The details
Jones, whose full name is Grover Williams Jones Jr., passed away in May 2023 at 89 years old. He was an ambassador for Sugar Land dating back to before the team was established in 2012, according to an April 17 news release from the Minor League Baseball team.
His memorial at the Sugar Land stadium features a stone and a large bed of flowers with a gravel baseball diamond set underneath.
As a former Major League Baseball player and hitting coach for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres, Jones helped bring baseball to Sugar Land and is one of just two people with his number retired by Sugar Land, per the release.
Space Cowboys General Manager Tyler Stamm, Reverend Craig Taylor, Space Cowboys' staff and members of the Jones' family gathered to share remarks during an unveiling ceremony.
Career history
Jones began his his baseball career in the White Sox organization, climbing through the ranks of their minor league team before debuting with Chicago on Sept. 8, 1962, according to a May 2023 news release from the team. He appeared in 40 MLB games between 1962-66, and joined the Houston Astros as the teams' hitting coach from 1976-82.
Per the release, Jones was essential in building the Sugar Land minor league team, consistently out in the Fort Bend County and Greater Houston areas scouting for fans to come to Constellation Field. For his impact on the Sugar Land franchise, Jones' jersey was the first to be retired by the team in August 2019.
- 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land
- www.milb.com/sugar-land
