Jack Bolling
From BR Bullpen
John Edward Bolling
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 168 lb.
- School University of Alabama
- Debut June 10, 1939
- Final Game September 20, 1944
- Born February 20, 1917 in Mobile, AL USA
- Died April 13, 1998 in Panama City, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
In 1936 the Cincinnati Reds signed Jack Bolling to a free agent contract and sent the 19 year old first baseman to the class D DeLand Reds for his first look at pro baseball. He played in 116 games and hit .317 and finished up the late part of the season with the class B Macon Peaches hitting .359.
He was back with the Macon Peaches in 1937 for the full season and busted it for a .343 batting average. The Atlanta Crackers would get him in 1938 where he again hit well, hitting .319. Jack got in 48 games for the 1939 Atlanta team and they sold him to the Philadelphia Phillies on June 9, 1939 for Jennings Poindexter and cash.
Jack finished out the season with the Phillies,hitting .289 in 69 games. On April 2, 1940 he was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Phillies and played with both the AA Columbus Red Birds and the AA Sacramento Solons but not up to his previous credentials. Hitting at about a .220 clip at both spots for the year.
From 1941 through 1943 he had good years in the high minors and the Brooklyn Dodgers bought him from the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1944 season and he got in 56 games, hitting .351 before the United States Military called for him and he spent the rest of the season in the Armed Services, making it back just in time for the 1946 season.
The Dodgers sent him to the Mobile Bears in the Southern Association where he appeared in 111 games, hitting .284 but Jack chose not to continue in professional baseball after the 1946 season. Jack had been in professional baseball from 1936 through 1946.
In Bollings short time in the majors, just 125 games with 342 at bats and 107 base hits, he managed a .313 hitting average. The minors showed considerbly more activity, he appeared in 1,084 games with 3,977 at bats and 1,212 base hits for a .304 average. Jack was just a few months short of his 30th birtday when he decided to pursue another liivelihood.
Jack was the Uncle of Milt and Frank Bolling both who were major league infielders. Milt was active from 1948 through 1958 and Frank from 1954 through 1966.
Jack was retired and living in Panama City, FL when he died on April 13, 1998 at 81 years of age.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
