Keeping Up With Todd Jones

Friday, September 26 2008 @ 11:52 AM EDT

Contributed by: Mick Doherty

Todd Barton Givin Jones came up to the Houston Astros in 1993 at the age of 25, posting a win and two saves in 37.1 innings of 124 ERA+ baseball.

Would anybody have guessed at the time that Jones would still be around 15 seasons later, having amassed 58 wins and 319 saves in 982 appearances (all but one of those in relief)?

Never an intimidating sort, Jones served big league bullpen duty for eight different franchises, primarily Houston and Detroit (two separate stops with the latter), racking up seven seasons of at least 28 saves, four of at least 37, and twice cracking the 40+ mark. He led the league in saves just once (42 for the 2000 Tigers, also his only All-Star appearance) and totaled eight post-season appearances with a career post-season ERA of 0.00. His career total of 319 saves is 14th on the all-time list, and in true Keeping Up With the Joneses fashion, first among the Jones boys -- 16 better than Doug and far ahead of third-place-in-the-surname Sam Jones' 31.

This guy isn't a Hall-of-Famer; as noted, with one exception, he wasn't even an All-Star. He didn't look the part of a lithe Rivera or, handlebar moustache aside, of a scowling Gossage (much as he might have tried in the latter case). But he hung around to save 319 games. And now he's officially retired.

Bauxites and Bauxettes, tip your caps to Todd Jones.

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