Jim Bottomley

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This article is about the American baseball player. For other people of this name, see James Bottomley (disambiguation).

Jim Bottomley
Runs batted in
1,422
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction1974
Election methodVeterans Committee

James Leroy Bottomley (April 23, 1900 – December 11, 1959) was an American professional baseball player, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1922 to 1937, most prominently as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals where he helped lead the team to four National League pennants and two World Series titles.

Born in

semi-professional baseball, the Cardinals scouted and signed Bottomley before the 1920 season. He became an integral member of the Cardinals batting order, driving in 100 or more runs batted in between 1924 and 1929 as the team's cleanup hitter. In 1924, he established a major league record for driving in 12 runs in a nine inning game.[1]

In

player-manager
for the Browns in 1937.

After finishing his playing career with the Browns, Bottomley joined the

National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 by the Veterans Committee and to the Cardinals Hall of Fame
in 2014.

Early life

Bottomley was born on April 23, 1900,

railroad clerk. His younger brother, Ralph, died in a mining accident in 1920.[2]

Bottomley also played

semi-professional baseball for several local teams to make additional money, earning $5 a game ($101 in current dollar terms).[2][4] A police officer who knew Branch Rickey, the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, saw Bottomley play, and recommended Bottomley to Rickey.[2]

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

Rickey dispatched

minor league baseball in 1920. That year, Bottomley played for the Mitchell Kernels of the Class-D South Dakota League, posting a .312 batting average in 97 games, as Barrett continued to scout him.[5] He also played six games for the Sioux City Packers of the Class-A Western League. During his time in the minor leagues, the media began to call Bottomley "Sunny Jim", due to his pleasant disposition.[2]

The next season, Bottomley played for the

Syracuse Chiefs of the Class-AA International League for $1,000 ($17,082 in current dollar terms).[6] Fully recovered from his leg injury in 1922, Bottomley batted .348 with 14 home runs, 15 triples, and a .567 slugging percentage for the Chiefs. After the season, the Cardinals purchased Bottomley from the Chiefs for $15,000 ($273,042 in current dollar terms).[2]

Bottomley made his

runs batted in (RBIs) were tenth-best in the league.[7]

Bottomley posted a .316 batting average in 1924.[2] In a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers on September 16, 1924, Bottomley set the major league record for RBIs in a single game, with 12, breaking Wilbert Robinson's record of 11, set in 1892. Robinson was serving as the manager of the Dodgers at the time.[2][8] (Bottomley had two home runs, a double and three singles as he went 6-for-6 at the plate.) This mark has since been tied by Mark Whiten in 1993.[9] As he finished the season with 111 RBIs, placing third in the NL, Bottomley's 14 home runs were seventh-best in the NL, while his .500 slugging percentage was good for tenth.[10] On August 29, Bottomley became the last left-handed player to record an assist while playing second base.[11]

Bottomley hit .367 in 1925, finishing second in the NL to Hornsby. He led the NL with 227 hits, while his 128 RBIs were third-best, and his .413 on-base percentage was seventh-best in the league.[12] Bottomley batted .298 during the 1926 season, with an NL-leading 120 RBIs. His 19 home runs placed second in the NL, behind Hack Wilson's 21, while his .506 slugging percentage was sixth-best.[13] He batted .345 in the 1926 World Series, as the Cardinals defeated the New York Yankees.[2]

In 1927, Bottomley finished the season with 124 RBIs, fourth best in the league, and a .509 slugging percentage, finishing sixth in the NL.[14] Bottomley hit .325 with 31 home runs and 136 RBIs in 1928, leading the league in home runs and RBIs.[15] He also became the second Major League player in history to join the 20–20–20 club, and became the first (since achieved by Jimmy Rollins in 2007) to record a 30 double, 20 triple, 30 home run season.[16] That year, he won the League Award, given to the most valuable player of the NL.[17] The Cardinals reached the 1928 World Series, and Bottomley batted .214 as they lost to the New York Yankees.[18]

In 1929, Bottomley hit 29 home runs, finishing seventh in the NL, while his 137 RBIs were fifth-best, and his .568 slugging percentage placed him in eighth.

at-bats, as the Cardinals lost to the Philadelphia Athletics. Following the series, Bottomley described his World Series performance as "a bust as far as hitting goes".[21][22][23]

Amid questions about Bottomley's status with the Cardinals heading into the 1931 season, he demonstrated renewed hitting ability during spring training.[24] Despite the presence of Ripper Collins, a superior fielder who transferred to the Cardinals from the Rochester Red Wings of the International League, Street announced that Bottomley would remain the starting first baseman.[25] However, Bottomley suffered an injury and struggled early in the 1931 season after returning to the game, and it appeared that he might lose his job to Collins, who filled in for Bottomley during his injury.[26] Bottomley returned to form after his return, and he finished the season with a .3482 batting average, placing third behind teammate Chick Hafey's .3489 and Bill Terry's .3486, the closest batting average finish in MLB history.[2] His .534 slugging percentage was the sixth best in the league.[27] The Cardinals reached the 1931 World Series, with Bottomley batting .160, as the Cardinals defeated the Athletics.[28] That offseason, other teams began to attempt to trade for either Bottomley or Collins.[29] Bottomley batted .296 in 1932, though he played in only 91 games.[2]

Cincinnati Reds

After the 1932 season, the Cardinals traded Bottomley to the Cincinnati Reds for Ownie Carroll and Estel Crabtree, in an attempt to partner Bottomley with Chick Hafey in developing a more potent offensive attack. Bottomley had also sought Cincinnati's managerial position that offseason, which instead went to Donie Bush.[30][31]

Bottomley threatened to quit baseball in a salary dispute with the Reds, as he attempted to negotiate a raise from his $8,000 salary ($188,298 in current dollar terms), a reduction from the $13,000 salary ($290,312 in current dollar terms) he earned with the Cardinals the previous year.[32] He and the Reds eventually came to terms on a one-year contract believed to be worth between $10,000 and $13,000.[33] Bottomley finished eighth in the NL with 83 RBIs in 1933, and ninth with 13 home runs.[34] In three seasons with the Reds, Bottomley failed to hit higher than .283 or record more than 83 RBIs in a season. Bottomley left the Reds during spring training in 1935 due to a salary dispute,[35] deciding to return to the team in April.[36]

St. Louis Browns

Before the 1936 season, the Reds traded Bottomley to the St. Louis Browns of the American League (AL), who were managed by Hornsby, for Johnny Burnett.[37] During a July road trip, Bottomley announced his retirement as a result of an injured back;[38][39] however, he changed his mind and decided to remain with the team.[40] Bottomley batted .298 for the 1936 season.[2]

Bottomley decided to return to baseball in 1937.

win–loss record, the Browns fired Hornsby and named Bottomley their player-manager.[2][42] Bottomley led the Browns to 21 more victories, as the team finished the season in eighth place, with a 46–108 record. The Browns trailed the seventh place Athletics by 9+1⁄2 games, and were 56 games out of first place. As a player, Bottomley batted .239 in 65 games during the 1937 season.[2] Bottomley was among the ten oldest players in the AL that year.[43]

The Browns did not retain Bottomley after the 1937 season,[44] replacing him with Street, who served as his first assistant during the 1937 season.[45] In 1938, Bottomley served as the player-manager of Syracuse. After a bad start to the season, and with team president Jack Corbett not adding capable players, Bottomley resigned and was replaced with Dick Porter.[46] Bottomley also indicated that he did not want to continue playing.[47]

Career statistics

In 1,991 games over 16 seasons, Bottomley posted a .310

bases on balls, .369 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .988 fielding percentage as a first baseman. In 24 World Series games over four Series, he batted just .200 (18-for-90) with one home run and 10 RBI.[48]

Managerial record

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
SLB 1937 77 21 56 .273 8th in AL – – – –
Total 77 21 56 .273 0 0 –

Personal life

Bottomley married Elizabeth "Betty" Browner, who operated a St. Louis

radio broadcaster, signing a deal with KWK, an AM broadcasting station, to broadcast Cardinals and Browns games.[50][51]

Bottomley returned to baseball as a scout for the Cardinals in 1955.

Pulaski Cubs of the Class D Appalachian League. While managing in Pulaski, Bottomley suffered a heart attack. The Bottomleys moved to nearby Sullivan, Missouri.[2] Bottomley died of a heart ailment in December 1959.[54] He and his wife Betty were interred in the International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri.[2]

Honors

Bottomley holds the single-season record for most unassisted double plays by a first baseman, with eight. Bottomley is also known as the only man to be sued for hitting a home run ball that hit a fan. The plaintiff was not looking. He had over 100 RBIs in each season from 1924 to 1929. Bottomley was the second player in baseball history to hit 20 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in one season (Frank Schulte being the first)[55] and the first of two players (Lou Gehrig being the other) to collect 150 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in a career.[56]

Bottomley was elected to the

1976.[59] This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years.[60]

In 2014, the Cardinals announced Bottomley was among 22 former players and personnel to be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum for its inaugural class of 2014.[61]

The city park in his adopted home town of Sullivan, Missouri is named for Bottomley.[2] Also the park in his birthplace Oglesby, Illinois. A museum in Nokomis, Illinois, the Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum, is dedicated to Bottomley and fellow Hall of Famers Ray Schalk and Red Ruffing, who were also Nokomis residents.[2][62]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1924/B09160BRO1924.htm The record has been equaled only once; by Mark Whiten 0/7/93 retrieved August 30, 2015
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Johnson, Bill. "Jim Bottomley". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  3. ^ Bases loaded: Nokomis second to none in baseball history
  4. Toledo Blade. Associated Press
    . December 12, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  5. The News and Courier
    . Charleston, South Carolina. March 22, 1929. p. 8. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Talk To Students Gives Rickey Star First Sacker: Jim Bottomley, Discarded as Failure, Stages Meteoric Comeback to Fame". Ludington Daily News. Associated Press. November 21, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  7. ^ "1923 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  8. ^ "Robinson Looks On As Jim Bottomley Breaks His Record". Hartford Courant. September 17, 1924. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.(subscription required)
  9. ^ Fimrite, Ron (September 20, 1993). "Mark Whiten". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "1924 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  11. ^ Preston, JG (September 6, 2009). "Left-handed throwing second basemen, shortstops and third basemen". prestonjg.wordpress.com. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "1925 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  13. ^ "1926 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "1927 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  15. ^ "1928 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  16. ^ Martell, Matt (December 27, 2022). "Jimmy Rollins Has a Long Way to Go Before He Gets His Hall of Fame Due". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  17. St. Petersburg Times
    . Associated Press. pp. 2–3. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  18. ^ "1928 World Series – New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals (4–0)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  19. ^ "1929 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  20. ^ Street, Gabby (February 17, 1931). "Street, Summing Up Cards' Chances, Believes Bottomley Due For Great Year". Kentucky New Era. p. 4. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  21. ^ "'Sunny Jim' Bottomley Has Unwelcome Record". Hartford Courant. November 16, 1930. p. 7C. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.(subscription required)
  22. ^ Bottomley, Jim (October 9, 1930). "Jim Bottomley Admits He Was Bust In Series: Has No Excuses To Offer for Batting Slump". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Universal Service. p. 18. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  23. ^ "1930 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics over St. Louis Cardinals (4–2)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  24. ^ "Jim Bottomley Regains Old Hitting Form: Veteran to Hold Down First Base For Cards Again". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 23, 1931. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  25. ^ Davis, Ralph (March 27, 1931). "'Sunny Jim' Bottomley Will Remain With Cards As First Baseman". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 47. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  26. ^ "Jim Bottomley Regains Batting Eye on Eastern Trip: Cardinal Star Lands Fourth Place With .338; Davis Continues to Lead National Loop Race With Average of .350". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. August 29, 1931. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ "1931 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  28. ^ "1931 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics (4–3)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  29. ^ "Carey Seeking Jim Bottomley: With Bissonette Injured, Robins Need First-Sacker". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. March 25, 1932. p. 39. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  30. ^ "Jim Bottomley May Be Named Manager Of Reds". Hartford Courant. September 25, 1932. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.(subscription required)
  31. ^ "Jim Bottomley Is Traded To Redlegs by St. Louis: Cincinnati Obtains Cardinal First Sacker in Swap for Owen Carroll and Estil Crabtree". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 18, 1932. p. 1-B. Retrieved May 22, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "Jim Bottomley Threatens To Quit". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. January 31, 1933. p. 28. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  33. ^ "Jim Bottomley Signs One-year Contract With Cincinnati: Yields After 4-Hour Talk With Weil". Rochester Evening Journal. March 3, 1933. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  34. ^ "1933 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  35. ^ "Jim Bottomley Quits the Reds". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. March 30, 1935. p. 2. Retrieved May 22, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ "Jim Bottomley Will Return to Redlegs". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. April 9, 1935. p. 31. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  37. ^ "To Join Browns". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. March 22, 1936. p. 15. Retrieved May 23, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ "Sunny Jim Bottomley Announces His Retirement From Baseball". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. July 18, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved June 4, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ "Checks Out: Jim Bottomley Given Big Cheer Last Time Up". San Jose News. Associated Press. July 17, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  40. ^ "Jim Bottomley to Hold Post". Los Angeles Times. July 22, 1936. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.(subscription required)
  41. ^ "Jim Bottomley Changes Mind About Retiring From Game". Los Angeles Times. January 3, 1937. p. A11. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.(subscription required)
  42. ^ "Hornsby Is Given Air By Barnes: Jim Bottomley Named Acting Manager of Brownies". San Jose News. Associated Press. July 21, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  43. ^ "1937 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  44. ^ "Jim Bottomley Given Release: Popular St. Louis Diamond Performer Loses Job as Browns' Pilot". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. November 20, 1937. p. 16. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  45. ^ "Gabby Street and Jim Bottomley Part Company". The Milwaukee Journal. November 28, 1937. p. 17. Retrieved May 23, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  46. ^ "Jim Bottomley Quits Syracuse Manager Post". Schenectady Gazette. United Press International. May 20, 1938. p. 30. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  47. ^ "Jim Bottomley Resigns As Chiefs' Manager". Meriden Record. Associated Press. May 20, 1938. p. 4. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  48. ^ "Jim Bottomley statistics and history". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  49. ^ ""Sunny Jim" Bottomley Signs Marriage Contract". The Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. February 5, 1933. p. 2. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  50. ^ "Jim Bottomley Gets Job on Radio". Los Angeles Times. April 29, 1939. p. 11. Retrieved September 9, 2012. (subscription required)
  51. ^ "Jim Bottomley Gets Job As Baseball Announcer". Meriden Record. Associated Press. April 29, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  52. ^ "'Sunny Jim' Bottomley To Scout for Cardinals". Hartford Courant. April 21, 1955. p. 16A. Retrieved September 26, 2012. (subscription required)
  53. ^ "Bottomley Joins Chicubs As Scout". The Gadsden Times. Associated Press. January 27, 1957. p. 10. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  54. ^ "Jim Bottomley Dies: Heart Ailment Fatal to Former First Baseman". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 11, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  55. ^ "Granderson joins elite homer-double-triple club, helping Tigers beat Seattle". USA Today. September 7, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  56. ^ "How Jim Bottomley smiled his way to the Hall of Fame". KSDK. August 17, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  57. ^ "Baseball Brouhaha Brewing". The Evening Independent. January 19, 1977. p. 1C. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  58. The San Diego Union Tribune. p. D.1. Archived from the original
    on February 2, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  59. ^ Jaffe, Jay (July 28, 2010). "Prospectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' Committee". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  60. ^ Booth, Clark (August 12, 2010). "The good news: Baseball Hall looking at electoral revamp". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  61. ^ Cardinals Press Release (January 18, 2014). "Cardinals establish Hall of Fame & detail induction process". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  62. ^ Kane, Dave (October 8, 2009). "Town's baseball ties on display at museum". The Register-Mail. Galesburg, Illinois. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.

Further reading

External links

Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
July 15, 1927 		Succeeded by
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