Home / News / A ‘dream come true:’ Orioles outfielder Adam Jones serves as AHL penalty box attendant (Video)

A ‘dream come true:’ Orioles outfielder Adam Jones serves as AHL penalty box attendant (Video)

By Ian Oland

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January 21, 2017 6:32 pm

Friday night in San Diego, Adam Jones began his new career in hockey. The Baltimore Orioles’ five-time all-star signed a one-day contract with the San Diego Gulls and served as a penalty box attendant.

Jones — wearing a suit and a blue and orange tie — kept track of and recorded all penalties, opened and closed the penalty box doors allowing players to enter and exit, and provided referees with official game pucks (and of course Gatorade when they were thirsty).

“This is a life long mission of mine,” Jones said to MLB.com. “Might be an awesome retirement gig. Now that would be epic.”

Judging by the video below, it appears Jones was very successful.

Video

Jones also signed autographs for fans on the concourse and posed for pictures.

“I went to my first (Gulls) game when I was 14 and just liked it,” Jones said to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Ivan Carter. “It’s something different — obviously not what I grew up with where I came up but we did play roller hockey. I just took a liking to it as a fan. Fast-forward 17 years and I’ve been to a lot of NHL games. During spring training, I go support the Tampa Bay Lightning, and I support the (Washington) Capitals when we’re back home in Baltimore. I just like the sport. I appreciate those guys out there busting their tales and grinding it out like we do.”

Jones explained that the whole night came about after winning an auction for one of the player’s jerseys on November 12th. After meeting Gulls winger Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Jones proposed his idea to the front office staff. He wanted to work in the penalty box.

“That’s where you go after trying to knock somebody’s head off,” Jones said. “In baseball, I can charge the mound and fight, but we get a suspension and big fine. That’s what I like about hockey: the degree of difficulty, trying to put that little puck in that net is like us trying to hit a fastball. It’s fast, physical and just fun to watch.”

Jones’ offseason home is in La Jolla, California, and is a Gulls season-ticket holder. Sunday, he is holding a free baseball clinic at Morse High School where and batted .406 as a senior in 2003.

Photo: @SDGullsAHL

Headline photo: @TheAHL

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