Jim Bottomley

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This article is about the American baseball player. For other people of this name, see James Bottomley.
Jim Bottomley
Jim Bottomley
First baseman
Born: April 23, 1900(1900-04-23)
Oglesby, Illinois
Died: December 11, 1959 (aged 59)
St. Louis, Missouri
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 18, 1922
for the St. Louis Cardinals
Final game
September 16, 1937
for the St. Louis Browns
Career statistics
Batting average     .310
Home runs     219
Runs batted in     1,422
Teams

As Player

As Manager
Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Elected     1974
Election Method     Veteran's Committee

James Leroy Bottomley (April 23, 1900 – December 11, 1959), was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim", he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.

As a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals (1922-1932), Cincinnati Reds (1933-1935) and St. Louis Browns (1936-1937), Bottomley was noted for his upbeat demeanor and ability to drive in runs. He had over 100 RBIs in each season from 1924 to 1929.

Bottomley's best season came in 1928, when he hit .325 with 31 home runs and 136 RBIs. He also became the second Major League player in history to join the 20-20-20 Club. That year, he won the National League Most Valuable Player award and led the Cardinals to the World Series, where they lost to the New York Yankees. He was the first player to win an MVP award after beginning his career in his team's farm system.

He set the Major League record for RBIs in a single game, with 12, set on September 16, 1924 (since tied by Mark Whiten) and holds the single-season record for most unassisted double plays by a first baseman, with eight. "Sunny" is also known as the only man to be sued for hitting a home run when a fan was hit by the ball when he wasn't looking.

After his career ended, Bottomley moved to near Bourbon, Missouri, where he raised hereford cattle. He spent the last years of his life in nearby Sullivan, Missouri, where he and his wife were eventually laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

A museum in Nokomis, Illinois is dedicated to Bottomley and Hall of Famers Ray Schalk and Red Ruffing.

He was the second player in baseball history to hit 20 or more doubles, triples and home runs in one season and the first of two players (Lou Gehrig being the other) to collect 150 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in a career. He is the only player to achieve both.

(Seven players have hit 20 or more 2B, 3B, and home runs in a season. Seven players have hit 150 or more 2B, 3B, and home runs in a career... Jim Bottomley is the only player in both lists.)

"Sunny Jim" Bottomley was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 1974. Sabermetrician Bill James has listed Bottomley as one of ten Hall of Fame inductees who do not deserve the honor.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bill James Answers All Your Baseball Questions, an April 2008 entry from the Freakonomics blog

[edit] External links


v • d • e
St. Louis Cardinals 1926 World Series roster
v • d • e
St. Louis Cardinals 1931 World Series roster
v • d • e
Baltimore Orioles managers

Milwaukee Brewers (1901)
Duffy

St. Louis Browns (1902–1953)
McAleer • O'Connor • Wallace • Stovall • Austin • Rickey • Jones • Austin • Burke • Fohl • Austin • Sisler • Howley • Killefer • Sothoron • Hornsby • Bottomley • Haney • Sewell • Taylor • Ruel • Taylor • Hornsby • Marion

Baltimore Orioles (1954–present)
Dykes • Richards • Harris • Hitchcock • Bauer • Weaver • Altobelli • Weaver • Ripken • Robinson • Oates • Regan • Johnson • Miller • Hargrove • Mazzilli • Perlozzo • Trembley
v • d • e
Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974
BBWAA Vote
Whitey Ford (77.81%) • Mickey Mantle (88.22%)
Veterans Committee
Jim Bottomley • Jocko Conlan • Sam Thompson
Negro League Committee
J. G. Taylor Spink Award
Warren Brown • John Drebinger • John F. Kieran
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