Deacon Jones (infielder) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deacon Jones |
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Jones in 1976
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: April 18, 1934 White Plains, New York |
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| Died: May 7, 2023 (aged 89) | |||
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| debut | |||
| September 8, 1962, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1966, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .286 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 10 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Grover William "Deacon" Jones (born April 18, 1934 – died May 7, 2023) was an American baseball player, coach, and scout. He played as a first baseman and pinch hitter for the Chicago White Sox in Major League Baseball. Even though he didn't play many games in the big leagues, he was known for being an amazing hitter in minor league baseball.
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Deacon Jones's Baseball Journey
Deacon Jones went to Ithaca College before starting his professional baseball career. He was a left-handed batter and threw with his right hand.
Amazing Hitting in Minor Leagues
Jones spent 11 years playing in the minor leagues, which are teams that help players get ready for the Major Leagues. He played from 1955 to 1969, with a few breaks. During this time, he was an incredible hitter.
- He had a batting average of .319. This means he got a hit almost 32% of the times he tried to hit the ball.
- He hit 154 home runs. A home run is when a batter hits the ball out of the field, allowing them to run around all the bases and score a point.
- His slugging percentage was .528. This number shows how powerful a hitter is, considering how many bases they get on their hits.
One of his most impressive achievements was in 1956. Playing for the Dubuque Packers in the Midwest League, he set a record for the highest batting average in a single season. He hit an amazing .409! This means he got a hit more than 40% of the time. In that same season, he also had 135 hits, smashed 26 home runs, and had a .758 slugging percentage.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Deacon Jones played in 40 Major League Baseball games for the Chicago White Sox. He played in 1962, 1963, and again in 1966. In his time in the big leagues, he had 60 chances to bat.
- He had a batting average of .286.
- He got 14 hits in 49 chances to bat.
- He hit one home run. This home run was against pitcher Jim Hannan of the Washington Senators on September 28, 1963.
- He also had 10 runs batted in (RBIs). An RBI is when a player's hit helps a teammate score a run.
After His Playing Days
After he stopped playing baseball, Deacon Jones continued to be involved in the sport. He worked as a scout for the White Sox, looking for new talented players. He also coached and managed minor league teams for them until 1973.
Later, Jones became a coach for two other Major League teams:
- He coached for the Houston Astros from 1976 to 1982.
- He coached for the San Diego Padres from 1984 to 1987.
He also worked with the Baltimore Orioles as a minor league hitting coach. He helped players learn how to hit better.
In his later years, Jones worked as a special assistant for the Sugar Land Skeeters. This team was part of an independent baseball league. When the Skeeters became the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, a Triple-A team for the Houston Astros, he stayed on as a special advisor.
Deacon Jones passed away on May 7, 2023, at the age of 89.
