Bobby Jones (outfielder)

Bobby Jones
Jones as manager for the Oklahoma City RedHawks, Triple-A affiliates of the Texas Rangers, in 2010.
Texas Rangers – No. 47
Outfielder/Coach
Born: (1949-10-11) October 11, 1949 Elkton, Maryland
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
October 1, 1974, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
July 5, 1986, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average	.221
Home runs	20
Runs batted in	86
Teams
Texas Rangers (1974–1975) California Angels (1976–1977) Chunichi Dragons (1979–1980) (NPB) Texas Rangers (1981, 1983–1986)

Robert Oliver Jones (born October 11, 1949 in Elkton, Maryland) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors from 1974 until 1986. He also played two seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 1979 and 1980. In November 2013, Bobby Jones became a coach for the Texas Rangers.

Playing career

Jones was drafted by the Washington Senators in the 36th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent the next seven seasons with the organization, during which time they became the Texas Rangers, and debuted in the major leagues with them. During the 1976 season, the Rangers waived him, and he was claimed by the California Angels, for whom he played two seasons. He was released by the Angels before the 1979 season, and he signed with the Chunichi Dragons, for whom he played two seasons as well. He returned to the Rangers in 1981, and finished his major league career with them in 1986.

Coaching/managerial career

Since his retirement, Jones has continued to be employed within the Rangers organization. His managing career began in 1988 with the Charlotte Rangers. He managed the team to the Florida State League championship in 1989. He also won a league championship with the Tulsa Drillers (1998). Other than 2001 and 2006, when he was a coach for the big-league club, Jones has managed at some level of the Rangers' farm system. In 2008, he managed the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Jones is the 89ers/RedHawks franchise's winningest manager (568 wins through 2008) and is the Rangers' all-time minor league leader with 1,285 victories (through 2008). He led the RedHawks to the division title in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2008, and the American Conference title in 2008. He was also presented the 2008 Mike Coolbaugh Award for "outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field."^[1]

Military career

Jones served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and reached the rank of corporal. He earned a Bronze Star in February 1971, but did not receive the award until September 2014.^[2]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)