Quad City Hitmen Baseball Hall of Fame

2008 Inductee - Allen "AJ" Jones

March 29, 2008, as read by Patrick Rangel, Executive Director, Quad City Hitmen Baseball Association -

A.J. is in his 18th season being of service to the Quad City Hitmen Baseball organization. " In 1991, he accepted a coach's position where he assisted my brother, Brian Rangel. Together they formed the Happy Joes Hitmen.

In 1992, A.J. helped establish the Hitmen 8U Coach Pitch tournament which is now named the Brian P. Rangel Memorial Coach Pitch tournament. This is the oldest and largest 8U tournament in the Quad Cities, now hosting nearly 30 teams each year.

In 1993, A.J. traveled with the 9-year-old Hitmen to Little Rock, Arkansas where they finished 2nd in the consolation Championship in the AAU National tournament. This event established the Hitmen as an independent travel team.

In 1996, when my brother passed away, A.J.'s persistence and energy played an integral part in the renovation and completion of the Brian P. Rangel Field of Dreams. Through A.J.'s hard work, the Quad City Hitmen now had a place to call home that enabled the Hitmen to expand to 7 teams. " That same year, A.J. continued to serve as an assistant coach for the 13U team, on which his son and Jordan Rangel (Brian's son) played. A.J.'s commitment to that team and to my brother's dream led to the Quad City Hitmen's first National Title in West Virginia.

Over the years that followed, A.J. consistently and constantly donated his time, resources, and energy for many of our teams; serving as a coach, mentor, teacher confidant, and most importantly a friend…making a significant impact on all those players with whom he has come in contact with. There is not a team hear today that has not been impacted by A.J.

In recent years, A.J. has devoted himself to the promotion of independent baseball in the Quad Cities by denoting his money, his time, and his days to the development, completion, and continuation of the WBSA complex. We are all indebted to A.J. for his selfless and unwavering commitment to youth baseball in the Quad Cities.

When some of our current 13-year olds needed a coach when they were 8, it was A.J. that stepped in. When our 2004 10-year-old team lost their coaching staff and all but three players just a few months before the season, it was A.J. that answered the call and provided a memorable season for the kids…as a few of our 14-year-olds will remember with much gratitude. And when I asked A.J. to assist me with our 2008 8U team, he enthusiastically accepted the challenge, only to ask him to take on the 13U coaching responsibilities along side Jordan Rangel; a player he once coached, helped mold into a talented baseball player, and helped though one of the most tragic events a 12-year-old boy should never have to endure…the loss of a father, and the loss of his friend.

On behalf of the Quad City Hitmen Baseball Association, the Coaches and players, it is my pleasure to welcome AJ Jones into the Quad City Hitmen Hall of Fame.

Return to Main Hall of Fame Page