Jim Bottomley
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James Leroy Bottomley (April 23, 1900 - December 11, 1959), nicknamed "Sunny Jim", 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.
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| Jim Bottomley is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
Bottomley's best season came in 1928, when he hit .325 with 31 home runs and 136 RBIs. 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 set the Major League record for RBIs in a single game, with 12, set on September 16, 1924 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.
"Sunny Jim" Bottomley was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously in 1974.
[edit] External links
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis
- The Deadball Era
| Preceded by Rogers Hornsby |
National League RBI Champion 1926 |
Succeeded by Paul Waner |
| Preceded by Cy Williams & Hack Wilson |
National League Home Run Champion 1928 (with Hack Wilson) |
Succeeded by Chuck Klein |
| Preceded by Paul Waner |
National League RBI Champion 1928 |
Succeeded by Hack Wilson |
| Preceded by Rogers Hornsby |
St. Louis Browns Manager 1937 |
Succeeded by 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 Sullivan, Missouri
