On this date in 1880, the National League's Boston Red Caps suspended an outfielder by the name of Charley Jones. In addition, the team fined him and blacklisted him so no other team could sign him to play. The suspension was the result of the actions Jones took regarding back pay of $378 he was seeking from the team. When Boston refused to pay him the money he claimed he was owed, Jones refused to play. Rather than acknowledge the dispute over the back pay, the Boston club fined, suspended and blacklisted him over what they viewed as insubordination. Two complete seasons would go by before Jones would play in another MLB game; in 1883 for the Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association.
Charley Jones holds the distinction of being the first MLB player to hit two HRs in the same inning. He had done so on June 10th of the year in question over the back pay and being blackballed. Jones, in fact, was one of MLB's early all time HR leaders. When he joined the American Association in 1883- until he stopped playing in after the 1886 season, Jones held the record with a whopping 22 career HRs. Of course, many different MLB players would hold the all time HR lead until Babe Ruth took the title from Roger Connor.
What makes Charley Jones stand out in the history of baseball is the fact that he was probably the best and most well known player whom there was no clear details about his death. His name, Charles Jones, did not help matters as it is such a commonly used name. It wasn't until 2012, where a researcher by the name of Greg Perkins, who was interested in an older team that Jones had played for in the 1870s, found interest in the fact that a date was never confirmed for Jones death. Jones had to have passed by then, as it would have been over 150 years since he was born. This man checked into a series of stuff that was associated with (and some of it belonged to) Charley Jones, including the file held by the Hall of Fame. Within this, he found a letter written about Jones in the Cincinnati Enquirer. This article stated that Jones died in Bellevue Hospital in New York City in 1911. Searching NY death records, it was determined that a man by the name of Charles W Jones died on June 6, 1911. This was proven to be Jones, with correct information available about his birth as well.
Charley Jones holds the distinction of being the first MLB player to hit two HRs in the same inning. He had done so on June 10th of the year in question over the back pay and being blackballed. Jones, in fact, was one of MLB's early all time HR leaders. When he joined the American Association in 1883- until he stopped playing in after the 1886 season, Jones held the record with a whopping 22 career HRs. Of course, many different MLB players would hold the all time HR lead until Babe Ruth took the title from Roger Connor.
What makes Charley Jones stand out in the history of baseball is the fact that he was probably the best and most well known player whom there was no clear details about his death. His name, Charles Jones, did not help matters as it is such a commonly used name. It wasn't until 2012, where a researcher by the name of Greg Perkins, who was interested in an older team that Jones had played for in the 1870s, found interest in the fact that a date was never confirmed for Jones death. Jones had to have passed by then, as it would have been over 150 years since he was born. This man checked into a series of stuff that was associated with (and some of it belonged to) Charley Jones, including the file held by the Hall of Fame. Within this, he found a letter written about Jones in the Cincinnati Enquirer. This article stated that Jones died in Bellevue Hospital in New York City in 1911. Searching NY death records, it was determined that a man by the name of Charles W Jones died on June 6, 1911. This was proven to be Jones, with correct information available about his birth as well.
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