Jim Bunning

From BR Bullpen

James Paul David Bunning

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
• School Xavier University
• Debut July 20, 1955
• Final Game September 3, 1971
• Born October 23, 1931 in Southgate, KY USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1996

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[edit] Biographical Information

First Baseball Card appearance: 1957 Topps

Pitcher Jim Bunning found success with two major league clubs as well as away from the diamond, being elected to several political offices. Through 2008 he is the only Hall of Fame player to also serve as a Congressman.

Bunning began his big league career with the Detroit Tigers, playing nine seasons with them. He won 20 games for Detroit in 1957 and threw a no-hitter on July 20, 1958 against the Boston Red Sox. Overall, he was an All-Star five times with the Tigers.

After the 1963 season, Bunning was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He won 19 games in three of his four seasons there and earned two more All-Star Game appearances. He also threw a perfect game on June 21, 1964, against the New York Mets (box score). He later played briefly with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers before ending his career back with the Phillies.

In addition to throwing a no-hitter in both leagues, Bunning was the second pitcher in history (Cy Young was the first) to record 1000 strikeouts and 100 wins in both the American League and the National League. When he retired in 1971, Bunning was second on the all time strikeout list to Walter Johnson.

After his playing career, Bunning managed the Reading Phillies (1972), Eugene Emeralds (1973), Toledo Mud Hens (1974-1975) and Oklahoma City 89ers (1976).

Bunning then returned to his home state of Kentucky and entered politics. He served on the City Council of Fort Thomas, Kentucky from 1977 to 1979 and was elected to the Kentucky State Senate in 1979. After serving there for four years, he moved on to the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999. In 1999, he was elected to the United States Senate, and he won reelection in 2005. In 2009, Bunning announced he would not seek a third term, claiming other Republicans were interfering with his fundraising.

Bunning is one of three Baseball Hall of Famers to serve in Congress, the others being Happy Chandler and Morgan Bulkeley. Among those three, Bunning is the only former player.

[edit] Notable Achievements

• 7-time All-Star (1957, 1959, 1961-1964 & 1966)
• AL Wins Leader (1957)
• 2-time League Innings Pitched Leader (1957/AL & 1967/NL)
• 3-time League Strikeouts Leader (1959/AL, 1960/AL & 1967/NL)
• 2-time NL Shutouts Leader (1966 & 1967)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 8 (1957, 1959, 1961, 1962 & 1964-1967)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1957)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 13 (1957-1967, 1969 & 1970)
• 300 innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1966 & 1967)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 6 (1959, 1960 & 1964-1967)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1996

[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record

[edit] Further Reading

• Jim Bunning (as told to Allen Lewis): "The Game I'll Never Forget," Baseball Digest (December 1972), pp. 89-91

[edit] Related Sites

• Congressional Biography for Jim Bunning
• Senator Jim Bunning