Padres will hold celebration of life for Randy Jones later this month

The Padres will host a celebration of life for former NL Cy Young winner Randy Jones on Jan. 24 at Petco Park.

The program starts at 11 a.m. and will include current and former Padres, team executives, family members and special speakers. Free, digital tickets can be claimed at padres.com/events.

The home plate gate will open at 10 a.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Free parking will also be available in neighboring Padres-controlled lots, including the Lexus Premier Lot, Tailgate Lot and Padres Parkade.

Jones died Nov. 18. The longtime Poway and Escondido resident was 75.

A Fullerton native, Jones attended Brea Olinda High School and Chapman College before the Padres took him in the fifth round of the 1972 amateur draft. Jones, then 23, debuted for the Padres on June 16, 1973, against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

The team’s first true superstar, Jones won the 1976 NL Cy Young Award, was the first Padres player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and set the single-season franchise record for starts (40), complete games (25) and innings (315⅓). Among Jones’ claims to fame: He got the final out for the 1975 National League All-Star team, then started the next year’s game for the N.L.

Jones worked on Padres broadcasts, ran Randy Jones’ BBQ at both Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park, and was a staple in the community as a Padres ambassador until his passing. He spent his final years as de facto commissioner of Padres fantasy camp, held every January in Peoria, Ariz.

The Padres retired Jones’ No. 35 jersey after his career was over. The number remains on display at Petco Park’s Home Plate Gate.

“Crossing paths with RJ and talking baseball or life was a joy for everyone fortunate enough to spend time with him. Randy was committed to San Diego, the Padres, and his family.  He was a giant in our lives and our franchise history,” the Padres said in December.