Jimmy Outlaw

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jimmy Outlaw autograph on a 1988 Play Ball card reprint (#155)

James Paulus Outlaw (January 20, 1913 - April 9, 2006) was an American outfielder and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Beginning his career in 1937, Outlaw also played for the Cincinnati Reds (1937-1938) and Boston Bees (1939) before retiring in and 1949. He batted and threw right-handed.

A native of Orme, Tennessee, Outlaw attended Auburn University, where he played baseball, and started his major league career with the Reds in 1937 as a third baseman. Basically a contact hitter, he lacked power but posted acceptable averages for a 5' 8", 168 lb infielder. On the field, he had good hands and a strong arm.

Before the 1939 season Outlaw was part of successive trades between the Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Bees. In 1940, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League purchased his contract from Boston.

Outlaw returned to the majors in 1943 with the Detroit Tigers as an outfielder, hitting .269 in 20 games. His most productive season came in 1944, his first full season, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.273), runs (69) hits (146), doubles (20), triples (6), home runs (3) and RBI (57), appearing in 137 games in the three outfield positions and leading the American League outfielders with 14 assists.

In 1945, Outlaw started as the Tigers' primary left fielder, hitting .271 in 132 games. Though he played just 21 games at third base, he started all seven World Series games there so that slugger Hank Greenberg, just back from World War II, could play left field. After that, Outlaw played a valuable utility role for Detroit before retiring.

In a 10-season major league career, Outlaw was a .268 hitter with six home runs and 57 RBI in 650 games.

Following his playing career, Outlaw worked for the Dairy Fresh Milk Co. in Jackson, Alabama, and became an active member in community services.

Outlaw died in Jackson, Alabama, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest living Tigers player, behind Eddie Mayo (April 15, 1910) and Elden Auker (September 21, 1910).