Vernal Jones--1952
In 1952, the Philadelphia Phillies had two
players by the name of Jones: Willie
“Puddin’ Head” Jones and Vernal “Nippy”
Jones. However, nicknames were really
not needed to differentiate the two.
Puddin Head was the starting third
baseman for the Phils, while Nippy
logged just eight games with
Philadelphia, instead spending most of
his ’52 season with Triple-A Baltimore.
However, one can understand that being
called “Nippy” would be an improvement
over the name Vernal.
Editor’s Note: Nippy’s career highlight
came in his final big league at-bat. Pinch-
hitting for the Braves tin the bottom of
the 10th inning of Game 4 of the ’57
World Series, Jones was “nipped” in the
foot by a pitch. Initially called a “ball,”
Jones argued that he was hit by pointing
out shoe polish on the ball. Awarded first
base by umpire Augie Donatelli, Felix
Mantilla would run for Jones and
ultimately score the tying run on a
double by Johnny Logan. Eddie
Matthews would seal the victory that
inning with a two-run homer for the
Milwaukee Braves, who would eventually
defeat the Yankees in seven games. And
you thought New York’s Cleon Jones
was the original World Series shoe
polish hero in 1969. Vernal would hit .
267 in 412 games for the Cardinals,
Phillies and Braves spread out over parts
of eight big league seasons.
(2/17/11)
players by the name of Jones: Willie
“Puddin’ Head” Jones and Vernal “Nippy”
Jones. However, nicknames were really
not needed to differentiate the two.
Puddin Head was the starting third
baseman for the Phils, while Nippy
logged just eight games with
Philadelphia, instead spending most of
his ’52 season with Triple-A Baltimore.
However, one can understand that being
called “Nippy” would be an improvement
over the name Vernal.
Editor’s Note: Nippy’s career highlight
came in his final big league at-bat. Pinch-
hitting for the Braves tin the bottom of
the 10th inning of Game 4 of the ’57
World Series, Jones was “nipped” in the
foot by a pitch. Initially called a “ball,”
Jones argued that he was hit by pointing
out shoe polish on the ball. Awarded first
base by umpire Augie Donatelli, Felix
Mantilla would run for Jones and
ultimately score the tying run on a
double by Johnny Logan. Eddie
Matthews would seal the victory that
inning with a two-run homer for the
Milwaukee Braves, who would eventually
defeat the Yankees in seven games. And
you thought New York’s Cleon Jones
was the original World Series shoe
polish hero in 1969. Vernal would hit .
267 in 412 games for the Cardinals,
Phillies and Braves spread out over parts
of eight big league seasons.
(2/17/11)
