James Dalton Jones (born December 10, 1943) is a former Major League Baseball player who played nine seasons in the big leagues for the Boston Red Sox (–), Detroit Tigers (–), and Texas Rangers (1972). Biography Born in McComb, Mississippi, Jones was principally a utility infielder and pinch-hitter. He played 262 games at second base, 186 at third base, 158 at 1st base, 18 in the outfield, and 1 at shortstop. In 907 major league games, he compiled a .235 batting average with 548 hits, 268 runs scored, 237 runs batted in, 91 doubles, 19 triples, 41 home runs, and 20 stolen bases. Jones was a highly recruited prospect while playing at Baton Rouge High School. To gain the edge in recruiting, the Red Sox involved Jones' boyhood hero Ted Williams in the effort, and Jones ended up signing with Boston. The Red Sox Dalton played for the Red Sox from 1964 to 1969. He had his best season in 1967, the Red Sox "Impossible Dream" season. Dalton led the American League with 13 pinch hits and had a career-high .289 batting average. He also had several key hits for the Red Sox during the pennant drive. On September 18, 1967, he hit a 10th-inning home run in Detroit to beat the Tigers. In the last two games of the season, Jones went 3-for-5 and scored the game-winning run in the final regular season game. Jones also gave a tremendous performance in the 1967 World Series. He was Boston's starting third baseman in Games 1–4 and served as a pinch hitter in two other games. He was 7-for-18 with a .389 batting average and .421 on-base percentage in the World Series—second only to Carl Yastrzemski (who hit .400 for the Series) among the Red Sox. Detroit Tigers Jones was traded to the Detroit Tigers before the 1970 season. He played two seasons with the Tigers. On July 9, 1970, Jones hit a towering fly ball into the right field upper deck in Detroit with the bases loaded. What should have been a grand slam ended up being a three-RBI single, as Jones passed teammate Don Wert between first and second base. Jones was called out but the three baserunners scored. Interviewed in July 2006, Jones blamed Wert for the embarrassing incident that Jones is now best remembered for. The ball was a towering fly ball, which may or may not