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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Baseman | ||
| Born: April 23, 1900 | ||
| Died: December 11 1959 (aged 59) | 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 | 1422 | |
| Teams | ||
|
As Player
As Manager
| ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
| ||
| Member of the National | ||
| Image:Empty Star.svg Baseball Hall of Fame Image:Empty Star.svg | ||
| 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.
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.
[edit] See also
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- 20-20-20 club
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball RBI Records
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- Hitting for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Baseball-reference.com – Major league career managerial statistics
- baseballhalloffame.org – Hall of Fame biography page
- The Deadball Era
| Accomplishments | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Baltimore Orioles managers |
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Milwaukee Brewers (1901) St. Louis Browns (1902–1953) Baltimore Orioles (1954–present) |
St. Louis Cardinals 1926 World Series roster |
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| Grover Cleveland Alexander | Hi Bell | Les Bell | Jim Bottomley | Taylor Douthit | Jake Flowers | Chick Hafey | Jesse Haines | Bill Hallahan | Wattie Holm | Rogers Hornsby | Vic Keen | Bob O'Farrell | Art Reinhart | Flint Rhem | Bill Sherdel | Billy Southworth | Tommy Thevenow | Specs Toporczer Manager: Rogers Hornsby |
St. Louis Cardinals 1931 World Series roster |
|---|
| Sparky Adams | Ray Blades | Jim Bottomley | Ripper Collins | Paul Derringer | Jake Flowers | Frankie Frisch | Charlie Gilbert | Burleigh Grimes | Chick Hafey | Bill Hallahan | Andy High | Syl Johnson | Jim Lindsey | Gus Mancuso | Pepper Martin | Ernie Orsatti | Flint Rhem | Wally Roettger | George Watkins | Jimme Wilson Manager: Gabby Street |
Categories: Major league players from Illinois | Baseball Hall of Fame | Baseball player-managers | Cincinnati Reds players | St. Louis Browns players | St. Louis Cardinals players | St. Louis Browns managers | Major league first basemen | National League home run champions | National League RBI champions | 1900 births | 1959 deaths | Baseball players who have hit for the cycle | People from Franklin County, Missouri
