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

Gordon Jones wrapped up his Major League Baseball career in 1965, finishing an 11-year run that took him through seven organizations. He pitched in the big leagues from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s.

Born in Portland, Oregon, in 1930, Jones served in the Korean War before he broke into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 at age 24.

Jones finished with a career record of 15 wins and 18 losses in 171 games. He pitched for the Cardinals, New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Athletics, and Houston Colt .45s/Astros. He bounced between teams and handled both starting and relief pitching roles during his time in the majors.

Jones’s career really gives you a sense of what players went through during baseball’s expansion era. He dealt with military service, frequent moves, and the challenge of adapting to new teams.

His story covers a period of big changes in the game, from the 1950s into the 1960s—team relocations, league expansion, and new pitching dynamics.

Early Life and Amateur Beginnings

Gordon Bassett Jones was born April 2, 1930, in Portland, Oregon. He later moved to Sacramento, California, where his baseball journey really got going.

He started out in the amateur ranks before the St. Louis Cardinals signed him in 1949.

Childhood and Family Background

Jones spent his early years in Portland, but his family made the move to Sacramento. That’s where he grew up and started to make a name for himself.

He attended Sacramento High School and developed his pitching skills there.

Jones stood 6 feet tall and weighed 190 pounds. That size helped him pitch at a high level.

Sacramento gave him the chance to build a solid foundation for his baseball career. Honestly, the move from Portland probably played a big role in his development as an athlete.

Amateur Baseball Career

Jones played amateur baseball in the Sacramento area as a teenager. He pitched for his high school team and impressed scouts with his performances.

As a right-hander, he showed good control and pitching ability. Those years helped him sharpen the skills he’d need later as a pro.

Scouts started noticing him during high school. His outings on the mound caught the eye of Major League organizations.

California’s amateur baseball scene in the 1940s was competitive. Jones took advantage, using those games to work on his mechanics and strategy.

Path to Professional Baseball

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Jones as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season. He was just 19 when he entered the Cardinals’ system.

That signing kicked off his pro career. The Cardinals saw his potential and brought him into their farm system.

Jones spent a few years in the minors, working his way up. Reaching the big leagues took patience and steady improvement.

The Korean War interrupted his progress, since he served in the military. That service delayed his MLB debut by a few years.

Eventually, Jones made his Major League debut on August 6, 1954, with the Cardinals. His start in Sacramento had taken him all the way to the majors.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Gordon Jones pitched 11 seasons in the majors from 1954 to 1965. He put up a 15-18 record with a 4.16 ERA in 171 games.

He started out with the St. Louis Cardinals and later joined the New York Giants as they made their famous move to San Francisco.

St. Louis Cardinals Years

Jones made his MLB debut on August 6, 1954, starting the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. The Cardinals lost 7-3, but that game kicked off his most successful period.

His 1954 rookie season was the highlight of his career. Jones went 4-4 with a sharp 2.00 ERA over 81 innings. He threw two complete game shutouts—one against the Pirates on August 25 and another against the Milwaukee Braves on September 18.

Things got tougher in 1955. That year, Jones started 9 of his 15 games but struggled with control and consistency. He finished 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA.

After 1955, Jones shifted mostly to relief pitching. He stayed with St. Louis through 1956, and his control really stood out—his strikeout-to-walk ratio was nearly 2-to-1, which was impressive for that time.

New York Giants and Franchise Relocation

Jones joined the New York Giants in 1957, just as the team was preparing to leave Manhattan for the West Coast.

While with the Giants, Jones settled into his relief role. He pitched well in the National League and kept up the strong control that had become his trademark.

The 1957 season was a turning point for both Jones and the Giants. As the team got ready to move, Jones proved himself as a steady bullpen option.

His time with the Giants helped him prepare for what came next. The move to San Francisco brought new opportunities and his best post-rookie season.

San Francisco Giants Contributions

Jones’s 1958 season with the San Francisco Giants was his second-best in the majors. He went 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 11 games, showing his value in the bullpen.

Moving out West seemed to give him a boost. Jones pitched well at Seals Stadium, which was the Giants’ home before Candlestick Park.

He kept up his excellent control with the Giants from 1957-1959. Over his career, Jones walked only 120 batters in 378.2 innings, averaging 2.85 walks per nine innings.

Those Giants years really showed his ability to handle different roles and environments. His steady relief work helped anchor the bullpen during the team’s early days in California.

Later Career with Multiple Teams

Gordon Jones spent his last six seasons bouncing between three organizations, mostly as a relief pitcher. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Athletics, and Houston Colt .45s/Astros, showing his durability and flexibility as a veteran.

Baltimore Orioles Period

Jones joined the Baltimore Orioles in 1960 and stayed through 1961. He kept pitching out of the bullpen, adding depth to the team’s relief corps.

The Orioles gave Jones a stable spot for two seasons. He worked with other pitchers in a tough American League environment.

His Baltimore years were the middle stretch of his late-career journey. The experience helped him become a trusted veteran presence in the bullpen.

Jones showed he could adapt to different team systems. His work in Baltimore kept him in demand with major league clubs.

Kansas City Athletics Tenure

The Kansas City Athletics picked up Jones for the 1962 season, and he had one of his most productive years. He went 3-2 with 6 saves, his best season for decisions.

That was the only time he had as many as 10 decisions in a single year. His 6 saves showed he could close out games effectively.

The Athletics used Jones mainly in relief throughout 1962. His experience was a plus for the Kansas City staff.

His one season with the Athletics proved he could make a difference for a new team. The numbers from that year stand out in his later career.

Houston Colt .45s and Astros Experience

Jones finished his major league career with the Houston Colt .45s, starting in 1964 and continuing when they became the Astros in 1965. He pitched in 34 games for Houston in 1964, his busiest season late in his career.

His last major league appearance came on September 11, 1965, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched one inning and didn’t allow any hits, walks, or runs.

After his playing days with Houston, Jones stuck around as the team’s pitching coach for all of 1966 and part of 1967.

That move from player to coach showed the respect he earned in Houston. His experience made him a valuable mentor for younger pitchers.

Pitching Style and Performance

Gordon Jones built a reputation as a reliable relief pitcher over his 11-year big league career. He finished with a 4.16 ERA and 232 strikeouts, pitching for five different teams from 1954 to 1965.

Pitching Roles and Positions

Jones mostly worked as a relief pitcher, but he was flexible about his assignments. In his rookie year with the Cardinals in 1954, he pitched 81 innings and made 10 starts—that was his career high for innings.

His busiest season came in 1964 with the Houston Colt .45s, when he appeared in 34 games. That kind of workload showed managers trusted his durability.

Jones’s role changed as he moved from team to team. With the Kansas City Athletics in 1962, he had his best year for decisions, going 3-2 with 6 saves. He was especially effective in late-inning spots.

He adjusted to whatever his teams needed. His ability to pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen made him valuable, especially at a time when bullpen roles weren’t as specialized as they are now.

Statistical Highlights

Jones ended up with a 15-18 record over 11 seasons. His 4.16 ERA reflected solid middle-relief work at a time when offense was generally lower than today.

He struck out 232 batters, showing he had decent command. Jones kept his control steady, avoiding the wildness that hurt a lot of pitchers in that era.

His best statistical season came in 1962 with Kansas City, when he racked up 6 saves—a notable number back when the save stat was still pretty new.

Jones’s ability to stick around for 11 seasons says a lot about his reliability. Not many pitchers held down jobs with multiple teams for that long unless they brought real value.

Notable Games and Achievements

Jones debuted in the majors on August 6, 1954, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at 24. He pitched 6 innings, allowed 5 hits and 1 earned run, and struck out 3 while walking 2. Not a bad first outing at all.

His last game was on September 11, 1965, with the Houston Astros, capping an 11-year career. That year, he appeared in just one game before calling it a day.

Jones played for the Giants during their move from New York to San Francisco, so he experienced the franchise in two cities. He stuck with them from 1957 through 1959 during that big transition.

The Korean War cost Jones three seasons (1951-1953) at what would’ve been a key time in his career. Still, he managed to establish himself in the majors after returning from service.

Retirement and Post-Playing Life

Gordon Jones played his final major league game on September 11, 1965, with the Houston Astros at age 35. He moved into coaching with Houston afterward, though he eventually faced challenges that led him away from baseball.

Circumstances of Retirement in 1965

Jones played his final game for the Houston Astros on September 11, 1965. He was 35 and had put in 11 seasons in the major leagues.

The Astros were still trying to find their footing as a franchise when Jones wrapped up his career. They’d just switched names from the Houston Colt .45s to the Astros that same year.

He finished with 15 wins and 18 losses in 171 games. Jones posted a 4.14 ERA and notched 232 strikeouts.

He’d missed three seasons early on because he served in the Korean War. That military service probably cut his playing days shorter than they might’ve been.

By the end, Jones had shifted from starting games to working mostly as a reliever. Honestly, his rookie year in 1954 was still his best, with a sharp 2.00 ERA.

Life After Baseball

After retiring as a player, Jones stayed with the Astros as their pitching coach. He coached the team through the entire 1966 season and the first part of 1967.

Things got rocky, though. On July 8, 1967, manager Grady Hatton fired him after some conflicts with the pitching staff.

That firing ended Jones’ time in professional baseball. Jim Owens stepped in as pitching coach and kept the job through 1972.

Jones moved out to California after baseball. He eventually made his home in Lodi, California, and lived there for the rest of his life.

He passed away on April 25, 1994, at age 64 in Lodi. They buried him at Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Sacramento.

Legacy Within Baseball

People remember Jones for his remarkable control on the mound. His strikeout-to-walk ratio, nearly 2-to-1, stood out for pitchers of his era.

He only walked 120 batters in 378.2 innings. That works out to a walks-per-nine rate of 2.85, which made him valuable even if his win-loss numbers weren’t flashy.

Jones also fielded his position well. Out of 74 total chances, he handled 72 successfully, good for a .973 fielding percentage, and he didn’t make any errors in his last six seasons.

His short time as a coach in Houston was really his only contribution to pro baseball after playing. Once he left the Astros, his baseball story pretty much ended.

Still, Jones has his place in baseball history. He played for six different franchises during the sport’s big expansion years in the 1950s and 1960s.

Honors, Collectibles, and Net Worth Information

Gordon Jones’s baseball memorabilia still gets attention from collectors. His trading cards showed up in several Topps sets from the ’50s and ’60s.

His financial legacy, though, reflects the modest paychecks most ballplayers got back then.

Baseball Card and Memorabilia Values

You can find Gordon Jones cards in at least five different sets. The 1955 Topps #78, 1959 Topps #458, and 1960 Topps #98 are the standouts.

Those three cards usually see the most action in the market. The 1955 Topps card is special since it marks his rookie year with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Sports Card Investor tracks five Jones cards in their database. His cards cover his career from 1954 to 1965, spanning several teams.

Current tracking includes:

• 1955 Topps #78 Base
• 1959 Topps #458 Base
• 1960 Topps #98 Base
• Additional cards from various sets

You can still find autographed Gordon Jones memorabilia through sports collectible dealers. His signature shows up on baseballs, photos, and various baseball items from his playing days.

Recognition and Accolades

Before his baseball career, Jones served in the Korean War. That service cost him three seasons on the field.

He spent eight years pitching in Major League Baseball. Jones suited up for six different MLB organizations.

He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Athletics, and Houston Colt .45s/Astros. In the minors, he played 12 years, from 1949 to 1965.

Jones made his MLB debut on August 6, 1954, at age 24. He played his last game on September 11, 1965, at 35.

This right-handed pitcher from Portland, Oregon, stood 6 feet tall and weighed 190 pounds during his career.

Estimated Net Worth

Gordon Jones played baseball at a time when salaries just weren’t what they are now. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, players usually brought home pretty modest paychecks compared to today’s stars.

He spent eight years in the MLB, earning a steady income, but honestly, nobody really kept detailed salary records back then. Most guys like Jones picked up off-season jobs just to make ends meet.

Jones died on April 25, 1994, in Lodi, California. His family buried him at Sierra Hills Memorial Park in Sacramento.

He probably left behind some savings from his baseball years and whatever he made after retiring. With those modest player salaries, most retired ballplayers ended up living pretty average, middle-class lives.

We just don’t have exact numbers on his net worth. Still, it’s safe to say his earnings fit right in with what you’d expect for a journeyman pitcher from that era.