There were two baseball players who used the handle "Sad Sam" Jones. On numerous occasions I've seen the autograph of one mistaken for the other. Hope this thread informs and sets the record straight.
They played in different decades , both had something in common they were both pitchers and both pitched no hitters.
SAMUEL POND JONES Began his major league career in 1914. He had his most memorable season in 1923 when he pitched a No-Hit game , finishing the season with a 21-8 record and 3.63 era while helping to lead the Yankees to their first World Championship. He died in 1966
SAMUEL JONES also known as "Sad Sam" or "Toothpick Sam" was an African American who began his baseball career in the Negro Leagues. His first major league season was 1951. On May 3rd 1952 while pitching for Cleveland with catcher Quincy Trouppe behind the plate they became the first black battery in the history of the American League. Jones would make history again when in 1955 he became the FIRST African American to pitch a No-Hitter. He died in 1971 of cancer at the age of 45
From an autograph collecting point of view the difference is dramatic. The 1920's era "Sad Sam" Jones is a relatively inexpensive and easy autograph to find , He had a long career and lived well into old age. Autographed 3x5's like the one illustrated here (The one with the salutation SINCERELY) sell for anywhere from $50.00-$75.00
The "other" Sad Sam Jones Illustrated here (With the salutation BEST WISHES) is a difficult and challenging autograph to obtain. This one is a government postcard postmarked May 19th, 1952. He could be moody and was not always a willing signer during his career which lasted into the early 1960's. That combined with his death at a young age. Makes his autograph at least 4 to 6 times as valuable and as RARE as that of his counterpart from three decades prior.
The difference in signatures is evident. Know what you are buying. Best wishes in your collecting pursuits
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Jim Stinson Sports Buying and Selling vintage Baseball autographs for over three decades. 19th Century and dead ball era my specialty
jim@stinsonsports.com