Seattle made Jones the first player selected in the 1976 expansion draft, which created the Mariners and Blue Jays. A lefthanded hitter with good speed early in his career, Jones hit 24 home runs in Seattle’s inaugural season and 21 in 1979, then was traded away to become an extra outfielder and spare bat for several other teams. With the Angels in 1985, he slugged 21 home runs in only 389 at-bats. Jones holds the Mariner record for most runs scored in a season (109 in 1979) and is tied for club records for runs and walks in a single game. Against Detroit on May 16, 1978, Jones tied a major league record for most putouts by an outfielder in an extra-inning game. Jones was a favorite with Seattle fans, and after being traded he was still greeted with cries of “Rupe! Rupe!” when he visited the Kingdome.
