Monday, May 8, 2023 9:29 PM
Sugar Land, Texas (KTRK) – Deacon Jones, former hitting coach for the Houston Astros and Sugar Land Space Cowboys special assistant, has died. He was 89 years old.
The above video is live 24/7 on ABC13.
Jones began his professional baseball career with the Chicago White Sox organization, working his way through the minor league ranks until he made his Major League Baseball debut on September 8, 1962.
From 1976 to 1982, he was the hitting coach for the Astros, and from 1984 to 1987, he was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. He eventually became a forward scout with the White Sox, a position he held from 1988 until 2008.
Tyler Stamm, general manager of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, described Jones’ influence with the club known as the Skeeters.
“Deacon was an invaluable part of our organization and a close friend to every member of the Sugar Land front office and community. We have lost a pillar of our organization and a dear friend who is wholly responsible for all of us being here. Without Deacon Jones, there would be no Sugar Land franchise,” Stamm said.
Jones constantly spent his time looking around Fort Bend and nearby Houston areas to see if fans had visited the stadium.
Jones’ jersey #4 was recognized by Sugar Land as the first jersey retired from the franchise on August 4, 2019. Plans for a memorial to remember Deacon’s life and legacy are in the works.
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