Tommy Jones | |
---|---|
![]() Jones with the
Calgary Cannons in 1990 | |
Utility player / Manager / First base coach | |
Born: Stockton, California, US | October 13, 1954|
Died: January 15, 2009 Phoenix, Arizona, US | (aged 54)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Teams | |
|
Thomas Michael Jones (October 13, 1954 – January 15, 2009) was an American professional baseball player who later served as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2004. He was also a manager in Minor League Baseball for 13 seasons. As a player, Jones was listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 185 pounds (84 kg); he batted and threw right-handed.
Jones was born in Stockton, California, [1] and played college baseball for the Pacific Tigers baseball team. [2] [3]
Jones played in minor league baseball from 1976 through 1981. [4] His first five seasons were spent in Class A and Class A Short Season leagues. [4] In his final season, he played in Triple-A for the Phoenix Giants of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). [4] Overall, Jones appeared in 223 games in six seasons, batting .258 with eight home runs and 92 RBIs. [4] He made 125 appearances as an outfielder, while also making appearances at every infield position. [4]
Jones then was a manager in the minor leagues from 1982 through 1993, and again in 1997. [4] He worked for multiple franchises: the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs. [4] Jones managed Bo Jackson in 1986, when both were with the Memphis Chicks of the Southern League. [2] Jones managed at the Triple-A level for one season, with the Calgary Cannons of the PCL in 1990. [4] His final season as a manager was spent with the Lethbridge Black Diamonds in Alberta, Canada, [4] an early farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who entered MLB in 1998. In 13 seasons as a manager, his teams accrued a record of 760–768, for a .497 winning percentage. [4] Jones gained Manager of the Year honors during the 1982, 1983, and 1992 seasons. [5]
Jones held several positions with the Diamondbacks; he was director of field operations in 1996 and 1997, [5] and player development director from 1998 to 2004. [6] [5] He served as first base coach for the 2004 Diamondbacks, from early July through the end of the season. [1] In 2005, he was a scout for the Mariners. [5] He later worked as director of baseball operations for the Arizona Fall League during the 2008 season. [6]
Jones died of brain cancer at his Phoenix home at the age of 54. [6] He was survived by a son and a daughter. [6]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)
Tommy Jones | |
---|---|
![]() Jones with the
Calgary Cannons in 1990 | |
Utility player / Manager / First base coach | |
Born: Stockton, California, US | October 13, 1954|
Died: January 15, 2009 Phoenix, Arizona, US | (aged 54)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Teams | |
|
Thomas Michael Jones (October 13, 1954 – January 15, 2009) was an American professional baseball player who later served as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2004. He was also a manager in Minor League Baseball for 13 seasons. As a player, Jones was listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 185 pounds (84 kg); he batted and threw right-handed.
Jones was born in Stockton, California, [1] and played college baseball for the Pacific Tigers baseball team. [2] [3]
Jones played in minor league baseball from 1976 through 1981. [4] His first five seasons were spent in Class A and Class A Short Season leagues. [4] In his final season, he played in Triple-A for the Phoenix Giants of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). [4] Overall, Jones appeared in 223 games in six seasons, batting .258 with eight home runs and 92 RBIs. [4] He made 125 appearances as an outfielder, while also making appearances at every infield position. [4]
Jones then was a manager in the minor leagues from 1982 through 1993, and again in 1997. [4] He worked for multiple franchises: the Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs. [4] Jones managed Bo Jackson in 1986, when both were with the Memphis Chicks of the Southern League. [2] Jones managed at the Triple-A level for one season, with the Calgary Cannons of the PCL in 1990. [4] His final season as a manager was spent with the Lethbridge Black Diamonds in Alberta, Canada, [4] an early farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who entered MLB in 1998. In 13 seasons as a manager, his teams accrued a record of 760–768, for a .497 winning percentage. [4] Jones gained Manager of the Year honors during the 1982, 1983, and 1992 seasons. [5]
Jones held several positions with the Diamondbacks; he was director of field operations in 1996 and 1997, [5] and player development director from 1998 to 2004. [6] [5] He served as first base coach for the 2004 Diamondbacks, from early July through the end of the season. [1] In 2005, he was a scout for the Mariners. [5] He later worked as director of baseball operations for the Arizona Fall League during the 2008 season. [6]
Jones died of brain cancer at his Phoenix home at the age of 54. [6] He was survived by a son and a daughter. [6]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)