Bumpus Jones

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For other persons named Charles Jones, see Charles Jones (disambiguation).

Charles Leander (Bumpus) Jones (January 1, 1870 – June 25, 1938) was a right handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants. He was born in Cedarville, Ohio.

Jones made his first major league appearance with the Cincinnati Reds on October 15, 1892, on the last day of the season. Jones saved himself from baseball anonymity when he threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning 7–1. He was not perfect, as he gave up four walks, and he did not pitch a shutout, as an error led to an unearned run. But it was quite a start, and was his only start outing of the season. This will turn out to be the latest date in the season that a no-hitter is ever pitched in major league history.

After that, Jones split 1893 between Cincinnati and the New York Giants, appearing in seven games overall, while going 1-4 with a 10.19 ERA. Jones would never pitch in the majors again. He remains the only player in major league history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game, and he also holds the record for the latest no-hitter thrown in a calendar year.

In a two-season major league career, Jones posted a 2-4 career record with 10 strikeouts and a 7.99 ERA in 41. 2 innings of labor. After leaving the major leagues, Jones continued to pitch professionally. He pitched for the Columbus Clippers from 1896 to 1899, and until recently was credited with the team record for career games pitched, with 212. Modern research, however, indicates that the actual total may be closer to 150.^[1]

Jones died in Xenia, Ohio, at age 68, and was laid to rest at North Cemetery in Cedarville, Ohio.