Joseph Henry "Joe" Tanner (November 16, 1931 – April 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball player, coach, and farm system instructor spanning over 50 years. After a standout season hitting at Jones Junior College, Tanner played one year for the Texas Longhorns baseball team, making it to 1952 College World Series. Tanner signed with the Boston Red Sox in 1953, playing just 25 games for the Red Sox’ Triple-A Louisville Colonels, before he spent the next two years in the US Army as an infantryman, returning to baseball for spring training in 1955. From 1955 to 1958, Tanner played for the Red Sox’ Double A and Triple A affiliates. In 1959, Tanner signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization where he played his final three professional seasons at Triple-A, before a back injury en