Bobby Jones (outfielder)


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. 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 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 and is the Rangers' all-time minor league leader with 1,285 victories. 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. From December 1969 to February 1971, he was in Vietnam at Firebase Siberia, where he eventually reached the rank of Corporal and earned the Bronze Star Medal in February 1971. He had the medal officially presented to him by a senior military officer in a pregame Patriots Day ceremony on 11 September 2014 at Globe Life Park while he served as Assistant Hitting Coach with the Texas Rangers.