Jim Rivera
From BR Bullpen
Manuel Joseph Rivera (Jungle Jim)
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 196 lb.
- Debut April 15, 1952
- Final Game September 30, 1961
- Born July 22, 1922 in New York, NY USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"When I came up, guys like "Jungle" Jim Rivera took the time to help me. He wasn’t afraid of losing his job. That’s the way we were and it showed in those big, tough games." - Jim Landis
Jungle Jim Rivera was one of the most popular Chicago White Sox players, at a time when the White Sox were consistently good but usually unable to catch the New York Yankees. He played almost his entire major league career with the White Sox, except for parts of his first and last seasons. A quick and aggressive flychaser, he began his career as a center fielder, but played most of his games in right field. As one of the "Go, go Sox" speedsters, he led the league in stolen bases in 1955, and finished second six times. He also led the league in triples in 1953. He appeared in the 1959 World Series, the culmination of a decade of good White Sox teams.
Rivera was 29 when he first broke in, and for his last three seasons, he was one of the oldest players in the league. A couple sources say that he was sentenced to time in prison while serving in the Army, and that apparently led to his late start in professional baseball, at the age of 27. See Coshocton Tribune, 1954 and Pioneros Puertoriquenas en Grandes Ligas and Time Behind Bars.
He was 1951 MVP Pacific Coast League Seattle Rainiers and batting champion as well, for a team managed by Rogers Hornsby.
Jim played in the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League with the Caguas Criollos. He once said that he played baseball ten months a year.
He played in the 1954 Caribbean Series, and was the best hitter with a .450 average.
He managed the Jalisco Charros in the Mexican League in the 1960s.
He has been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
