Padres Announce Unfortunate News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Nov 19, 2025 11:11 AM ET

It is a sad day for any longtime San Diego Padres fan. The franchise lost an old star, a legend in team history.

The Padres announced Wednesday that Randy Jones, the left-hander who won the 1976 National League Cy Young Award and helped lift the expansion franchise into respectability, died. He was 75.

Jones — whose low, sinking fastball, ability to change speeds and relentless control earned him the nickname "Junkman" — became the face of the Padres in the mid-1970s. He finished with 100 major-league wins and a 3.42 career ERA across 10 seasons with San Diego and the New York Mets.

With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones. Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise. The CY Young Award winner, Padres Hall of Famer, and tremendous community ambassador, was a giant in our lives and will be greatly… pic.twitter.com/AwXWb92aCD
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) November 19, 2025

In 1976, Jones posted career highs that still sit among Padres single-season records with 22 wins, 315 1/3 innings pitched, 40 starts and 25 complete games. He was a National League All-Star in 1975 and 1976. Jones remains the franchise's career leader in games started (253), innings pitched (1,766), complete games (71) and shutouts (18).

"With deep sorrow and heavy hearts, the Padres mourn the passing of our beloved left-hander, Randy Jones," San Diego posted on X. "Randy was a cornerstone of our franchise. The CY Young Award winner, Padres Hall of Famer, and tremendous community ambassador, was a giant in our lives and will be greatly missed."

Former San Diego Padres players (from left) Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield and Randy Jones are recognized during a retirement ceremony.© Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Jones’ rise was not without struggle. A nerve injury late in the 1976 season required surgery and helped derail a peak that might otherwise have lasted longer.

After his playing days, he remained a San Diego fixture, running restaurants and charitable events, including a run/walk that raised money for local causes. He also battled and beat throat cancer in 2017, a fight he publicly linked to long-term tobacco use.

Jones made pitching look like art, relying on placement and movement for his ground balls. He is definitely a golden name in the franchise's history books.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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