Okay, so really it’s “Tomorrow in baseball history…” but you get the idea. “Tomorrow” in baseball history, well, tomorrow’s history happened just a few years ago.
Okay, so calling it “history” might be kind of a long-shot. By the way, what was the over/under on the number of many times I would use a quotation mark in the opening two paragraphs? If it was six, I’d take the “over.”
Moving on.
Sept. 16th, 2007 was a day that very few casual fans would remember. In fact, I would bet that most casual fans probably think I’m referencing Jim Thome hitting his 500th homerun.
I’m not.
While that happened on the same day, I’m more interested in a different veteran reaching a milestone. And I use the term milestone, loosely in this case. But, in this case, I’m more interested in a different long-time pro. A different guy drafted in the 1989 amateur draft.
The Houston Astros have a history of solid draft picks in the amateur draft. Craig Biggio is the first one that comes to mind. Then there are guys like Brad Lidge, Lance Berkman Billy Wagner and Phil Nevin.
And then there was Todd Jones (who?).
I know what you’re thinking, how did Todd Jones make history?
Todd Jones was a first-round pick in the 1989 amateur draft. He was selected 27th overall (a whopping five rounds earlier than Jim Thome) by the Houston Astros. He spent his first few years in the minors and got his first Big League nod in 1993.
That was the start of his long road to, well, the record books.
Fifteen seasons later, after bouncing around from Houston, to Detroit, to Toronto, only to go back to Detroit, then to Minnesota, to Colorado, back to Toronto… you get the idea, he ended up as a member of an “elite” club.
As an aside: Of the eight teams he played for over his 16-year career, he managed to play for all eight during a five season span form 2001-2005.
At the end of it all he finished the career leader in saves for the Detroit Tigers, though, that isn’t why he made history.
On Sept. 16, 2007, he became the 21st member of the 300 saves club. No bad for a – mostly – middle reliever and a guy never made you blink or turn your head.
But Jones is known for more than just No. 21 on the 300 saves club. He was also the last person to throw an official pitch in Tigers Stadium. He is also the only guy (to my extensively researched knowledge) that ended his MLB career with, exactly, as many innings pitched as hits given up – 1072. Meaning one hit per inning for his career.
That isn’t exactly Hall of Fame worthy, more just watercooler tidbit worthy.
Not bad for a guy who grew up in Marietta, GA. Then again, that is the breeding ground for some pretty amazing folks…
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