Middle relievers are often the unsung heroes of the team. In 1990, Bobby Thigpen set a White Sox record (and a MLB record at the time) with 57 saves. What you might not remember was that the White Sox season record for holds was also set that same season.
By Barry Jones.
Barry Louis Jones was born Feb. 15, 1963 – two days before Michael Jordan - in Centerville, Ind.. He was drafted by the Rangers out of high school in the 6th round in 1981, but didn’t sign. He did sign when the Pirates drafted him in the third round in 1984 out of Indiana University.
Jones made his pro debut with Watertown (NY) of the New York-Penn League in 1984, then recorded a 1.69 ERA across three levels in 1985 – from Prince William (Virginia – Single-A Carolina League) to Nashua (New Hampshire – Double-A Eastern League) to Hawaii (Triple-A Pacific Coast League). After starting 1986 back at Hawaii, Jones made his MLB debut on July 18, 1986, but the earliest date he appears in a MLB box score is April 20, 1986.
On Aug. 11, the big (6-foot-4, 225 pound) right-hander pitched four scoreless innings – the 14th-17th of the completion of a suspended game at Wrigley Field which started on April 20. Jones collected the win in a game where he wasn’t even in the majors the day it started. The player who knocked in the game-winning run wasn’t yet in the majors on April 20 either – Barry Bonds.
Jones made his actual MLB debut on July 18, 1986, relieving Larry McWilliams to start the ninth inning against the Padres at Three Rivers Stadium. After allowing four runs in a third of an inning, with the knockout blow being a Tony Gwynn three-run homer, he was pulled from the game. It was okay, the Pirates ended up winning 12-7 anyway. Jones finished the season on a good note, posting a 2.89 ERA in 26 games.
1987 was a bump in the road (5.61 ERA in 32 games), but Jones was really good in 1988, posting a 3.04 ERA for the Bucs in 42 games before the Pirates dealt him to the White Sox for Dave LaPoint in August.
MLB
For the White Sox, Jones settled in as Thigpen’s setup man, using his sinker to great success. He posted a 2.42 ERA in 17 games for the Sox to finish 1988, and had a 2.37 ERA in 22 games in 1989. He missed most of the season after undergoing surgery to clear out bone chips in his right elbow. He was back with a vengeance for 1990.
In 65 games, Jones posted a 2.31 ERA with a 11-4 record; he was 10-1 at the All-Star break. He remains the last pitcher with 10 wins – without making a start – prior to the All-Star Game. The tenth win was a memorable one – he came in relief of Greg Hibbard to combine with Hibbard and Scott Radinsky to blank the Yankees 4-0 on July 1. It was the 80th anniversary of the first ever game at Comiskey Park. The White Sox won despite not collecting a hit off Yankees starter Andy Hawkins, who went the distance.
Jones finished his season with 30 holds (which remains a White Sox franchise record), allowing only two home runs in 74 innings.
With Jones’ stock at its highest, the Sox traded him and Ivan Calderon to the Expos on Dec. 23, 1990 for Tim Raines, Jeff Carter and a player to be named (Mario Brito). While his 4-9 record wasn’t nearly as good as his 11-4 mark the year before, Jones was pretty good once again, leading the NL with 77 appearances and even getting a chunk of save opportunities. Thirteen of his 23 career saves came in 1991 for Montreal.
As good as Jones was in 1990 and '91, he was on the move for the second straight season; he was traded to the Phillies for catcher Darrin Fletcher and cash on December 23.
In 1992, Jones’ run of excellence came to an end, as he posted a 4.64 ERA in 44 games for Philly before being released in August. He got a chance later that month with the Mets, but he did even worse, with a 9.39 ERA in 17 games for New York. A reunion with the White Sox in 1993 didn’t work out too well, as he was hit hard in six appearances before the Sox released him. Jones called it quits after a season with New Orleans in the Brewers organization.
Barry Jones finished his MLB career 33-33 with a 3.66 ERA and 250 strikeouts in 433 innings. He managed to allow fewer hits (415) than innings pitched, had 23 saves and 62 holds. Jones was 1-for-16 at the plate in his career – the lone hit being a RBI single off Cliff Speck on Aug. 22, 1986 – a game in which he recorded a save in a 16-5 rout vs Braves.
After his playing career, Jones returned to PNC Park in Pittsburgh… to help build the park! He was a project manager for the Ionadi Corp, which did the concrete work at the ballpark. For all the sports venues referred to as “The House that _____ Built,” Barry Jones has a more legitimate claim than any of them.
Remember that guy?
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