A southpaw who logged 1,766 innings in a single team’s colors, finished 73 games, and notched 19 shutouts. Now, the baseball community is mourning his loss at the age of 75. The San Diego Padres shared the news on Wednesday: Randy Jones has passed away.

This pitcher fundamentally altered the trajectory of the franchise that selected him in 1972. His reign in the mid-1970s set benchmarks that remain largely unmatched to this day.

His journey from a pitcher battling to find his footing to the 1975 Comeback Player of the Year and then the 1976 Cy Young Award winner commanded admiration throughout the sport. That season was a standout: 22 victories, a 2.43 earned run average, and 25 complete games. It solidified his place among the best in the game.

Jones turned a floundering expansion team into a must-see spectacle in the mid-1970s. His appearances alone attracted an average of 27,400 fans, a stark contrast to the 15,769 who showed up for other home games in 1976. His pregame strolls to the bullpen transformed into standing ovations. Fans acknowledged the sinkerballer, the man who’d delivered San Diego its inaugural 20-game winner, a true baseball legend.

“With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones,” the team stated. The organization called him “a cornerstone of our franchise” and “a giant in our lives.” His statistical prowess was the foundation of the accolades he received. Jones’s teams during the 1975-76 season finished with a 42-26 record. However, they never really got close to the top. Jones dedicated eight of his ten seasons in the majors to the Padres, before wrapping up his career with the New York Mets.

Jones’s impact extended well past the playing field, forever altering the core of the institution. Inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1999, he solidified his legacy as a true Padres legend. The Padres paid tribute to him by retiring his jersey number, a move that elevated him to an exclusive group. His influence on the sport was clear, as demonstrated by his two All-Star appearances and the century mark of career victories he achieved. Jones remained deeply connected to the organization and the community he’d helped cultivate, a testament to the enduring dedication that transformed San Diego into a baseball city.

Baseball mourns Randy Jones as Padres fans remember a franchise pillar

The baseball world reacted to Jones’s passing away with a depth of feeling that spoke volumes about the mark he’d made during his lifetime. Social media was awash with remembrances from those who had seen him pitch, or who had simply absorbed the legends of his 1976 Cy Young campaign.

One fan wrote, “Rest in peace, Randy – a true Padres legend,” acknowledging his departure left in the very foundation of the organization’s past. His 100 career wins and two All-Star appearances cemented his reputation as a legend in the game.

Another reflected, “Such a sad loss for the Padres and the baseball community. Randy Jones was a true legend,” recognizing his importance extended far beyond the confines of San Diego. His 1975 Comeback Player of the Year award, along with that impressive 2.24 ERA, certainly spoke to his impact on the game.

A user commented, “Thank you for everything. RIP!” His 1,766 innings on the mound for the Padres stand as a record, unmatched by any other pitcher, past or present.

Another reaction read, “Our FIRST Legend is gone! “Jones’s distinction as a founding member of the Padres Hall of Fame, established in 1999, is noteworthy. His jersey number, now retired, and his franchise records for starts, complete games, and shutouts solidified his status as the bedrock of the organization.

A final tribute simply stated, “RIP Randy. A Padres great,” his legacy distilled into the essentials, a franchise transformed over eight seasons, during which he notched 73 complete games and 19 shutouts.