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Including The First African-American Major League Baseball Player To Throw a No-Hitter

This 1951 team photograph of the San Diego Padres, part of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), captures a roster featuring several players who spent time in Major League Baseball (MLB) or had notable careers in the minors. The team was part of a strong tradition in the PCL, which was seen as a major league equivalent for players on the West Coast before MLB expanded. Let's focus on the players and coaches with major league experience, emphasizing their MLB careers and significant achievements.

Sam Jones

Sam Jones (1925–1971), also known as "Toothpick Sam," is one of the most prominent players in this photo. Jones began his professional baseball career in the Negro Leagues, a path many African American players followed before the integration of Major League Baseball.   The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues states that Sam played for the Homestead Grays in 1946. This has been repeated elsewhere — but various articles in the Oakland Tribune show that from April until at least mid-July 1946, he was pitching for the Oakland Larks of the West Coast Baseball Association. This short-lived Negro League folded during its first season. Its president was Harlem Globetrotters impresario Abe Saperstein, and its vice president was the great Olympic track star Jesse Owens.

Jones played for the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1947 and 1948, where he first made his mark as a power pitcher. In the 1947 season, Jones helped lead the Buckeyes to the Negro American League pennant and pitched against the New York Cubans in the 1947 Negro World Series. In the offseason, Jones was active in the Caribbean winter leagues, including Panama, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.  

In 1949, after the Negro National League had disbanded, Jones briefly played for the Kansas City Royals, a barnstorming Negro League team managed by Satchel Paige.  Following his time with the Royals, Jones signed with the Rochester Royals of the Southern Minnesota League in 1949, where he dominated, winning 10 games and throwing a no-hitter.

Jones' success in the Negro Leagues and Caribbean leagues caught the attention of MLB scouts. By late 1949, he signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. Sam Jones played for the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League during the 1950 and 1951 seasons, where he continued to refine his powerful fastball and curveball. In 1951, he posted an impressive 16-13 record with a 2.76 ERA, leading the league with 246 strikeouts, which further propelled him toward his eventual success in Major League Baseball. Jones finally got his first taste of the major leagues in 1951 with the Cleveland Indians, and from there, he moved on to a successful MLB career.

 Sam Jones had a standout career in Major League Baseball, spanning from 1951 to 1964, known for his overpowering fastball and devastating curveball. He became the first African American pitcher to throw a no-hitter, accomplishing the feat in 1955 with the Chicago Cubs. Jones led the National League in strikeouts three times (1955, 1956, 1958) and was an All-Star in 1955 and 1959. His best season came in 1959 when he won 21 games for the San Francisco Giants, led the league with a 2.83 ERA, and earned National League Pitcher of the Year honors. Throughout his career, he pitched for teams like the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, and Detroit Tigers, and finished with 102 wins, 1,376 strikeouts, and a 3.59 ERA.

Jimmie Reese

Jimmie Reese (1901–1994), seen in the middle row, enjoyed a long career in baseball, including as a second baseman in the majors with the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. However, Reese is best known for his decades-long career as a coach, most famously with the California Angels, where he worked well into his 80s. 

Whitey Wietelmann

Whitey Wietelmann (1919–2002), seated in the front row, was a utility infielder and a coach. He played in MLB for the Boston Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1940s. Wietelmann transitioned into coaching, remaining in professional baseball for many years, particularly in the minors and eventually with the San Diego Padres’ organization after their entry into the majors in 1969.

Del Baker (Manager)

Del Baker (1892–1973), the team’s manager, standing on the far right, was a well-respected figure in baseball. Baker had previously managed the Detroit Tigers from 1938 to 1942, leading them to the American League pennant in 1940. 

Hal Naragon

Hal Naragon (1928–2019), seated in the front row, went on to have a solid career as a catcher in MLB. He played for the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Senators from 1951 to 1962, and later became a coach.  

Jack Tobin

Jack Tobin (1892–1969), seated in the middle row, had a long and successful MLB career as an outfielder. He played for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, and Boston Red Sox from 1914 to 1927. Tobin was a solid hitter, finishing his MLB career with a .309 batting average, including several .300+ seasons in the 1920s.

Red Embree

Red Embree (1917–1996), standing in the middle row, pitched in the majors from 1941 to 1949, primarily with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Embree was a dependable left-handed pitcher during his career and later transitioned to coaching roles, including time with minor league teams.

PCL Padres

The 1951 San Diego Padres played in an era when the Pacific Coast League was known for its high level of competition, often viewed as a "third major league" prior to MLB expansion. Many players used the PCL as a stepping stone to longer careers in the majors, while others enjoyed long and successful careers within the league itself. This photograph reflects the talent that passed through the PCL, with many of the players gaining recognition for their skills both in the minors and majors.