| Jim Rooker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1942-09-23)September 23, 1942 (age 83) Lakeview, Oregon, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 30, 1968, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 2, 1980, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 103–109 |
| Earned run average | 3.46 |
| Strikeouts | 976 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
James Phillip Rooker (born September 23, 1942) is an American formerMajor League Baseballpitcher andbroadcaster.
A left-hander, Rooker pitched for theDetroit Tigers (1968),Kansas City Royals (1969–1973) andPittsburgh Pirates (1974–1980).
Signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers, Rooker spent seven years in the Detroitfarm system until he debuted in1968, pitching 42⁄3 innings in two games inrelief. After being selected by the Kansas City Royals in theOctober 1968 expansion draft he made the starting rotation. In1969 he won only four games against 16 losses; however, in one of the losses, on July 7 against theMinnesota Twins, he became the first Royal to hit two home runs in one game. Both home runs were offJim Kaat.
Rooker improved his record to 10–15 in1970; one of the losses came in a 12-inning game against theNew York Yankees on June 4 afterHorace Clarke broke up[1] Rooker's bid for ano-hitter leading off the ninth with a single then came around to score after aBobby Murcer double. After winning only seven games against 13 losses over the next two seasons Rooker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates forGene Garber.[2]
Rooker enjoyed his best seasons in Pittsburgh, posting a 10–6 record in1973 and a 15–11 record with a 2.78earned run average in1974. The wins and ERA were a career best, as was hisstrikeout total (139). The Pirates won theNational League East title the latter year, and Rooker pitched in Game 2 of the1974 National League Championship Series against theLos Angeles Dodgers. He gave up two runs in seven innings but was not involved in the decision; the Dodgers won the game, then went on to win the series. In1975 Rooker went 13–11 with a 2.97 ERA as the Pirates won the NL East title again; once again, however, the Pirates were defeated in the1975 National League Championship Series, this time by theCincinnati Reds. In game 2 of that series Rooker gave up four runs in as many innings, including a two-run home run toTony Pérez in the first inning.
The Pirates did not win the NL East title in1976 or1977 (thePhiladelphia Phillies won it in both seasons), but Rooker maintained his consistency during those two seasons, with a 15–8 and 14–9 record respectively. At the end of September in 1977, he broke his arm in a car accident.[3][4] In1978 he slumped to 9–11 and his ERA rose to 4.24—the highest it had been since 4.38 in1972.
Rooker won the1979 World Series with the Pirates. His career nearing the end, Rooker posted a 4–7 record in the regular season as a spot starter. Starting game 5 of the World Series with the Pirates trailing theBaltimore Orioles three games to one, Rooker gave up one run in five innings and left the game trailing by that 1–0 score. Pittsburgh rallied to score seven runs over the next three innings and got four shutout innings fromBert Blyleven to win the game 7–1, then won the next two games to take the Series.
In his career Rooker won 103 games against 109 losses, with 976 strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA in 18101⁄3innings pitched.
A good hitting pitcher in his career, Rooker compiled a .201batting average (122-for-606) with 54runs, sevenhome runs and 56RBI. In 1969 he hit four home runs for the Royals and in 1970 had 13 RBI. In 1974, he hit .305 (29-for-95) for the Pirates.
After his playing career, Rooker, well known for speaking his mind as a player, joined the Pirates’ radio and television broadcast team, with whom he worked as acolor analyst from 1981 (one year after he retired) through 1993. He also worked forESPN from 1994 to 1997.
Rooker's most famous moment as a broadcaster came on June 8, 1989, during a Pirates’ road game against thePhiladelphia Phillies atVeterans Stadium. The Pirates scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, including three on aBarry Bonds home run. As the Pirates'cross-state rivals came to bat in the bottom of the first, Rooker said on the air, "If we don't win this one, I don't think I'd want to be on that plane ride home. Matter of fact, if we lose this game, I'll walk back to Pittsburgh." BothVon Hayes andSteve Jeltz hit two home runs (the latter would hit only five during his Major League career) to trigger a Phillies comeback. In the eighth inning the Phillies, now trailing only 11–10, scored the tying run on a wild pitch, then took the lead onDarren Daulton's two-run single and went on to win 15–11. Rooker had to wait until after the season to make good on his "walk home" promise, conducting a 300-mile-plus (480 km) charity walk fromPhiladelphia toPittsburgh.[5] The entire event was documented byJon Bois and Alex Rubenstein ofSecret Base in 2022.[6]
Rooker loves dogs and is an avid dog trainer.[citation needed]
Rooker went intopolitics after his baseball career. He ran for thePennsylvania House of Representatives as well as theUnited States Congress, but lost both races.[7]
Rooker writeschildren's literature. He has written three books with plots that combine reading and baseball. The books are titledPaul the Baseball,Matt the Batt, andKitt the Mitt, and were published byMascot Books in September 2009.[citation needed]
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