Rangers promote Oklahoman to Drillers manager's job

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- James Byrd, a manager with Single-A Charlotte, has been promoted to succeed longtime Tulsa Drillers manager Bobby Jones. <br><br>Jones, Tulsa's winningest manager with 496 victories

Tuesday, May 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- James Byrd, a manager with Single-A Charlotte, has been promoted to succeed longtime Tulsa Drillers manager Bobby Jones.

Jones, Tulsa's winningest manager with 496 victories in more than seven seasons, was called up on an interim basis last week by the Texas Rangers. His appointment to the coaching staff was made permanent Monday.

Byrd, 31, is a Lawton High School graduate and two-time All-American at Seminole Junior College. He has a record of 242-193 in five seasons as a manager in the Rangers' system.

Byrd has been at Charlotte since 1998. He guided Tulsa during a portion of spring training during the past two years. At Charlotte, he managed all but four of the players who are on Tulsa's roster.

"We're looking forward to getting to know James better and getting to work with him," said Chuck Lamson, Drillers executive vice president and general manager.

"He does have big shoes to fill because there's no one like Bobby Jones."

Byrd was an infielder for the Boston Red Sox organization from 1988-94 and appeared in two major league games in 1993. He finished his playing career in the Texas League with El Paso in 1994 and spent 1995 as a Drillers' coach.