Slim Jones

Stuart "Slim" Jones (May 6, 1913 – November 19, 1938) was an American professional baseball pitcher and first baseman in negro league baseball. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he played for the Baltimore Black Sox and the Philadelphia Stars of the East-West League and Negro National League II from 1932 to 1938.

In 1934, the 6' 6" Jones led the Negro National League II in earned run average (ERA) at 1.29, wins (20), and strikeouts (164) to become the first pitcher in Negro league history to achieve the pitching Triple Crown. This achievement was matched just three more times in league history. He set the pitching wins above replacement (WAR) record for a single season by a Negro League pitcher with 8.4, surpassing Bill Foster’s mark of 8.3 established in 1926. Jones was the winning pitcher in the final game of the Championship Series that clinched a pennant for the Stars. Jones was not in the league for a long time but was very effective during his short career.

Jones was plagued by trouble with alcoholism. He won just seven games in the four seasons he played after 1934. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 19, 1938. According to legend, he froze to death after selling his coat for alcohol, but in reality he died after being admitted to a Baltimore hospital.