 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Jim Bagby Sr." – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Jim Bagby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1889-10-05)October 5, 1889 Barnett, Georgia, U.S. | |
| Died: July 28, 1954(1954-07-28) (aged 64) Marietta, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Both Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1912, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 7, 1923, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 127–89 |
| Earned run average | 3.11 |
| Strikeouts | 450 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
James Charles Jacob Bagby Sr. (October 5, 1889 – July 28, 1954) was an American right-handedstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball. Bagby was the first pitcher to hit ahome run in a modernWorld Series, and one of the last pitchers to win over 30 games in one season (31–12 in 1920).
A native ofBarnett, Georgia, Bagby began his playing career with theCincinnati Reds in1912. His pitching records that year were not impressive, so the Reds let him go. He returned to major league baseball with theCleveland Indians in1916. Bagby posted 23 wins in1917, following with 17 wins the next two campaigns.
The1920 Indians team was powered with stars such asTris Speaker,Stan Coveleski andRay Caldwell, and minor-league call-upDuster Mails,Charlie Jamieson,Elmer Smith and Bagby. On September 2 of that year, Bagby won his 31st game of the season, defeating the Tigers 10–1 in a game that clinched theAmerican League pennant for the Indians. Since that game was played, only three other pitchers have collected 30 victories in one season:Dizzy Dean,Lefty Grove andDenny McLain.
On October 10, Bagby's turn to make World Series history came in Game 5. It was a game filled with World Series firsts, asElmer Smith became the first player in the Series history to hit agrand slam in the game's first inning. During the game's fourth inning, Bagby came to bat with two men on bases, hitting the first home run by a pitcher in modern World Series history.[1] The following inning, another of Bagby's teammates,Bill Wambsganss, turned in the firstunassisted triple play in World Series history.
In 1921, it was Bagby's pitch thatBabe Ruth hit as his record-breaking 120th home run.[2]
Before the1923 season Bagby was traded to thePittsburgh Pirates. He retired at the end of the season.[3]
In a nine-season career, Bagby posted a 127–89 record with 450strikeouts and a 3.11ERA in 1821.2innings pitched. In World Series play, he had a 1–1 record with an ERA of 1.80.
Bagby was a good hitting pitcher in the majors, posting a .218batting average (144-for-660) with 69runs, 35doubles, 6triples, 2home runs, 60RBI and drawing 32bases on balls.
Baseball historiansBill James andRob Neyer have ranked Bagby'sscrewball the ninth-best of all time.[4]
His son,Jim Bagby Jr., was also a major leaguer who played for theRed Sox, Indians and Pirates. The Bagbys became the first father and son to pitch in the World Series when Jim Jr. appeared for the1946 Red Sox.
Jim Bagby died inMarietta, Georgia at age 64.[5] He was survived by his son Jim Jr. and two daughters, Mabel Moore and Elizabeth (Betty) Fincher.
· Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac,SABR Biography Project article, orRetrosheet, orThe Deadball Era
Media related toJim Bagby Sr. at Wikimedia Commons