Willie Jones
Born: 8/16/1925 in Dillon, SC, USA
Died: 10/18/1983 in Cincinnati, OH, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-09-10 | Final Game: 1961-05-07
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 188 lbs
Full name: Willie Edward Jones
Biography
Willie Jones was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1947 until his retirement in 1961. Born in 1925, Jones made a significant impact during an era characterized by the post-World War II resurgence in American sports. Over his 14-year career, he played in 1,691 games, accumulating 1,502 hits and showcasing his power with 190 home runs and 812 RBIs. His batting average of .258 reflects his consistent offensive contributions, while his speed on the bases was evidenced by his 40 stolen bases.
Jones was selected as an All-Star twice during his career, highlighting his recognition among peers and fans alike. Known for his versatility and defensive skills, he played a vital role on his teams, contributing to the changing dynamics of the game in the late 1940s and 1950s. His legacy is remembered as one of the key figures of his time, bridging the gap between earlier playing styles and the evolving approach to baseball in the years that followed.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 0.500 | 0.900 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 38.0 | 34.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0.235 | 0.316 | 0.353 | 0.669 |
| 1927 | 35.0 | 30.0 | 2.0 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 0.367 | 0.412 | 0.367 | 0.779 |
| 1935 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 0.500 | 0.900 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1691 | 5826 | 786 | 1502 | 252 | 33 | 190 | 812 | 40 | 755 | 541 | 0.258 | 0.343 | 0.410 | 0.753 | 5528.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PHI | NL | 18 | 62 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0.226 | -204.3 |
| 1948 | PHI | NL | 17 | 60 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0.333 | 135.4 |
| 1949 | PHI | NL | 149 | 532 | 71 | 130 | 35 | 1 | 19 | 77 | 3 | 65 | 66 | 0.244 | 210.9 |
| 1950 | PHI | NL | 157 | 610 | 100 | 163 | 28 | 6 | 25 | 88 | 5 | 61 | 40 | 0.267 | 623.0 |
| 1951 | PHI | NL | 148 | 564 | 79 | 161 | 28 | 5 | 22 | 81 | 6 | 60 | 47 | 0.285 | 1637.2 |
| 1952 | PHI | NL | 147 | 541 | 60 | 135 | 12 | 3 | 18 | 72 | 5 | 53 | 36 | 0.250 | 158.6 |
| 1953 | PHI | NL | 149 | 481 | 61 | 108 | 16 | 2 | 19 | 70 | 1 | 85 | 45 | 0.225 | 84.2 |
| 1954 | PHI | NL | 142 | 535 | 64 | 145 | 28 | 3 | 12 | 56 | 4 | 61 | 54 | 0.271 | 314.3 |
| 1955 | PHI | NL | 146 | 516 | 65 | 133 | 20 | 3 | 16 | 81 | 6 | 77 | 51 | 0.258 | 498.4 |
| 1956 | PHI | NL | 149 | 520 | 88 | 144 | 20 | 4 | 17 | 78 | 5 | 92 | 49 | 0.277 | 1521.7 |
| 1957 | PHI | NL | 133 | 440 | 58 | 96 | 19 | 2 | 9 | 47 | 1 | 61 | 41 | 0.218 | -846.1 |
| 1958 | PHI | NL | 118 | 398 | 52 | 108 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 60 | 1 | 49 | 45 | 0.271 | 637.5 |
| 1959 | CIN | NL | 72 | 233 | 33 | 58 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 31 | 0 | 28 | 26 | 0.249 | 88.6 |
| 1959 | CLE | AL | 11 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.222 | 88.6 |
| 1959 | PHI | NL | 47 | 160 | 23 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 19 | 14 | 0.269 | 88.6 |
| 1960 | CIN | NL | 79 | 149 | 16 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 31 | 16 | 0.268 | 319.1 |
| 1961 | CIN | NL | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | WS | PHI | 4 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1614 | 810 | 2045 | 2934 | 192 | 273 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PHI | 3B | 17 | 0 | 19 | 41 | 6 | 3 |
| 1948 | PHI | 3B | 17 | 0 | 30 | 33 | 5 | 1 |
| 1949 | PHI | 3B | 145 | 0 | 181 | 308 | 27 | 19 |
| 1950 | PHI | 3B | 157 | 0 | 190 | 323 | 25 | 30 |
| 1951 | PHI | 3B | 147 | 0 | 190 | 286 | 17 | 33 |
| 1952 | PHI | 3B | 147 | 0 | 216 | 281 | 16 | 31 |
| 1953 | PHI | 3B | 147 | 0 | 176 | 253 | 11 | 36 |
| 1954 | PHI | 3B | 141 | 140 | 184 | 277 | 15 | 23 |
| 1955 | PHI | 3B | 146 | 146 | 202 | 235 | 18 | 22 |
| 1956 | PHI | 3B | 149 | 149 | 202 | 264 | 13 | 23 |
| 1957 | PHI | 3B | 126 | 121 | 140 | 197 | 12 | 18 |
| 1958 | PHI | 1B | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | PHI | 3B | 110 | 105 | 137 | 186 | 11 | 13 |
| 1959 | CIN | 3B | 68 | 64 | 92 | 105 | 7 | 9 |
| 1959 | CLE | 3B | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| 1959 | PHI | 3B | 46 | 46 | 40 | 76 | 3 | 5 |
| 1960 | CIN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | CIN | 3B | 46 | 35 | 43 | 59 | 4 | 5 |
| 1961 | CIN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1614 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 36th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 27th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |