GaryMrMets
08-25-2003, 02:56 PM
http://www.msgnetwork.com/content_news.jsp?articleID=v0000msgn2003-08-22T02-43-31-8-77&newsgroup=columnist.article&team=Mets&sports=baseball
Where Have They Been?: Cleon Jones reflects on underachievment
Aug 22, 2003
Its one of the strangest, most significant plays in Met history.
An apparent Pirate homerun that left fielder Cleon Jones turned into an out epitomized the Mets unlikely 1973 World Series run. On September 20 at Shea Stadium, it was 3-3 in the ninth inning against first-place Pittsburgh. With Richie Zisk on base, Dave Augustines drive seemed headed for the visiting bullpen.
"I was about the only guy on the ball club that didnt think that ball was going out of the ballpark," Jones told MSGNetwork.com. "Because I kind of deeked the guy on second base that I could catch the ball. And then all of a sudden I turn around and caught the ball off the wall, and made a throw to (third baseman) Wayne Garrett. Wayne Garrett relayed to (catcher) Ron Hodges for an out."
The ball hit the top side of the fence, bouncing right to Jones. Pinpoint relays by Garrett and Hodges, who protected the plate beautifully, nailed Zisk sliding. The Mets won in 13 innings.
"Most base runners probably wouldve been halfway," Jones said. "But he went back to the base because he thought I mightve had a chance to catch that ball. That made the difference in the play. And that mightve been the one thing that helped turn that season around."
Injury-plagued and trailing by 11-and-a-half games August 5, the Mets won at Chicago in their season finale to take their division.
"Yogi Berra said to all of us, Were still in this thing. Its not over till its over. And we all laughed like hell," Jones said, laughing at the thought. "But then we find out that its true. Its not over till its over."
It was over for Cincinnatis Big Red Machine, beaten by the Mets in a five-game League Championship Series.
"Cincinnati at that time, in my opinion, they were thinking too much about Oakland," Jones said. "They had lost to Oakland the previous year. And they were concerned about getting back to the World Series and beating Oakland, not thinking that we would be as much of a test as we were. And we felt like we were as good as anybody with the people that we left spring training with."
Limited by injury to 92 games in 73, Jones batted .260 with 11 HRs, 48 RBIs. In contrast, he led the 1969 Amazin Mets with a .340 average, third in the league behind Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente. That remained a team record until John Oleruds .354 in 1998.
"Before I came to the Mets, only one guy had hit .300 I believe, Tommy Davis," Jones said. (Actually, Richie Ashburn hit .306 in 389 at-bats in 1962) "When I left New York, I never thought it would last as long as it did. But each time I spoke to someone who was a Met fan, thats the first thing they brought up. That your .340 is still the best average in Met history.
"But Im not a guy whos ever been concerned with records. Had I been, I mightve been a better ballplayer, and maybe I wouldve had better records."
Some still consider Jones the second-best, all-around homegrown Met offensively, behind only Darryl Strawberry. One of 1969s memorable moments, however, remains manager Gil Hodges walking to left field to remove Jones for lack of hustle. Then in the spring of 1975, Jones was arrested in St. Petersburg, Fl., found naked in a van with a teenage girl. Released later that year, his career ended at 33.
Jones legacy: being productive but underachieving.
"Theres no reason to be regretful," Jones said. "Sometimes its a situation that youre in that creates who you are. Your Mickey Mantles, your Ted Williams, your Hank Aarons, your Barry Bonds, (Mark) McGwire. Those guys are who they are because they have the insight or the foresight to reach back and be the best that they can be. In some situations, like here with the Mets, there was never anyone here to push me.
"There was never anybody here that hit behind me, or in front of me, that I was threatened by, or thought that they could out-hit me. If youre in a lineup with Cincinnati, or Pittsburgh, or even St. Louis, who had all the great hitters, then that makes you a better ballplayer. Its easier to hit because pitchers cant pitch around you, as they could when I was with the Mets."
Jones batted .281 lifetime, a rare right-handed hitter who threw lefty. Yet Met followers lament him not being more special in other ways.
"Im satisfied," Jones said. "Well, I shouldnt say Im satisfied. If I could do it all over again, I probably would hit .300 for 10 years. I probably would drive in a hundred runs. Because when I look at the Met record book when I played, there was nothing to push you. If I hit .310, I was the best Met hitter ever. If that someone else is on the team that couldve hit 40 home runs or batted .340, maybe I wouldve hit .360 or .370.
"Joe Morgan is a good example. He played for Houston, he was just an average ballplayer. He went to (Cincinnati). He had stayed in Houston, never wouldve became a Hall-of-Famer. Went to Cincinnati, became a Hall of Famer. Thats a good example. Good players bring out the best in good players."
In his hometown, Mobile, AL, Jones is chairing a project to build a theme park. He declined discussing details of his arrest, but acknowledges he made mistakes.
"See, the truth shall set you free," Jones said. "The things that I got involved with, or they say I got involved with, wasnt even true. But you live with it, because I had that distinction of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not that anything happened. I created my own demise, so to speak. Nobody else created that."
Where Have They Been?: Cleon Jones reflects on underachievment
Aug 22, 2003
Its one of the strangest, most significant plays in Met history.
An apparent Pirate homerun that left fielder Cleon Jones turned into an out epitomized the Mets unlikely 1973 World Series run. On September 20 at Shea Stadium, it was 3-3 in the ninth inning against first-place Pittsburgh. With Richie Zisk on base, Dave Augustines drive seemed headed for the visiting bullpen.
"I was about the only guy on the ball club that didnt think that ball was going out of the ballpark," Jones told MSGNetwork.com. "Because I kind of deeked the guy on second base that I could catch the ball. And then all of a sudden I turn around and caught the ball off the wall, and made a throw to (third baseman) Wayne Garrett. Wayne Garrett relayed to (catcher) Ron Hodges for an out."
The ball hit the top side of the fence, bouncing right to Jones. Pinpoint relays by Garrett and Hodges, who protected the plate beautifully, nailed Zisk sliding. The Mets won in 13 innings.
"Most base runners probably wouldve been halfway," Jones said. "But he went back to the base because he thought I mightve had a chance to catch that ball. That made the difference in the play. And that mightve been the one thing that helped turn that season around."
Injury-plagued and trailing by 11-and-a-half games August 5, the Mets won at Chicago in their season finale to take their division.
"Yogi Berra said to all of us, Were still in this thing. Its not over till its over. And we all laughed like hell," Jones said, laughing at the thought. "But then we find out that its true. Its not over till its over."
It was over for Cincinnatis Big Red Machine, beaten by the Mets in a five-game League Championship Series.
"Cincinnati at that time, in my opinion, they were thinking too much about Oakland," Jones said. "They had lost to Oakland the previous year. And they were concerned about getting back to the World Series and beating Oakland, not thinking that we would be as much of a test as we were. And we felt like we were as good as anybody with the people that we left spring training with."
Limited by injury to 92 games in 73, Jones batted .260 with 11 HRs, 48 RBIs. In contrast, he led the 1969 Amazin Mets with a .340 average, third in the league behind Pete Rose and Roberto Clemente. That remained a team record until John Oleruds .354 in 1998.
"Before I came to the Mets, only one guy had hit .300 I believe, Tommy Davis," Jones said. (Actually, Richie Ashburn hit .306 in 389 at-bats in 1962) "When I left New York, I never thought it would last as long as it did. But each time I spoke to someone who was a Met fan, thats the first thing they brought up. That your .340 is still the best average in Met history.
"But Im not a guy whos ever been concerned with records. Had I been, I mightve been a better ballplayer, and maybe I wouldve had better records."
Some still consider Jones the second-best, all-around homegrown Met offensively, behind only Darryl Strawberry. One of 1969s memorable moments, however, remains manager Gil Hodges walking to left field to remove Jones for lack of hustle. Then in the spring of 1975, Jones was arrested in St. Petersburg, Fl., found naked in a van with a teenage girl. Released later that year, his career ended at 33.
Jones legacy: being productive but underachieving.
"Theres no reason to be regretful," Jones said. "Sometimes its a situation that youre in that creates who you are. Your Mickey Mantles, your Ted Williams, your Hank Aarons, your Barry Bonds, (Mark) McGwire. Those guys are who they are because they have the insight or the foresight to reach back and be the best that they can be. In some situations, like here with the Mets, there was never anyone here to push me.
"There was never anybody here that hit behind me, or in front of me, that I was threatened by, or thought that they could out-hit me. If youre in a lineup with Cincinnati, or Pittsburgh, or even St. Louis, who had all the great hitters, then that makes you a better ballplayer. Its easier to hit because pitchers cant pitch around you, as they could when I was with the Mets."
Jones batted .281 lifetime, a rare right-handed hitter who threw lefty. Yet Met followers lament him not being more special in other ways.
"Im satisfied," Jones said. "Well, I shouldnt say Im satisfied. If I could do it all over again, I probably would hit .300 for 10 years. I probably would drive in a hundred runs. Because when I look at the Met record book when I played, there was nothing to push you. If I hit .310, I was the best Met hitter ever. If that someone else is on the team that couldve hit 40 home runs or batted .340, maybe I wouldve hit .360 or .370.
"Joe Morgan is a good example. He played for Houston, he was just an average ballplayer. He went to (Cincinnati). He had stayed in Houston, never wouldve became a Hall-of-Famer. Went to Cincinnati, became a Hall of Famer. Thats a good example. Good players bring out the best in good players."
In his hometown, Mobile, AL, Jones is chairing a project to build a theme park. He declined discussing details of his arrest, but acknowledges he made mistakes.
"See, the truth shall set you free," Jones said. "The things that I got involved with, or they say I got involved with, wasnt even true. But you live with it, because I had that distinction of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not that anything happened. I created my own demise, so to speak. Nobody else created that."