Jim Oglesby
From BR Bullpen
James Dorn Oglesby
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut April 14, 1936
- Final Game April 17, 1936
- Born August 10, 1905 in Schofield, MO USA
- Died September 1, 1955 in Tulsa, OK USA
[edit] Biographical Information
In 1926, Left-handed first baseman Jim Oglesby started out what would turn out to be a long run in professional baseball. When the young man suited up with the Okmulgee Drillers of the class C Western Association, it was the beginning of a 17-year run as a player and four more as a manager.
It would take Jim eleven years, playing in eight leagues with nine different teams to get a chance to play in the major leagues. His major league career consisted of three games with the 1930 Philadelphia Athletics. A spiking injury curtailed his stay with the A’s, and he soon found himself on his way back to the minor leagues. Jim appeared in three games, had eleven trips to the plate and picked up two base hits for a .182 batting average for Philadelphia.
After several more years in the minors, six to be exact, he retired as an active player in 1942. At this point in time, Jim had played 17 years of pro ball, 1926 through 1942, in 12 leagues with 14 different teams. The first baseman had appeared in 2,304 contests, survived 8,798 trips to the plate, had 2,782 base hits, which included 517 doubles, 123 triples and 178 home runs for a career .316 batting average. His best season appears to be in 1935 with the Los Angeles Angels of the PCL when he had 678 at-bats with 237 base hits, including 24 home runs and hit for a .350 average.
After a short vacation from the diamond, Oglesby returned to become manager of the Sioux Falls Canaries in 1947 and 1948 and the Janesville Cubs in 1949. He took over the helm of the Miami Eagles of the KOM League in 1950. After leaving baseball, he became a security guard for the Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Tulsa, OK. By 1955 he was suffering from ill health and depression. He took his own life on September 1, 1955 at the age of 50.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
SABR MILB Database:page
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Sioux Falls Canaries | Northern League | 75-43 | 2nd | Chicago Cubs | League Champs | |
| 1948 | Sioux Falls Canaries | Northern League | 45-75 | 7th | Chicago Cubs | ||
| 1949 | Janesville Cubs | Wisconsin State League | 50-75 | 8th | Chicago Cubs | -- | replaced by Michael Frederick |
| 1950 | Miami Eagles | K-O-M League | 62-60 | 5th | none | -- | replaced Jack Hodge May 23 / replaced by Pug Griffin July 6 |
