‘Toothpick’ Sam Jones, first African-American to throw MLB no-hitter, born 90 years ago today

"Toothpick" Sam Jones, the first African-American to throw a Major League Baseball no-hitter, was born 90 years ago today.

Jones, pitching for the Chicago Cubs on May 12, 1955, no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 4-0 win at Wrigley Field. He completed an accomplishment that likely would have been preceded by such Negro Leagues greats as Dick "Cannonball" Redding, "Bullet" Joe Rogan, Leon Day and Satchel Paige had baseball integrated earlier.

Jones also pitched a rain-shortened 7-inning no-hitter while he was a member of the 1959 San Francisco Giants. On Friday, September 26, 1959, Jones held the St. Louis Cardinals hitless through 7 at Busch Stadium before the game was called with two out in the top of the eighth due to rain. The Giants were awarded a 4-0 victory.