Cowboy Jones
Encyclopedia
Albert Edward "Cowboy" Jones was a professional baseball
pitcher
. He pitched one full season and parts of three others in Major League Baseball
from 1898 until 1901 for the Cleveland Spiders
and St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals
.
in Golden, Colorado in 1880s. His father was a mining executive in Colorado and later in New Mexico. He married his wife Nellie in the 1890s while he was on the road pitching for the Spiders. He and his wife never had children.
to play in the major leagues, and the only one to do so in the 19th century.
Following that season, he was among the players moved from the Spiders to the Perfectos for the 1899 season
. He pitched three seasons for the Perfectos, who were renamed the Cardinals in 1900. He continued to play minor league baseball
until 1915, when he retired at age 41. Jones subsquently coached baseball at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
, following the end of his professional baseball career. He served in Golden, Colorado and Jefferson County
as both an appointed and elected official. He was elected to the Golden City Council and then later was elected Sheriff of Jefferson County as a Republican. Bert was later elected several times as Mayor of Golden and was appointed by Jefferson County as its Water Commissioner.
Later, Jones and his wife moved to Inglewood, California
to be near her niece Bertina. He died there on February 9, 1958.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched one full season and parts of three others in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1898 until 1901 for the Cleveland Spiders
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
and St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Early life
Cowboy Jones was the son of Evan and Jane Jones, who had immigrated from Beaumaris, Wales and Liverpool, England respectively in 1870. His maternal grandfather, D. L. Williams, served as the Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in Golden, Colorado in 1880s. His father was a mining executive in Colorado and later in New Mexico. He married his wife Nellie in the 1890s while he was on the road pitching for the Spiders. He and his wife never had children.
Professional career
Jones began his professional career in 1896 with the Pueblo Rovers of the Colorado State League. He made his major league debut two years later with the Spiders. Jones was the first player born in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
to play in the major leagues, and the only one to do so in the 19th century.
Following that season, he was among the players moved from the Spiders to the Perfectos for the 1899 season
1899 St. Louis Perfectos season
The St. Louis Perfectos season was the team's 18th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 8th season in the National League. The Perfectos went 84-67 during the season and finished 5th in the National League....
. He pitched three seasons for the Perfectos, who were renamed the Cardinals in 1900. He continued to play minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
until 1915, when he retired at age 41. Jones subsquently coached baseball at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
Later life
Cowboy Jones settled in the town of his birth, Golden, ColoradoGolden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
, following the end of his professional baseball career. He served in Golden, Colorado and Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
as both an appointed and elected official. He was elected to the Golden City Council and then later was elected Sheriff of Jefferson County as a Republican. Bert was later elected several times as Mayor of Golden and was appointed by Jefferson County as its Water Commissioner.
Later, Jones and his wife moved to Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
to be near her niece Bertina. He died there on February 9, 1958.