Jim Command

From BR Bullpen

James Dalton Command (Igor or Gor)

Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.

Debut June 20, 1954
Final Game September 20, 1955
Born October 15, 1928 in Grand Rapids, MI USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Jim Command, nicknamed "Igor", was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947 to a contract that a newspaper said made him one the highest paid first-year class B players in the country. He was farmed to Terre Haute of the Three-I League, the same league his father, John "Ike" Command played in 35 years earlier. The elder Command had also been a golden gloves boxer.

Command was a third baseman in the majors for the Phillies in 1954 and 1955. His first hit was a grand slam home run, hit at Ebbets Field off Carl Erskine in the first game of a doubleheader. The homer drove in Earl Torgeson, Granny Hamner and Del Ennis. He also started the second game, doubling in two more runs and accounting for all of his major league RBI.

Command played catcher for the Omaha Cardinals in 1957 where he was teammates with Tom Cheney and Bob Gibson.

In 1996, Command was inducted alongside Gerald Ford into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.