With a strong showing in September 1883, he helped the Athletics win the American Association pennant by one game over the St. Louis Browns.

His delivery drew ridicule and laughter among spectators, caused confusion among batters and made Jones "the twirling marvel of his time.

[4] Jones also played on the Yale Bulldogs baseball team for four years, and his teammates there included Allen Hubbard.

Hubbard was the catcher and Jones a pitcher on the 1882 and 1883 Yale teams that won Intercollegiate Baseball Association championships.

[3][5] Jones and Hubbard were part of a "coterie" at Yale that included a young Walter Camp, who later became known as the "Father of American Football."

Jones, Hubbard and Camp all played summer baseball for a local town ball team in Massachusetts known as the Westfield Firemen.

"[11] Another account, published in 1892, observed: "Jumping Jack Jones was the marvel of the age when a pitcher was allowed to indulge in a few jig steps before he delivered the ball.

While he was engaged in the delightful occupation of unjointing himself the frightened batsman was not sure whether the ball or an arm or a leg was coming over the plate.

"[12] Even before graduating from Yale, Jones began playing professional baseball in 1883 for the Toledo Blue Stockings in the Northwestern League.

[2] Jones' contributions late in the season helped the Athletics edge the St. Louis Browns by one game in a close race for the 1883 American Association pennant.

[2] In early October, The Sporting Life reported that "Jumping Jack Jones will return to Yale College this week.