommy John surgery, but people don’t realize how great of a pitcher he really was.

Rupe: That’s right. We had an amazing pitching staff back than; Tommy John, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage, Rudy May. Man, Rudy May, he did everything. He spot-started. He pitched in long relief; He did everything.

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