Jim Busby
From BR Bullpen
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
- School Texas Christian University
- Debut April 23, 1950
- Final Game July 8, 1962
- Born January 8, 1927 in Kenedy, TX USA
- Died July 8, 1996 in Augusta, GA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Outfielder Jim Busby was best known for his speed and defense during a 13 year big league career.
Busby served three years in the Army during World War II and attended Texas Christian University, where he played football and baseball. On the gridiron, he played quarterback in the 1945 Cotton Bowl, while on the diamond, he led the Southwest Conference with a .509 average as a junior. After signing with the Chicago White Sox, he made his debut with Waterloo White Hawks of the Three-I League on June 25, 1948 and notched five hits in his first two games. He reached the majors in 1950, appearing in 18 games for the Sox.
In his first full big league season of 1951, Busby hit .283 with 68 RBIs and 26 stolen bases to earn a spot on the American League All-Star team. However, early the following year he was traded to the Washington Senators for Sam Mele. He had his finest season in 1953, hitting .312 with 82 RBIs, and followed it up with a .298 average and 80 runs driven in the next year. In June 1955, he was traded back to the Sox, who sent him to the Cleveland Indians for Larry Doby after the season.
Busby only hit .235 with the Indians in 1956 but had a career-best 12 homers that year. On July 5th and 6th, he became the fourth American League player to hit grand slams in back-to-back games. He ended his playing career with stints with the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox and as an original member of the expansion Houston Colt .45s. In the later days of his career, he was a player/coach for Baltimore and Houston
After his major league playing ended, Busby was a coach with the Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, and Seattle Mariners and managed the Caracas Metropolitanos franchise in 1979 Inter-American League. He died of a heart attack at age 69.
Busby was the fourth cousin of Kansas City Royals pitcher Steve Busby.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (1951)
