Bob Jones (outfielder)
Encyclopedia
Robert Oliver Jones is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors from until . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons
in and . He is currently the manager
of the Round Rock Express
.
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 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 season, and he signed with the Chunichi Dragons
, for whom he played two seasons as well. He returned to the Rangers in , and finished his major league career with them in 1986.
Since his retirement, Jones has continued to be employed within the Rangers organization. His managing career began in with the Charlotte Rangers
. He managed the team to the Florida State League
championship in . He also won a league championship with the Tulsa Drillers
. Other than and , when he was a coach for the big-league club, Jones has managed at some level of the Rangers' farm system. In , 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 , , , 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."
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He played all or part of nine seasons in the majors from until . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
in and . He is currently the manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
.
Jones was drafted by the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 36th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
. He spent the next seven seasons with the organization, during which time they became the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, and debuted in the major leagues with them. During the season, the Rangers waived him, and he was claimed by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, for whom he played two seasons. He was released by the Angels before the season, and he signed with the Chunichi Dragons
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and 2007 Asia Series.-History:...
, for whom he played two seasons as well. He returned to the Rangers in , and finished his major league career with them in 1986.
Since his retirement, Jones has continued to be employed within the Rangers organization. His managing career began in with the Charlotte Rangers
Charlotte Rangers
The Charlotte Rangers, based in Port Charlotte, Florida, were an American minor league baseball team that existed from 1987 through 2002. The team played at Charlotte County Stadium as a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, who at the time made their spring training base in...
. He managed the team to the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
championship in . He also won a league championship with the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
. Other than and , when he was a coach for the big-league club, Jones has managed at some level of the Rangers' farm system. In , 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 , , , and 2008, and the American Conference title in 2008. He was also presented the 2008 Mike Coolbaugh Award
Mike Coolbaugh Award
The Mike Coolbaugh Award is presented annually by Minor League Baseball . The award, first given in 2008, is presented to a MiLB figure who has shown an "outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field."The award was developed to honor Mike...
for "outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field."