Paul Jones’ pro baseball career
1948: Cleveland Buckeyes, Negro American League
1948: Homestead Greys, Negro American League
1949: Louisville Buckeyes, Negro American League
1950: Cleveland Buckeyes, Negro American League
1950: Elmwood Giants, ManDak League
1951: Flint Arrows, Central League
1952: Vancouver Capilanos, Northwest League
1952-53: Lethbridge Cobs, Big Six League
1958: Memphis Red Sox, Negro American League
HAMILTON — Many around town know him by name.
He officiated thousands of minor league softball games in the 1980s and was inducted into the Butler County Softball Hall of Fame as an umpire in 1989.
But few know Paul Jones’ history as a Negro League Baseball pitcher who played with such greats as Leroy “Satchel” Paige, Elston Howard and “Sad” Sam Jones.
“I just played for the love of the game,” said Jones, 83. “I was playing because I wanted to get to the majors.”
But that dream was deferred for Jones and thousands of other players in the Negro League, a professional baseball organization formed in 1929 when blacks weren’t allowed to play in Major League Baseball.
Jones’ career during the ’40s and ’50s was largely forgotten until recently when he was inducted into the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Ala., and honored with his own day in July by Hamilton City Council.
Major League Baseball recognized Negro League players in 2004 by providing them with a pension, and soon, Jones’ picture and signature will appear on postage stamps.
Jones doesn’t talk much about his 10-year career that began with the Homestead Greys in 1948 and included stints with the Cleveland Buckeyes, Vancouver Capilanos and Memphis Red Sox.
A few yellowed news clippings, a commemorative photo album and a baseball autographed by former players are his souvenirs.
But his stories of taking on Paige and Howard are priceless.
Jones recalled hall of fame pitcher Paige admiring his fastball. And that he struck out Howard — the first black player on the New York Yankees — before committing the ultimate sin against the catcher, who had a lifetime slugging percentage of .427.
“They said whatever you do, don’t throw him anything low. I said, ‘He can’t hit my fastball.’ I threw it low and I think it’s still going.”
Jones' memories of his pro ball days as sharp as ever
Paul Jones is 83, but he remembers his days as a professional baseball player in the Negro American League as if it were yesterday.
The right-hander grips the ball showing his curve ball and the pitch he was most known for: his fastball.
Jones also recalls taking on hall of fame pitcher Satchel Paige, who played in both the Negro League and the majors with Cleveland, St. Louis and Kansas City .
“I didn’t know who that guy was and didn’t care. Back then I was kind of cocky,” Jones said. “I said if he doesn’t give up nothing, I’m not giving up nothing.”
For decades, Jones never talked about his career in the Negro League that stretched from the 1940s to the ’50s.
One of Jones’ better seasons was in 1950 with the Elmwood Giants when he finished with a 9-10 record and a batting average of .154, according to the book “ManDak League: Haven for Former Negro League Ballplayers,” by Barry Swanton.
Many area residents know Jones was inducted into the Butler County Softball Hall of Fame as an umpire in 1989. But few know about his contributions to the Negro League and his induction into the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame in June.
Hamilton City Council recognized him last month, declaring July 16 “Paul Jones Day.”
Soon Jones will be among hundreds of former players memorialized in a museum in Birmingham, Ala., honoring the Negro League. Postage stamps with his and other players’ signatures are on the way, too.
The attention surprises Jones.
“I never thought a day in my life I’d get the kind of recognition I’m getting now,” Jones said.
Jones said although players were loved on the field, the racism they experienced was raw.
They couldn’t eat at certain restaurants or sleep at hotels near the ball field. They were forced to wash out of bowls and harassed by the police, he said.
“A lot of people don’t know how hard it was for us. Not only in the south. It was also hard in the north,” Jones said. “We can’t say the south did this, that and other to us, because it happened here, too.”
Dr. Layton Revel, founder of the Center for Negro League Baseball Research, said Jones is among 900 living former Negro League players.
Revel’s foundation began contacting former players in 1990 in an effort to preserve the history of the league that led to the integration of professional baseball.
“They played when there wasn’t a lot of money. They weren’t playing for contracts, shoe endorsements or notoriety. They played for the love of baseball,” Revel said.
Revel said he’s not surprised Jones doesn’t boast about his days in the league.
“When they quit playing baseball, they went on to do other things. They didn’t make a big deal about it,” Revel said.
“It was a very different time. They went through the integration process and when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier not everybody got their fair and equal chance (to go to the major leagues).”
Jones’ wife, Nona, said her husband still thinks the fanfare is much ado about nothing.
But she’s thrilled her husband and others are getting the recognition they deserve.
“It’s a big thing to me. It’s not every day you get recognized for something you did years ago.”
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