The Corn Pone Kid by Harold Sheldon

From October 1950 Baseball Digest is an article about the Philadelphia Phillies thirdbaseman Willie Edward Jones. Willie was born 8/16/1925 in Dillon S.C. He began playing baseball at home and enlisted in the Marines during WWII. After the war he came home and played in the Palmetto League. Places like Kingtree, Bishopville, Camden,Florence, Darlington,and Sumpter. Some guy from the Philadelphis A's tried to sign him but it was Sunday and Willie didn't want to get up. Johnny Nee from the Phillies came later in the day and signed him to a $17,500 contract. He was in Hartsville and met a girl at the switchboard. he told Carolyn Goadson, "You look like someone I'd like to marry. They were married that fall. That was after the 1946 season in the Palemtto League where he hit .507. At Spring Training in Clearwater,Fla he was heavy and Sam Chapman called him "fat boy". They made him lose weight and sent him to Terre Haute,IN. where becasue of losing weight he stopped hitting. His wife started cooking and they sent him to the Three-Eye League where he hit .307. Eddie Sawyer called him to Toronto where he promptly got beaned. The next day he refused to take the day off and got 4 hits. He ran into slump and Manager Sawyer asked him what was wrong? He told the manager that his wife was ready to have their first child. The manager told him to bring her up to Toronto. "nothin doing, Why he could never be President of the United States" remarked Willie. Eddie Sawyer became the Phillies manager in 1948 and he told coach Dusty Cooke to work with him on fielding. In 1949 he led the N.L in outouts and assists. Willie Jones played professional baseball from 1947 thru 1961. He passed away on October 18, 1983. This story from 59 years ago is the reason I like Baseball Digest. I get to learn about people and their story. I will never feel the same about Willie Jones and I like that.