Jones started his major league career with the Phillies in 1947. By 1949, he became the team's starting third baseman, and held that position until 1959. Jones was the top fielding third baseman in the National League (NL) during the 1950s. He led the league in fielding percentage five times, in putouts for seven years (also tying a record), and twice each in assists and double plays.
Jones' most productive season came as a member of the fabulous 1950"Whiz Kids" National League champion team, when he posted career-highs in home runs (25), RBI (88), runs (100), hits (163), and led the league in games played (157). His 16-game hit streak to begin that campaign was a franchise record that stood for 73 years until Bryson Stott surpassed it on April 18, 2023.[2] In 1951, Jones hit 22 homers with 81 RBI and a career-high .285 batting average.[1] He was selected for the All-Star Game in both seasons.
In 1959, Jones was part of successive trades between the Phillies, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds. He finished his career with Cincinnati in 1961.
Jones was given his nickname from a popular 1930s song, "Woodenhead, Puddin' head Jones".[3]
Personal lifeedit
Jones was married to Carolyn, with whom he had three children, Eddie, Kathie, and Bradley. The marriage ended in divorce.
Deathedit
On October 18, 1983, Jones died at the age of 58, of cancer in Cincinnati, Ohio — where he had lived after his playing days were over.[4]
Highlightsedit
Twice All-Star (1950–51)
Tied a major league record with four straight doubles in a game (April 28, 1949)
^ ab"Willie Jones Baseball Stats". baseball-almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^Casella, Paul. "Stott tops Puddin' Head for Phils-record hit streak," MLB.com, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
^Marazzi, R.; Fiorito, L. (2015). Baseball Players of the 1950s: A Biographical Dictionary of All 1,560 Major Leaguers. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 177. ISBN978-1-4766-0429-9. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
willie, jones, third, baseman, willie, edward, jones, august, 1925, october, 1983, nicknamed, puddin, head, american, professional, baseball, third, baseman, played, major, league, baseball, philadelphia, phillies, 1947, 1959, cleveland, indians, 1959, cincinn. Willie Edward Jones August 16 1925 October 18 1983 nicknamed Puddin Head was an American professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies 1947 1959 Cleveland Indians 1959 and Cincinnati Reds 1959 1961 He batted and threw right handed Willie JonesJones 1950 baseball card from Bowman GumThird basemanBorn 1925 08 16 August 16 1925Dillon South Carolina U S Died October 18 1983 1983 10 18 aged 58 Cincinnati Ohio U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 10 1947 for the Philadelphia PhilliesLast MLB appearanceMay 7 1961 for the Cincinnati RedsMLB statisticsBatting average 258Home runs190Runs batted in812TeamsPhiladelphia Phillies 1947 1959 Cleveland Indians 1959 Cincinnati Reds 1959 1961 Career highlights and awards2 All Star 1950 1951 Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame In a 15 season career Jones was a 258 hitter with 190 home runs and 812 runs batted in RBI in 1 691 games played Defensively he recorded a 963 fielding percentage 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Major league baseball 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Highlights 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editBorn in Dillon South Carolina Jones grew up in and listed Laurel Hill North Carolina as his home Jones went on to serve his country in the United States Navy during World War II Major league baseball editJones started his major league career with the Phillies in 1947 By 1949 he became the team s starting third baseman and held that position until 1959 Jones was the top fielding third baseman in the National League NL during the 1950s He led the league in fielding percentage five times in putouts for seven years also tying a record and twice each in assists and double plays Jones most productive season came as a member of the fabulous 1950 Whiz Kids National League champion team when he posted career highs in home runs 25 RBI 88 runs 100 hits 163 and led the league in games played 157 His 16 game hit streak to begin that campaign was a franchise record that stood for 73 years until Bryson Stott surpassed it on April 18 2023 2 In 1951 Jones hit 22 homers with 81 RBI and a career high 285 batting average 1 He was selected for the All Star Game in both seasons In 1959 Jones was part of successive trades between the Phillies Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds He finished his career with Cincinnati in 1961 Jones was given his nickname from a popular 1930s song Woodenhead Puddin head Jones 3 Personal life editJones was married to Carolyn with whom he had three children Eddie Kathie and Bradley The marriage ended in divorce Death editOn October 18 1983 Jones died at the age of 58 of cancer in Cincinnati Ohio where he had lived after his playing days were over 4 Highlights editTwice All Star 1950 51 Tied a major league record with four straight doubles in a game April 28 1949 His six career grand slams as a Phillie ties him for third place behind Mike Schmidt and Ryan Howard His 2 045 career putouts are 10th highest in major league history Compiled a career 1 39 walk to strikeout ratio 755 to 541 References edit a b Willie Jones Baseball Stats baseball almanac com Baseball Almanac Retrieved February 10 2021 Casella Paul Stott tops Puddin Head for Phils record hit streak MLB com Tuesday April 18 2023 Retrieved April 18 2023 Marazzi R Fiorito L 2015 Baseball Players of the 1950s A Biographical Dictionary of All 1 560 Major Leaguers McFarland Incorporated Publishers p 177 ISBN 978 1 4766 0429 9 Retrieved February 21 2022 Deaths Willie Jones Daytona Beach Morning Journal October 21 1983 p 13B Retrieved February 10 2021 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Willie Jones at the SABR Baseball Biography Project Willie Jones at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willie Jones third baseman amp oldid 1184383716, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
