Cards That Never Were #43

1976 Topps - Cleon Jones

The man who caught the final out of the 1969 World Series would eventually be run out of New York due to a clashing of personalities. While with the Mets, Cleon had a powerful arm and a hot bat.

While on extended Spring Training in Florida during 1975, after suffering a knee injury, Jones was found asleep in a van with a 21-year-old woman, who was charged with possession of marijuana. Even though the charges were dropped against Cleon, the Mets chairman fined him $2,000 and forced him to apologize at a press conference. In July 1975, Jones found himself in an altercation with manager Yogi Berra and was released.

The White Sox signed Cleon in April 1976. In twelve games for the Sox, he clawed out 8 hits, including one double, and three RBI, while hitting a low .200 in forty-seven plate appearances. Even in the mid-seventies, this was not enough to keep Jones employed.

His last game was on May 1, 1976, at Comiskey Park, against the Tigers. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. In his last plate appearance, leading off the bottom of the ninth, he flew out to right fielder Ben Oglivie, who pinch ran for Rusty Staub in the previous inning. According to records, he was officially released the day before. Cleon chose to retire after being released by the White Sox.