Darryl Jones, a four-year starter at shortstop for the Titans, led the team with a .406 batting average in 1972, the same year he was selected by the New York Yankees in the fifth round (110th pick overall) of the Major League Baseball draft. After seven years in the Yankee farm system, Jones made his MLB debut on June 6, 1979 against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium, and was part of a lineup that included such household names as Willie Randolph, Bucky Dent, Craig Nettles, Lou Piniella, Ron Guidry, and Jones' favorite teammate of all time, Thurman Munson. Jones delivered his first big league hit in his debut, a double off of Jerry Koosman.
After injuries cut Jones' career short, he returned to Crawford County and embarked on a successful career as a State Farm agent in Conneaut Lake, a position he held until his retirement in the summer of 2017. Upon his return to the Meadville area, Jones served as head coach of the French Creek Valley American Legion baseball program, and guided the team to 10 district championships in 18 seasons. Jones is currently a volunteer coach for Allegheny College’s baseball team, a position he has held since 2013.
A native of Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania, Jones graduated from Linesville High School, and went on to earn a degree in communications from Westminster.
Jones and his wife, Gina, reside in Meadville, Pa., and are the proud parents of daughter Leah, who was a four-year volleyball letterwinner at Slippery Rock University, and led the Rock in kills in each of her final three seasons with the program.
