Former All-Star pitcher Joey Jay passed away last month at age 89, according to an obituary from a Florida funeral home. A 6’4″ right-hander, he pitched 13 seasons in the big leagues.
A native of Middletown, Connecticut, Jay signed with the Milwaukee Braves for a $20K bonus in 1953. Under the so-called “bonus baby” rules of the time, a player who signed for more than $4K could not be assigned to the minor leagues. Jay therefore jumped right to the majors as a 17-year-old for the 1953 season. He remarkably tossed 10 scoreless innings in an abbreviated stint. He only made 15 appearances the following year, struggling to a 6.50 ERA across 18 innings in his age-18 season.
After two seasons in the majors, Milwaukee was able to assign Jay to the minors. He wouldn’t make a permanent return to the big leagues until 1958, his age-22 campaign. Jay pitched well in a swing role over the next three years. His career really took off when he was dealt to the Reds as part of a package for Gold Glove shortstop Roy McMillan during the 1960-61 offseason.
Cincinnati plugged Jay into the rotation. He seized on his first permanent rotation spot, working to a 3.53 ERA over 247 1/3 innings covering 34 starts. He led the National League with 21 wins and four shutouts among his 14 complete games. Jay was selected to both All-Star teams in 1961 — MLB had multiple All-Star games for a few years during that time — and finished fifth in NL MVP balloting. Three of the four players above him (Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Vada Pinson and Roberto Clemente) went onto Hall of Fame careers.
The Reds finished 93-61 that season to secure the NL pennant before the introduction of the Championship Series. Cincinnati met the Yankees in the World Series. Jay got the ball in Game 2 and tossed a two-run complete game to get the victory. That’d be the Reds’ only win of the set. Jay was hit hard in the Game 5 clincher, as the Yanks tagged him for four runs without allowing him to escape the first inning.
That season was the highlight of Jay’s career, but he had another productive season in 1962. He again won 21 games with a 3.76 ERA through a personal-high 273 innings. While his production tailed off from there, he remained a fixture of the Cincinnati rotation through ’65. The Reds dealt him back to the Braves, who were playing in Atlanta by that point, midway through 1966. He finished his career with nine appearances there before being released.
Jay ended his playing days with 3.77 ERA in more than 1500 innings. He fell one win shy of the century mark and was one strikeout away from reaching 1000. Jay’s obituary notes that he went on to run companies in West Virginia and Florida during his post-playing days. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
R.I.P. Mr Jay.
I believe he was the first guy to play Little League who made the majors. RIP
You are correct.And I played in the same little league as he did
Sadly, so many little leagues are closing. In San Diego, a big baseball city in terms of raising major Leaguers, a vast majority of the Little leagues have shut down.
MLBTR is a poet and doesn’t know it
Earlier today, Joey Jay passed away.
For most it was, a very sad day.
At a ripe old age, he became a sage,
And in business he made much hay.
A Connecticut boy who found a ball for a toy.., he left the waves for the Braves, but with the Reds he found joy.
When I heard the news it gave me the Blues, but I remembered his name and how he found fame.
He’s passed on now and moved…, to a better place,
So we better pray and be good cuz they say…, “just in case.”
Joey Jay has passed
He had a golden right arm
Then he pitched too much
(A Haiku)
Bummer. J. Jay was dyno-might!
Joey Jay, one of the Reds better pitchers in the 60s. I remember him well. I had a lot of his old baseball cards.
RIP Joey.
“Both All-Star teams” in the same year? How is this possible?
In the early 60s, MLB had two All-Star Games. One in an A.L. park, one in an N.L. park. The revenue was to help the players’ pension fund.
Reading is a skill. It says in the article.
Reading is Fundamental, Inc.
Interesting man. He won the only World Series game for the Reds in ’61.
How about pitching excellent in A ball at age 30 after being a multiple 20 game winner then being unceremoniously released.
I have a gorgeous 1963 Topps PSA graded 8 baseball card of him.
RIP Joey Jay.
RIP Joey…..
Never heard of him… but rip.
As a young boy in the early 60’s at Connie Mack Stadium I dropped (?) a nickel into the Reds bullpen. Joey was kind enough to retrieve it for me. Over sixty years later I still remember his kindness.
RIP Mr. Jay
That’s actually kind of a cool story. A simpler, less chaotic time.
I thought you were going to say, over 60 years later, I still have the nickel !!
Living participants in the 1961 World Series:
Reds — Leo Cardenas, Johnny Edwards, Jim Maloney.
Yankees — Tony Kubek, Bobby Richardson.
On the roster but didn’t play:
Reds — Jay Hook.
Yankees — Al Downing, Rollie Sheldon.
The man pitched 10 scoreless innings in MLB at 17 years old. That’s impressive.
RIP.
Ol time baseball RIP Mr Jay
Vada Pinson SHOULD be in the HOF, but (incredibly) isn’t……
RIP