When Randy Jones is in the building… people know it. Jones has had a successful career as a former MLB left-handed pitcher, nicknamed 
“Junkman.” Jones was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1972 and stayed there till 1980. His major league records speak for themselves. He holds records for fielding by a NL pitcher and holds several of the Padres pitching records. The Padres retired his #35 in honor of everything he accomplished over his career. His accolades are vast, including 1976 Cy Young Award (22-14, a 2.74 ERA), an All Star game save (1975) and win (1976), the Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year, and Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year.
Jones currently leads the Padres Community Affairs, hosts a radio show before each Padres game, and hosts “Randy Jones on Baseball” online at www.wsradio.com. The Junkman is definitely not serving junk at his San Diego restaurant, called Randy Jones American Sports Grill, just minutes from Qualcomm field and Petco Field. His restaurant is hitting it out of the park with his tasty BBQ topped with Randy Jones Original Baseball Barbeque Sauce.
This All Star has an eye for athletic talent. In our recent interview, the Junkman projected the Giants to win the World Series, and they did just that. Jones said prior to the World Series, “If I had to pick the National League team I’d have to go with the Giants. I think Bruce Bochy, the manager there, has got a bunch of veteran guys, which he really likes to use and they’re clicking on all cylinders right now after beating Cincinnati. Whether it be the Nationals in the National league playoffs, I gotta figure it’s gotta be the Giants and probably the Yankees in the World Series.”
Even more impressive than his records and ability to see athletic talent, is the fact that Jones delivers strike outs off the field by giving back to his community.
Pro Player Insider’s Theresa Villano ran into Randy Jones at The Wounded Marine Fund (Fairway Partner’s) events.
Pro Player Insiders: Randy Jones, tell me a little about why you’re here today.
Randy Jones: Wounded Warriors, and everything that it stands for, especially in San Diego with our military influence in our community. I’ve been here over 35 years and our military’s always been something special as far as the baseball side of my career and being involved with a lot of the military coming to ball games and especially now with everything, with a lot of our soldiers and troops in harm’s way and coming back, and needing our assistance. Whether they’ve been wounded, or traumatized by it. I think a lot of people forget that when these people are deployed for months and months and months and those families are still here at home, the wives and the kids, and they need help as well. I mean, any way we can support these troops, hey you know what, they give their lives for our freedom and I think maybe a lot of people lose sight of that in day to day life, but I myself like to give back and anything I can do to help some of our troops and military people I definitely want to get involved.
PPI: A lot of people relate sports to going to battle, being warriors. What are some similarities and what are some differences?
RJ: I think the one thing you find is that most of us are in pretty good physical shape. You gotta be prepared for that battle, we call it. You understand the middle parts of it, and what it takes mentally to be a professional athlete and I can only imagine what the mentality and mental concentration it takes when your life’s on the line out there, day in and day out. It’s more extreme that way but I understand what it is, It’s to do it day in and day out and not just once a week, but I’m talking about every single day. It’s something you’ve gotta get accustomed to that you want to do, and that’s the key thing. You gotta want to do what you’re doing. These kids, they want to be in the military. They want to represent our country and protect it. And I think it’s very, very special. We’re over here at home, that we give back to them. Acknowledge them when they come home. They need help, hopefully we can raise some money and make a difference in some of these Marines and some of the troops’ lives.
PPI: Which Chargers player right now do you enjoy watching the most?
RJ: Well, you know, obviously being the starting pitcher, Philip Rivers, the quarterback of course, and Matthews the running back. I want to see him (Matthews) get his career established, get it started. Yeah, he’s fumbled the ball a few times and he’s struggled here and there with some injuries, but the young man has a lot of talent, and hopefully he can make in impact on the San Diego Chargers. If it was one guy, I’d probably say Matthews, try to get him healthy and learn the game and I just think he’s got some athletic ability that I would really like to see for the next few years.
PPI Fire Five Q & A : Randy Jones, MLB
1. What is your favorite food?
Barbecue
2. Favorite Charity?
The Wounded Marines
3. Who is your all time favorite baseball player?
Sandy Koufax
4. What NFL player are you rooting for most?
Philip Rivers
5. What is your Go-to slogan to live by?
‘If it was easy, everyone would do it
The Fairway Partners hosted the Wounded Marine Fund Event for more informaton visit www.thefairwaypartners.com Follow @FairwayPartners
– AList Productions Contributed to this interview www.alistproductions.tv/ Follow @AListEventsUSA
