Jim Bagby, Sr.

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James Charles Jacob Bagby, Sr. (October 5, 1889 - July 28, 1954) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Bagby was the first pitcher to hit a home run in a modern World Series.

[edit] Biography

A native of Barnett, Georgia, Bagby began his playing career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1912. His pitching records that year were not impressive, so the Reds let him go. He returned to major league baseball with the Cleveland Indians in 1916. Bagby posted 23 wins in 1917, following with 17 wins the next two campaigns.

The 1920 Indians team was powered with stars such as Tris Speaker, Stan Coveleski, Ray Caldwell, minor-league call-up Duster Mails, Bagby, Charlie Jamieson and Elmer Smith. On September 1 of that year, Bagby made one of his few relief appearances, blowing a late Indians lead and losing to the Detroit Tigers, five runs to four in ten innings. The next day, however, Bagby won his 31st game of the season, defeating the Tigers 10-1 in a game that clinched the American League's pennant for the Indians. It is worth noting that, in almost a century since that game was played, only three other pitchers (Dizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, and Denny McLain) have collected 30 victories in one season.

On October 10, Bagby's turn to make World Series history came. It was a game filled with World Series firsts, as Elmer Smith became the first player in the Series history to hit a grand slam in the game's first inning. During the game's third inning, Bagby came at bat with two men on bases, hitting the first home run by a pitcher in modern World Series history. Later on, another Bagsby's teammates, Bill Wambsganss, turned out to be the first unassisted triple play in WS history.

Before the 1923 season Bagby was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He retired at the end of the season.

In a nine-season career, Bagby posted a 127-87 record with 450 strikeouts and a 3.10 ERA in 1821.2 innings pitched. In World Series play, he had an 1-1 record with an ERA of 1.80.

Bagby participated as a member of the Indians organization on the July 17, 1941 game where Joe DiMaggio's game hitting streak was halted at 56. His son, Jim Bagby, Jr., was also a major leaguer who played for the Red Sox, Indians and Pirates. The Bagbys became the first father and son to pitch in the World Series when Jim Jr. appeared for the 1946 Red Sox.

Jim Bagby died in Marietta, Georgia at age 64.