Bobby Jones (outfielder)

Bobby Jones (outfielder)
Robert Oliver Jones (born October 11, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. 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 . In November 2013, Bobby Jones became a coach for the Texas Rangers.
Early life
Jones graduated from Elkton High School where he starred on the varsity baseball team that won 26 consecutive games spread over two seasons in 1966 and 1967.
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 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.
Coaching/managerial career
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."
Military career
Jones is one of the few baseball players who served on active duty in the United States Army in the Vietnam Era. He was stationed in Vietnam at Firebase Siberia From December 1969 to February 1971. He attained the rank of Sergeant and was section chief of a M102 howitzer group which was constantly under fire. He sustained permanent hearing loss in his right ear as a result of his tour of duty. He earned in February 1971 the Bronze Star Medal which was officially presented to him by a senior military officer in a pregame Patriot Day ceremony on September 11, 2014 at Globe Life Park while he served as Assistant Hitting Coach with the Texas Rangers.
References
External links
1949 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Japan
Anderson Senators players
Baseball players from Maryland
Burlington Senators players
California Angels players
Chunichi Dragons players
Denver Bears players
Fort Myers Sun Sox players
Geneva Senators players
Major League Baseball first base coaches
Major League Baseball outfielders
Major League Baseball third base coaches
Minor league baseball managers
Oklahoma City 89ers players
Sacramento Solons players
Salisbury Senators players
Salt Lake City Gulls players
Shelby Senators players
Spokane Indians players
Texas Rangers coaches
Texas Rangers players
Tulsa Drillers players
Wichita Aeros players
United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
People from Elkton, Maryland