Mack Jones – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mack Jones made his mark in Major League Baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s, playing for three teams before he hung up his cleats in 1971. People called him “Mack The Knife,” and this Atlanta native spent eleven seasons as an outfielder, putting together a .252 batting average with 133 home runs and 415 RBIs over 1,002 games.

He wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1971 after his last season with the Montreal Expos. Jones started his journey with the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.

His baseball path took him from Atlanta to Milwaukee, then Cincinnati, and finally Montreal. Fans in Montreal loved him, and he helped put the expansion Expos on the map.

From his electric debut against Bob Gibson to making history with the first MLB team in Canada, Jones left a mark that went beyond the numbers. His story covers the struggle of breaking into pro ball in the 1960s, some wild seasons with stacked lineups, and later, giving back to his Atlanta community by coaching youth baseball.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Mack Fletcher Jones was born on November 6, 1938, in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents worked hard to get by during the Great Depression.

Jones started showing his athleticism early at Henry McNeal Turner High School. He played several sports and even became an all-state football player, but eventually focused on baseball with the Atlanta Yankees amateur team.

Family Background and Growing Up in Atlanta

Mack Fletcher Jones was born to Mack Sr. and Inell (Willis) Jones on November 6, 1938, in Atlanta. Both parents grew up in Georgia and worked tough jobs to support their family.

Mack Sr. did construction labor. Inell, who was thirteen years younger than her husband, worked as a maid.

They lived near the Chattahoochee River and had to scrape by during hard economic times. Jones was their only child together, but Mack Sr. had two children from a previous marriage, so Mack grew up with half-siblings.

The family dealt with the harsh reality of segregation in the South during the 1940s and 1950s. Racism shaped Jones’s early life and limited his college options.

Education at Henry McNeal Turner High School

Jones attended Henry McNeal Turner High School in Atlanta. He quickly built a reputation as an outstanding athlete.

The school carried the legacy of Henry McNeal Turner, a well-known African American bishop and civil rights leader. At Turner, Jones became an all-state halfback in football.

His speed and athleticism made him stand out in every sport he played. Colleges all over the country offered him scholarships, but, because of segregation, Jones later said he “had scholarship offers from just about every [African-American] college in the country.”

Predominantly white colleges didn’t recruit him, which forced Jones to look for other ways to keep his athletic dreams alive.

Semi-Pro Baseball Experience

Before turning pro, Jones played with the Atlanta Yankees, an all-black amateur team. That experience gave him valuable playing time and a shot at tougher competition.

The Atlanta Yankees played a big role for talented Black players in the region. They faced off against other amateur and semi-pro teams.

In 1957, Julian Morgan noticed Jones while he played for the Atlanta Yankees. Morgan, a former minor-league pitcher, had ties to the Atlanta Crackers of the Double-A Southern Association.

Morgan saw Jones’s raw talent and potential. He convinced the Milwaukee Braves to sign the young outfielder, and Jones started his pro career in 1958.

Professional Career Overview

Mack Fletcher Jones built a reputation as a dependable National League outfielder during his 10-year MLB career from 1961 to 1971. He broke in with the Milwaukee Braves at age 22 and finished with a .252 batting average, 133 home runs, and 415 RBIs in 1,002 games.

MLB Debut and First Game Highlights

Jones stepped into the big leagues on July 13, 1961, with the Milwaukee Braves. The 22-year-old left fielder from Atlanta debuted in the middle of the season.

He played just 28 games as a rookie, picking up 24 hits in 104 at-bats for a .231 average. He managed 2 triples and 4 stolen bases, though he didn’t hit any home runs that first year.

In 1962, things started to click. Jones played in 91 games, hit 10 home runs, and drove in 36 runs. His average jumped to .255, and he carved out a spot as a regular for the Braves.

Fans and teammates started calling him “Mack The Knife.” The nickname fit his aggressive playing style and knack for slicing through defenses.

Key Career Statistics and Achievements

Jones put up solid offensive numbers over his decade in the majors. His best year came in 1965, when he hit 31 home runs and drove in 75 runs, batting .262.

Career Highlights:

• Batting Average: .252 (778 hits in 3,091 at-bats)
• Home Runs: 133
• Runs Batted In: 415
• Doubles: 132
• Triples: 31
• Stolen Bases: 65

He really shined with the Braves from 1965 to 1967, averaging 24 home runs per year and staying steady at the plate.

Jones played for three National League teams: six seasons with Milwaukee/Atlanta (1961-1967), one year with Cincinnati (1968), and three with Montreal (1969-1971).

His last season, 1971, saw him limited to just 43 games. He retired with 20.6 Wins Above Replacement, showing he was an above-average player for most of his career.

Teams and Notable Seasons

Jones played for three teams in his ten years, but his most productive stretch came with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves. The 1965 season was his statistical high point. Later, with the Montreal Expos, he became a fan favorite and even made a bit of baseball history.

Milwaukee Braves and Atlanta Braves Years

Jones started his MLB journey with the Milwaukee Braves on July 13, 1961. He made a splash by tying a modern National League record with four hits in his debut against the St. Louis Cardinals.

His first hit was a leadoff single off the legendary Bob Gibson. An inning later, he smacked a double off Gibson to drive in Joe Torre.

The 1965 season was Jones’ best. He hit .262 with 31 home runs and 75 RBIs, playing alongside Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre, Felipe Alou, and Gene Oliver.

That Braves lineup set a National League record with six players hitting at least 20 home runs in a season. Jones played a big role in that feat.

When the team moved to Atlanta in 1966, Jones still managed 23 home runs, even though he struggled with a shoulder injury. Playing in his hometown meant a lot to him.

Cincinnati Reds Season

After the 1967 season, the Braves traded Jones to the Cincinnati Reds, along with Jim Beauchamp and Jay Ritchie, for Deron Johnson. That year in Cincinnati wasn’t easy.

He played in only 103 games in 1968, and his offensive stats dropped off compared to his Braves days.

The reduced playing time and lower numbers made for a tough transition for Jones. His performance just wasn’t up to his usual standards.

Montreal Expos and the Birth of Jonesville

The Montreal Expos picked Jones fourth overall in the 1968 expansion draft. He was the second player chosen by the team, after Manny Mota.

Jones debuted for the Expos on opening day, April 8, 1969, at Shea Stadium against the Mets. Just six days later, he made history at Jarry Park.

On April 14, 1969, Jones hit a three-run homer, the first home run in major league regular season play in Canada. Rusty Staub and Don Bosch were on base, and the Expos won 8-7 over the Cardinals.

Jones finished the 1969 season with a career-high .270 average, 22 home runs, and 79 RBIs. Montreal fans loved him so much that they named the left-field bleachers at Jarry Park “Jonesville“ after him.

Career Highlights and Memorable Moments

Mack Jones built a reputation as a power hitter in his ten years in the majors, setting records and coming through in big moments. He tied a National League record in his debut and became the first to hit a home run on Canadian soil.

Record-Setting Performances

Jones wasted no time making an impression in his debut on July 13, 1961, against the Cardinals. He tied a National League record with four straight hits in his first game—three singles and a double. His second at-bat produced a run-scoring double off Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.

In 1965, Jones smacked 31 home runs and joined baseball history. The Braves set a National League record with six players reaching 20 home runs. Jones teamed up with Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Joe Torre, Felipe Alou, and Gene Oliver to pull it off.

He showed speed too. On June 11, 1963, he stole four bases against the Phillies, just missing the league record by one.

Three-Run Home Run in Montreal

After joining the Montreal Expos in 1969, Jones became the first player to hit a home run on Canadian soil. Fans at Jarry Park quickly embraced him, and the left field stands became known as “Jonesville.”

His power didn’t fade in Montreal. Jones hit his 100th career home run on May 9, 1969, and followed it up with his second career grand slam the very next day. He added another grand slam on July 26 in Atlanta.

Montreal fans gave him standing ovations every time he came out of the dugout. Manager Gene Mauch even pointed out that Jones got cheered even after striking out. That kind of popularity? It’s rare—especially in a brand new baseball city.

Key Teammates and Opponents

Jones shared the field with some of baseball’s all-time greats. With the Braves, he played next to Hank Aaron and other stars. The 1967 trade to Cincinnati brought him together with Deron Johnson, who headed to Atlanta in the same deal.

In the minors with the 1964 Syracuse Chiefs, Jones played with future standouts Willie Horton and Jim Northrup. That team dominated the International League offensively, and Jones led the way in runs scored, triples, home runs, RBIs, and slugging.

He faced top pitchers too. His matchups with Bob Gibson became memorable, starting with his debut game.

Achievements and Honors

Mack Jones’s biggest minor league feat came in 1964 with the Syracuse Chiefs, when he hit 39 home runs in Triple-A. His pro career earned him hall of fame nods and plenty of respect in the baseball world.

Syracuse Chiefs and Minor League Accolades

Jones had his best minor league season with the Syracuse Chiefs in 1964, blasting 39 home runs. He was one of the International League’s top power hitters that year.

From 1958 to 1964, Jones played seven seasons in the minors. He hit .306 and slugged .512 during that stretch.

His big year with Syracuse paved the way for his permanent spot in the majors. Those 39 home runs in 1964 showed the power that would later make him a fan favorite in Montreal.

He put up those numbers in the International League, a Triple-A circuit famous for producing big league talent in the 1960s.

Wall of Fame and Hall of Fame Inductions

After Jones passed away, people finally recognized his baseball achievements through hall of fame inductions. He made a real mark on both minor and major league baseball, so he earned a spot among the sport’s most respected players.

The Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame honored Jones for his incredible 1964 season with the Chiefs. Smacking 39 home runs that year, he pulled off one of the most unforgettable feats in franchise history.

The International League Hall of Fame also inducted Jones. They wanted to acknowledge just how much he contributed to Triple-A baseball while he was still developing as a player.

These honors arrived after his death in 2004, which just goes to show the lasting effect his career had. Both awards focused on his power at the plate and his influence on baseball during the 1960s.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Later Years

After Jones retired in 1971, Mack Jones put his energy into family life with his wife Esther. He got really involved in youth athletics too. His fight with stomach cancer ended his life in 2004, but people in Canada especially remember him as the “Mayor of Jonesville,” which says a lot about his legacy.

Family and Personal Relationships

Mack Jones married Esther Levon Jones, and they stayed together for 28 years until he died. Esther looked back warmly, saying, “he gave me a good time” and always treated her and her children well.

Their blended family included his daughter Gayle McDaniel and son Rontae Jones, both living in Atlanta. He also took on the role of stepfather to Cheryl Carpenter and Antonio Hill, who were also from Atlanta.

The family stuck together through thick and thin during Jones’s life. When he passed away, Esther and a nursing assistant were by his side at their Atlanta home.

Jones kept to himself around his teammates. Bill Stoneman, who played with him on the Montreal Expos, remembered, “he really loved the fans and the crowd, but with us he was actually a pretty private guy.”

Retirement and Community Involvement

When Jones left professional baseball in 1971, he threw himself into youth development in Atlanta. He spent a lot of time coaching baseball and football, passing on what he knew to young athletes.

Even after retiring, Jones never lost his love for baseball. Esther said he liked watching games on TV and joined old-timers’ events whenever he could.

Although he was private, Jones kept some ties to his baseball days. Bill Stoneman mentioned that a friend of Jones once asked him to scout Jones’s son Rontae, so the family never really left the sport behind.

Jones split his later years between Atlanta and a condo in Florida that he and Esther owned. That setup let him enjoy retirement while staying close to his loved ones.

Battle with Stomach Cancer and Passing

Doctors diagnosed Jones with stomach cancer in October 2003. At first, he responded well to chemotherapy, but the medication caused complications that turned out to be fatal.

Esther explained, “it was the medication after the chemotherapy that did him in” because “it messed up his kidneys.” Jones didn’t want to go into hospice, choosing instead to spend his last days at home.

While dealing with his illness, Jones spent a lot of time at their Florida condo before heading back to Atlanta for the end. He kept watching baseball games on TV right up until the final days.

Mack Jones died on June 8, 2004, at age 65 in his Atlanta home. His funeral took place at Mount Gilead-Mount Hermon Church of God Holiness, with Murray Bros. Cascade Chapel taking care of the arrangements.

Legacy in Canadian Baseball and Popular Culture

Jones left his biggest mark during his time with the Montreal Expos. People started calling him the “Mayor of Jonesville,” a nickname that journalist Ted Blackman came up with for the left-field bleachers where Jones used to smash home runs.

His influence on Canadian baseball really took off during the Expos’ first home game in 1969. Jones smacked a three-run homer and then added a two-run triple, helping the team win 8-7 over the St. Louis Cardinals. That performance instantly won over Montreal fans.

The “Jonesville” buzz meant more than just good baseball. For the Expos’ early years, it became a bit of a cultural landmark, full of excitement and hope for Canada’s first major league team.

In 1969, Jones had his best year with Montreal. He hit .270, belted 22 home runs, and drove in 79 runs. He once said Montreal fans were “without a doubt the greatest in the world,” and you could tell he meant it.

He kept a strong connection to Montreal for the rest of his life. When he passed away, Canadian media paid tribute, recognizing just how unique his role was in the country’s baseball history.