Jones entered professional baseball playing as an outfielder and catcher for Portland in the Oregon State League in 1891 or 1893, depending on the source.[2][1] He played minor league ball in Binghamton, New York, and Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was an accomplished hitter.[1]
Jones's major league playing career began with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1896. In 1901, he joined the Chicago White Sox in the new American League. He was named player-manager in 1904 to replace Jimmy Callahan. Owner Charles Comiskey named Jones manager, desiring a strong-willed leader. The White Sox finished two games short of a pennant in 1905. Bolstered by a nineteen game winning streak, Jones managed the "Hitless Wonders" in the 1906 World Series, which was the White Sox' first World Series win. Playing in that World Series, he hit only .143 (3-for-21) but scored four runs and stole three bases. That year, the White Sox had a team batting average of only .230 while being third in runs.[3] The aging roster sputtered late in 1907 and then lost the pennant on the final day in 1908 to the same team in the Detroit Tigers. Jones quit the team after the season, citing burnout from having to deal with Comiskey.
In 1910, Jones came out of retirement to play for the Chehalis Gophers after the team's player/manager was reportedly stabbed by another member of the team. Playing for no salary, and with permission from Comiskey,[4] Jones batted .358 to win the Washington State League batting title.[5] Six years after his last game with the White Sox, he joined the St. Louis Terriers of the newly formed Federal League, where he served as a player-manager before the league folded. He had one last stint as a manager with the St. Louis Browns, but his earlier success with the White Sox eluded him, as his St. Louis teams never finished above fifth place.
Post career
Jones moved to Portland, Oregon, investing in timber and became head coach for the Oregon State Beavers baseball team in 1910, going 13–4–1 and winning the Northwest championship.[6]
