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

Dec142015

“Toothpick” Sam Jones

"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.

Category: No-no birthdaysDecember 14, 2015 1 Comment

Author: Dirk Lammers

https://www.nonohitters.com/about-the-author/

Dirk Lammers is a veteran journalist who began rooting for the New York Mets in the early-1970s when the team’s no no-hitter count was barely 2,000 games old. Lammers has since turned his research into Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More Than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books).

1 Comment

nonohitters says:

December 14, 2015 at 8:10 am

The @Cubs’ “Toothpick” Sam Jones, first African-American to throw an MLB no-hitter, was born 90 years ago today https://t.co/uIwUzSXXjU

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“Like the book’s subject, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders is full of intrigue, suspense and just enough random good fortune to go down in history. In revisiting the unforgettable and revealing the forgotten, Dirk Lammers deals a quirky treasure for baseball lovers.”

Jon SpringerAuthor of Mets by the Numbers

“As an official scorer, I’m aware of the tension and drama when a pitcher takes a no-hitter into the later innings. In Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders, Dirk Lammers has captured this drama and added to it with insights and analysis for those who achieved this honor. Mixed in with fun facts about more than 100 years of no-hitters, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders is entertaining and enlightening.”

Stew ThornleyMLB Official Scorer for Minnesota Twins games

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Steve WynnMusician, The Baseball Project, The Dream Syndicate

“In “Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders,” Lammers takes a topic that might seem narrowly focused and opens it up with all sorts of interesting angles.”

Ross AtkinsChristian Science Monitor

“… a fascinating book that will appeal to both the historian and the die-hard fan.”

Jeff AyersThe Associated Press

“This volume is the complete – and I mean fully complete – story of the no-hit games in the long history of Major league Baseball, and it will serve as the place to look if one wonders why baseball makes such a big deal of no-hit games. With prodigious research, Lammers has produced not just the bare bones of each no-hit game but adds to each game story the little and telling details that are so alluring.”

Fay VincentFormer MLB commissioner, foreword writer

“I do think you have a winning idea. This is a book that should sell. Bo Belinsky was my favorite, followed by Don Larsen, and the only one I saw in person, Bob Forsch.”

W.P. KinsellaAuthor of Shoeless Joe, adapted into "Field of Dreams"

“Never have so many no-nos inspired such resounding yes-yeses! A baseball research book with a sense of humor—novel concept.”

Mike VeeckMinor-league baseball owner, promoter behind the Chicago White Sox’s Disco Demolition Night

“I loved reading about all of the no-hitters. There are a lot of things that I had no idea about, like “Hooks” Wiltse also losing his perfect game in the ninth inning but saving his no-hitter. Even if you do not know anything about baseball, this is a great book about the great history of the game.”

Milt PappasMLB pitcher 1957-1973 ('72 no-no)

“… delightfully written … story after fascinating story about the most compelling characters and unlikely events.”

Matt SutherlandForeword Reviews ★★★★★

“… an exuberant romp through the history of one of baseball’s most impressive achievements.”

Paul HagenMLB.com