OT: Cleon Jones

[RU Husky]

He appears in a documentary titled “Descendants “ which is showing on Netflix. It is about the discovery of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to enter US waters in 1860 ( long after the legal end of the slave trade),which was set afire and sunk in the the waters near Mobile,Alabama. Cleon is seen wearing a Mets cap early in the film and is heard from near the end of this excellent documentary. Interesting interaction between the direct descendants of the slaves who were brought to Alabama on that ship and the captain who commanded the ship and the non participation by the descendants of the family actually responsible for the voyage. Cleon is clearly actively involved in the local community and the desire to get this story told.

Edit- my apologies but I am unable to correct the title of this thread . Obviously it should read Cleon Jones but autocorrect took over.

Re-edit. Fixed

 

[newell138]

thanks for the heads up. Big Cleon Jones fan back in the day. I still have this card too

 

[zappaa]

Known is Jonesy to all his teammates and coaches.
Hit 340 in 1969….I remember when I was 12 years old hitting off the “Iron Mike” in spring training, he told me to forget pulling the ball and hit it to right field in batting practice if you want to learn how to hit.
He and Agee were best friends….really cool guys in the eyes of a little kid.

 

[MadRU]

21 was one of my favs

 

[e5fdny]

I had no idea shoe polish was used on cleats.

 

[zappaa]

I had no idea shoe polish was used on cleats.

Every pair of spikes (not cleats) in those days we’re made of Kangaroo leather.
They were meticulously sharpened and shined every single day by the batboys and clubhouse men.

 

[fg7321]

I had no idea shoe polish was used on cleats.

One of Gil Hodges' great moments as a manager

 

[zappaa]

 

[e5fdny]

I LOVED that jacket (said in a Cuban accent like on “Seinfeld” lol)

 

[newell138]

Known is Jonesy to all his teammates and coaches.
Hit 340 in 1969….I remember when I was 12 years old hitting off the “Iron Mike” in spring training, he told me to forget pulling the ball and hit it to right field in batting practice if you want to learn how to hit.
He and Agee were best friends….really cool guys in the eyes of a little kid.

that must have been pretty cool.

 

[zappaa]

that must have been pretty cool.

Using retrospect I can’t believe how cool and lucky it was.
In real time you’re too young and stupid to know it.

 

[newell138]

Using retrospect I can’t believe how cool and lucky it was.
In real time you’re too young and stupid to know it.

because that's your world and basically all you know. As a little kid we just assume the rest of the world is just like ours.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

... he told me to forget pulling the ball and hit it to right field in batting practice if you want to learn how to hit.

And you didn't listen?

(just, what I hope is, a funny jibe from a never-been to an old pro whose stories and anecdotes we love on this board)

 

[RUforJERSEY]

Cleon was a rarity in that he threw left-handed but was a right-handed batter. You see the opposite all the time.

 

[zappaa]

Cleon was a rarity in that he threw left-handed but was a right-handed batter. You see the opposite all the time.

At one point, he was the only position player in the National league who did.

 

[Rutgers85_rivals]

Loved Cleon as a kid. I remember being upset when he got arrested in a van with a woman. Weird what things affect you when you’re young.

 

[MURF87]

Cleon was a rarity in that he threw left-handed but was a right-handed batter. You see the opposite all the time.

My dad had the same configuration. Never knew it until we saw him playing in the annual Belleville FD vs PD softball games.

 

[Vlife]

At one point, he was the only position player in the National league who did.

When Rickey Henderson was asked why he batted righty he said because growing up everyone who Rickey knew batted righty.

 

[megadrone]

Loved Cleon as a kid. I remember being upset when he got arrested in a van with a woman. Weird what things affect you when you’re young.

I was more upset with how the Mets dealt with that. Beginning of the end for that management team (Grant, the Payson/de Roulet Families, McDonald).

 

[Scarlet83]

At one point, he was the only position player in the National league who did.

Zappa, RUforJersey or anyone…Cleon was a natural lefty batter. He purposely changed to be a righty when he was young. Do you know why?

 

[Loyal_2RU]

He appears in a documentary titled “Descendants “ which is showing on Netflix. It is about the discovery of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to enter US waters in 1860 ( long after the legal end of the slave trade),which was set afire and sunk in the the waters near Mobile,Alabama. Cleon is seen wearing a Mets cap early in the film and is heard from near the end of this excellent documentary. Interesting interaction between the direct descendants of the slaves who were brought to Alabama on that ship and the captain who commanded the ship and the non participation by the descendants of the family actually responsible for the voyage. Cleon is clearly actively involved in the local community and the desire to get this story told.

Edit- my apologies but I am unable to correct the title of this thread . Obviously it should read Cleon Jones but autocorrect took over.

Re-edit. Fixed

My favorite Met! Bats R, throws L

 

[zappaa]

Zappa, RUforJersey or anyone…Cleon was a natural lefty batter. He purposely changed to be a righty when he was young. Do you know why?

Maybe the same reason my dad who’s a natural righty, switched to lefty…because the right field fence was short at the local park?

 

[Scarlet83]

Maybe the same reason my dad who’s a natural righty, switched to lefty…because the right field fence was short at the local park?

So Close!! Lindsey Nelson used to tell the story that there was a pond in right field and they were losing too many baseballs, so Cleon switched to a righty!

So cool that your Dad and Cleon had that in common.

Hope your Dad’s local park field still exists and is the same as when he played on it!

 

[G- RUnit]

Not quite like Zappa’s story, but as an 8 year old, my first game ever, it meant the world of me when I yelled Cleon!!! and he waived back to me!!! A major league player acknowledged me. Forever grateful!

1970. HOFer Fergie Jenkins out dueled Gary Gentry. Life long love of Baseball.

 

[NickRU714]

Every pair of spikes (not cleats) in those days we’re made of Kangaroo leather.
They were meticulously sharpened and shined every single day by the batboys and clubhouse men.

Wasn't shoe polish also used to show when a ptich did hit your foot?
Show the ump the ball with a shoe polish spot as evidence?

 

[e5fdny]

Not quite like Zappa’s story, but as an 8 year old, my first game ever, it meant the world of me when I yelled Cleon!!! and he waived back to me!!! A major league player acknowledged me. Forever grateful!

1970. HOFer Fergie Jenkins out dueled Gary Gentry. Life long love of Baseball.

I can still remember the smile Felix Millan gave me when he signed an autographed picture of himself at the Monmouth Mall as a little kid.

It’s why I always make it point to wave an acknowledge the little ones when at work.

 

[zappaa]

Wasn't shoe polish also used to show when a ptich did hit your foot?
Show the ump the ball with a shoe polish spot as evidence?

I have the clip of the 1969 word series incident above Nick

 

[zappaa]

I can still remember the smile Felix Millan gave me when he signed an autographed picture of himself at the Monmouth Mall as a little kid.

It’s why I always make it point to wave an acknowledge the little ones when at work.

Number 16 and 17 was one of the nicest, soft spoken athletes I’ve ever met.
Trying to imitate his choking up batting style as a kid was dangerous for your hands…lol