{{Short description|American baseball player and World War II flying ace (1920–2000)}} {{about|the American first baseman|the English footballer|Jake Jones (footballer)|the American basketball player|Jake Jones (basketball)|the Welsh snooker player|Jak Jones}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Refimprove|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Jake Jones | image = Jake Jones Red Sox.jpg | position = First baseman | birth_date = {{Birth date|1920|11|23}} | birth_place = Epps, Louisiana, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2000|12|13|1920|11|23}} | death_place = Epps, Louisiana, U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = September 20 | debutyear = 1941 | debutteam = Chicago White Sox |finalleague = MLB | finaldate = September 19 | finalyear = 1948 | finalteam = Boston Red Sox |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .229 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 23 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 117 | teams = *Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1941}}–{{mlby|1942}}, {{mlby|1946}}–{{mlby|1947}}) *Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|1947}}–{{mlby|1948}}) }} '''James Murrell''' '''"Jake"''' '''Jones''' (November 23, 1920 – December 13, 2000) was an American professional baseball first baseman in Major League Baseball who played between {{mlby|1941}} and {{mlby|1948}} for the Chicago White Sox (1941–42, 1946–47) and Boston Red Sox (1947–48). Listed at 6'3", 197 lb., Jones batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Epps, Louisiana.
==Career== Jones was a highly decorated World War II veteran. He played 10 games in the American League for Chicago, in part of two seasons, before enlisting in the United States Navy right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He joined the service on June 30, 1942, becoming an aviator. In November 1943, he was assigned as a fighter pilot on the USS Yorktown (CV-10), flying Grumman F6F Hellcat.
Between November and December 1944, Jones destroyed two Japanese A6M Zero fighters and damaged another. On February 1, 1945, he shot down another three Zeroes while serving on a mission at northeast of Tokyo, to give him five confirmed victories. A day later, he destroyed other Zero and a Nakajima Ki-43. Then, on February 25 he received a half-share of a probable Ki-43.
Jones was awarded the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals.
Following his service discharge, Jones returned to play for Chicago in 1946. During the 1947 midseason he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Rudy York, batting a combined .237 with 19 home runs and 96 RBI that season. He hit .200 in 36 games for Boston in 1948, his last major league season, and finished his baseball career in 1949, dividing his playing time between the Texas League and American Association.
Jones died in his hometown of Epps, Louisiana at age 80.
==References== *[http://www.baseballinwartime.co.uk/ Baseball in Wartime]
==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=j/jonesja03}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Jake}} Category:Boston Red Sox players Category:Chicago White Sox players Category:Major League Baseball first basemen Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Recipients of the Silver Star Category:Baseball players from Louisiana Category:People from West Carroll Parish, Louisiana Category:1920 births Category:2000 deaths Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II Category:United States Navy officers Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:American World War II flying aces Category:San Antonio Missions players Category:Monroe White Sox players Category:Shreveport Sports players Category:Louisville Colonels (minor league) players Category:20th-century American sportsmen