Joe Cannon (baseball) facts for kids

Joseph Jerome Cannon (born July 13, 1953) is an American who used to play professional baseball. He was an outfielder, which is a player who catches balls hit far into the field. Joe Cannon played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for a few years.

He was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and grew up in Maryland. Joe Cannon was a talented player, chosen early in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. This draft is how professional teams pick new players.

Joe Cannon's Baseball Career

Joe Cannon played for two different teams in Major League Baseball. He started with the Houston Astros. Later, he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was part of these teams for four seasons.

Playing Days in the Majors

As an outfielder, Joe Cannon helped his teams by catching fly balls and making plays in the field. He also tried to hit the ball well. During his time in the major leagues, he hit one home run and had 11 runs batted in (RBIs). An RBI means he helped a teammate score a run.

His baseball cards often showed his name as "J.J. Cannon."

After Playing: Coaching and Mentoring

After he stopped playing baseball, Joe Cannon wanted to stay involved in the sport. He became a coach and manager for Minor league baseball teams. Minor league teams are where players develop their skills before reaching the major leagues.

Coaching Success

Joe Cannon coached and managed for 11 seasons. He worked with teams connected to the Toronto, Atlanta, and Houston baseball organizations. One of his big achievements was leading the Lexington Legends to win their first championship. This happened in 2001, which was the team's very first year!

Helping Young People

From 2007 to 2009, Joe Cannon was a field coach for the Frederick Keys. This team is part of the Baltimore Orioles organization. Later, in 2015, he started working at a group home in Kentucky. There, he helped and guided teenage boys. This shows he cares about helping young people grow and succeed.