Pro Sports

Todd Jones had simple dreams for his baseball career.

"All I wanted was one day in the big leagues and a baseball card," he said.

He got all that and a great deal more — 16 seasons, eight major league franchises and 319 saves. Today, at age 40, he'll announce his official retirement from baseball at a press conference in Detroit.

Jones, a career relief pitcher, former Jacksonville State hurler and resident of nearby Pell City, logged eight of his 16 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and will go down as the all-time saves leader in franchise history.

"I'm very honored and thank God first and foremost for the opportunity to play for 8 teams over 15 years," he said Tuesday. "I've had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people along the way, travel and see so many wonderful things. I'm just thankful to have been a part of the major leagues."

Jones, a native of Marietta, Ga., has traveled all over the majors during his 16-year career. Drafted out of high school by the Mets and then by Houston after his time at JSU, Jones became the school's second MLB baseball player when he was called up to pitch for the Astros making his debut in Chicago.

Jones later dotted major league rosters Detroit, Minnesota, Colorado, Boston, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Florida, before finally signing with the Tigers again as a free agent in the summer of 2006.

Gamecock Hall of Fame baseball coach Rudy Abbott saw Jones pitch his first major league game and will be on hand if Jones is called on this weekend in Detroit.

"I knew he had a chance," Abbott said of Jones' success in the majors, "but you just don't ever really know.

"... Todd figured out how to get guys out. Some never do, but he did, and that's why he had the career he did."

Jones, with his trusty slider, proved himself to be one of the more durable arms in the majors, with only three trips to the disabled list during his career. He pitched more than 60 games in 11 different seasons, and had six seasons with at least 30 saves. He retires as the Tigers' career leader in saves, with 235 in his two stints with the club.

Jones began the 2008 season as the Tigers' closer, pitching 412/3 innings with a 4.97 ERA and 18 saves, before being stripped of his role by manager Jim Leyland. He finished his season on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.

Jones came to Jacksonville State in the 1987 season and played for two more before heading off to the majors. While with the Gamecocks, Jones helped lead the team to back-to-back appearances at the Division II World Series, setting the stage for the team's back-to-back championships in 1990 and 1991.

"As good of a ballplayer as he was," Abbott said, "he's every bit as good of a person."

Jones is one of only three Jacksonville State pitchers to ever earn a major league call-up alongside Tim Van Egmond and Bill White. Jones not only pitched in the majors, but in the pinnacles of baseball, too — the All-Star game (2000) and World Series (2006), both with the Tigers. He was the 21st member of the 300 saves club.

"My whole life thus far for the most part has been about me or my arm," Jones said. "Now I want to focus on people and family that have supported me for all this time."

Star Sports Editor Bran Strickland contributed to this report.