In 1976, at age 19, Ruppert Jones made it to the big leagues with the AL West champion Kansas City Royals. In his second major league game, Jones went two-for-five with three RBIs in an 8–3 Royals win over the White Sox.
But, in 1977, the American League was due to expand by two franchises. One in Seattle, the other in Toronto.
Jones made history as the first-ever player selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 1976 Expansion Draft.
After Mariners co-owner Danny Kaye—yes, that Danny Kaye—made the selection to grab Jones, the then-manager of the Royals, Whitey Herzog, was asked about his now-former ballplayer.
Jones is "a good prospect. We hated to lose him. We were short a player in August and called him up and he did a good job for us. He's a player of great potential, but if he stayed in our organization, we'd have to assign him to [Triple-A] Omaha. He was one of the top three prospects in our organization."
High praise from the White Rat.
In Seattle, though, Jones became more than just a player for the newly formed franchise—he was a symbol of hope and potential.
And while Jones never achieved superstar status, he once reflected back upon his career:
“I was never the biggest, fastest, strongest or the best. But I was tough and I was resilient.”
During his early years in Seattle, Jones's skills flourished as he became a two-time American League All-Star, earning admiration from fans for his consistency and unwavering work ethic.
Jones brought energy to the ballpark, thrilling crowds with both his power as a hitter and his range in center field.
While his time in Seattle defined the beginning of his career, the contributions Jones made extended beyond the Pacific Northwest. He played a year for the Yankees and then was traded to San Diego and played for the Padres for three seasons.
Yet, while playing with the Tigers in 1984—his only year in Detroit—Jones achieved the ultimate dream of any ballplayer: Winning the World Series.
But, Ruppert Jones wasn’t just a legend on the field. In the late-1980s, after three seasons playing for the California Angels (and a good run in the 1986 AL Championship Series), he became ensconced as a hero. Digitally.
For, Jones became a beloved figure for a certain brand of "gamers" worldwide as a standout player in the classic Nintendo video game R.B.I. Baseball. To fans of the legendary game, Jones’s digital prowess turned him into an enduring virtual hero and he is generally considered one of the Top Ten R.B.I. players in the game.
Jones’s story is a reminder that greatness comes in many forms. He may not have been the flashiest or most physically dominant player, but his toughness and resilience left an unforgettable impact on baseball. His ability to overcome injuries and setbacks for the better part of his career demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the sport and his craft.
The R.B.I. programmers must have loved Ruppert because of that. All the R.B.I. fans sure do.
Nevertheless, the journey of Ruppert Jones is an inspiration not only to baseball fans but to anyone who values hard work and determination. The tale of his career reminds us that greatness is within reach for those who persevere, no matter the odds, while his legacy is a testament to the power of resilience in the pursuit of excellence.
In other words, Ruppert Jones was a prime example of what we call mental toughness.
For more on mental toughness, I wrote a short e-book the other day called Mental Toughness – Mastering Resilience for Success. It won't magically imbue you with all the pop from the left side of the plate like Ruppert Jones, but it provides a framework and some strategies to increase your own mental toughness.
And it's a small investment. Currently only 379 pennies:
As always,
Brian
