Randy Jones, the sinker-throwing southpaw who was the Padres’ first-ever Cy Young winner and who finished his career with the Mets, died Tuesday, the Padres announced.
He was 75. A cause of death was not disclosed.
“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones,” the Padres said in a statement Wednesday.
“He was a giant in our lives and our franchise history.”
Randy Jones, the Padres’ first Cy Young winner, died Tuesday at the age of 75. Getty Images
Randy Jones with the Mets before a game in San Diego in May 1981. Diamond Images/Getty Images
An Orange County, Calif., native, Jones was drafted by the Padres in the fifth round in 1972 out of Chapman University.
He impressed as a rookie in 1973, pitching to a 3.16 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) before losing 22 games in 1974 as the Padres lost 102 games for the second straight season.
But the ground-ball specialist became one of the top pitchers in baseball in ’75, posting the best season of his career with a 20-12 record, 2.24 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 285 innings. He finished second in the NL Cy Young voting that year to Mets legend Tom Seaver.
Jones captured the Cy Young the following season, going 22-14 with a 2.74 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 315 ⅓ innings — while recording just 93 strikeouts and earning his second straight All-Star nod.
Over Jones’ eight seasons with the Padres — who retired his No. 35 in 1997 — he recorded a 3.30 ERA.
Randy Jones tips his hat to the crowd during the MLB All-Star Game in San Diego on July 12, 2016. Getty Images
He was traded to the Mets after the 1980 season and struggled with the Amazin’s over his final two MLB seasons, with a 4.69 ERA over a combined 41 appearances (32 starts.)
Jones later gave pitching lessons to future lefty Cy Young winner Barry Zito for five years, beginning when Zito was age 12.
