Randy Jones, the left-hander who gained the Cy Younger Award with the San Diego Padres in 1976 throughout a 10-year main league profession, has died. He was 75.

Jones died Tuesday, the Padres introduced Wednesday, with out disclosing a location or trigger.

Jones pitched eight seasons for San Diego and two for the New York Mets, going 100-123 with a 3.42 ERA. He nonetheless holds the Padres franchise data with 253 begins, 71 full video games, 18 shutouts and 1,766 innings pitched.

Jones was one of many majors’ greatest pitchers in 1975 and 1976, incomes two All-Star choices and changing into the primary participant to win the Cy Younger for the Padres, who started play as an growth crew in 1969.

He completed second in Cy Younger voting behind Tom Seaver in 1975 after going 20-12 with an NL-leading 2.24 ERA for a San Diego crew that gained simply 71 video games.

Jones gained the award one 12 months later, successful 22 video games for a 73-win crew whereas pitching 315 1/3 innings over 40 begins, together with 25 full video games — all tops within the majors. The still-young Padres skilled a surge in attendance each time he pitched from followers who appreciated his everyman stature and resourceful pitching abilities, and he made the duvet of Sports activities Illustrated.

He earned the save within the 1975 All-Star Recreation, and he received the victory for the NL in 1976. He by no means regained his high type after injuring his arm throughout his last begin of 1976, however he remained a significant league starter till 1982 with the Mets.

Jones was a floor ball specialist who relied on deception and management as an alternative of velocity, resulting in his “Junkman” nickname. His profession statistics mirror a bygone period of baseball: He began 285 video games and pitched 1,933 profession innings in his 10-year profession however recorded solely 735 profession strikeouts, together with simply 93 in his Cy Younger season.

“Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise for over 5 many years,” the Padres mentioned in a press release. “His impression and recognition solely grew in his post-playing profession, changing into an amazing ambassador for the crew and a real fan favourite. Crossing paths with RJ and speaking baseball or life was a pleasure for everybody lucky sufficient to spend time with him. Randy was dedicated to San Diego, the Padres and his household. He was an enormous in our lives and our franchise historical past.”

Born in Orange County, Jones returned to San Diego County after his enjoying profession ended and have become a face of the Padres franchise at video games and in the neighborhood. A barbecue restaurant bearing his title was established on the Padres’ former house, Qualcomm Stadium, and later moved to Petco Park together with the crew.

Jones introduced in 2017 that he had throat most cancers, doubtless a results of his career-long use of chewing tobacco. He introduced he was cancer-free in 2018.

Jones’ No. 35 was retired by the Padres in 1997, and he joined the crew’s Corridor of Fame in 1999.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB