Jim Bunning, Baseball Hall of Famer, passes away

A Baseball Hall of Famer who was elected as a member of the United States Congress and the U.S. Senate after his retirement has passed away.

Former Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers star Jim Bunning passed away today at age 85. The right-hander was one of baseball’s all-time great pitchers.

In 1996, the 224-game winner was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the first to win more than 100 games in both the National and American Leagues. Also, the right-hander was the first to strikeout over 1,000 batters in both.

With the Phillies in 1964, he tossed the seventh Perfect Game in MLB history. It came at Shea Stadium against the host New York Mets. The father of seven children at the time, he appropriately fired the gem on Father’s Day .

Bunning was born on August 23, 1931 in Southgate, Kentucky. He attended high school in Cincinnati and was a star multi-sport athlete. He then attended Xavier University.

BUNNING WITH THE TIGERS

As Ralph Berger wrote for SABR, the Detroit Tigers wanted Bunning. Therefore, the club made a unique arrangement with his parents. The Tigers allowed Bunning to finish school while pitching in the minors.

In May of his freshman year, Detroit Tigers scout Bruce Connatser told Jim’s father that the Tigers were interested. The parents had no objection…but they wanted him to finish college. The Tigers agreed to let Jim finish the spring semester before reporting for baseball. He would miss spring training for the next three years. The club also agreed that his first minor-league team would be Richmond, Indiana…less than an hour from home. The Tigers gave Bunning a $4,000 signing bonus and a $150-a-month salary. With the bonus, he bought an engagement ring for Mary Theis. She was his childhood sweetheart. Under contract to a professional baseball team, his basketball scholarship at Xavier was canceled. His parents paid for the balance of his college education.

Bunning would go 118-87 over parts of nine seasons with Detroit. He tossed his first career no-hitter in 1958 for the Tigers against the Boston Red Sox. Bunning won 17 games for a 101-win Detroit team in 1961. That Tigers club finished second in the American League pennant race.

BUNNING WITH THE PHILLIES

In December of 1963, Bunning was traded by the Tigers to the Philadelphia Phillies along with catcher Gus Triandos. Detroit received outfielder Don Demeter and pitcher Jack Hamilton.

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The righty would put together an 89-73 mark over six seasons in Philadelphia. He won 19 games for the Phillies ill-fated 1964 team which collapsed down the stretch.

He was a 5x AL all-star with Detroit and a 2x NL all-star with the Phillies. Furthermore, he was the 1967 National League Cy Young Award runner-up. The award was voted that year to Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants.

He led the American League in strikeouts in both 1959 and 1960, and his 253 punch-outs in 1967 while with the Phillies led all of baseball. Bunning recorded 2,855 strikeouts over the course of his big league career.

In December of 1967, Bunning was dealt by the Phillies to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Coming to the Phils were pitcher Woodie Fryman, infielder Don Money, and two others.

RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA

Bunning pitched during the 1968 and 1969 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers. Finally, he returned to the Phillies as a free agent in December 1969.

Bunning pitched in relief in the penultimate game at Connie Mack Stadium (formerly Shibe Park) on September 30, 1970.

On Saturday, April 10, 1971 he drew the starting assignment. It was the first Phillies game in the history of Veteran’s Stadium. Bunning got the win in a 4-1 Phillies victory over the Montreal Expos.

That 1971 season would prove the last of Bunning’s big league career. Due to his success with the club, he was elected to the Phillies Wall of Fame in 1984.

BUNNING’S POLITICAL CAREER

Moving into politics, he was elected to the Fort Thomas, Kentucky city council in 1977.

In 1983, Bunning lost as the Republican candidate for Governor. But he remained a major player in Kentucky politics.

As a result, in 1986 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served there as a congressman through 1999.

Bunning was then elected to the U.S. Senate from Kentucky. A noted conservative, he served as a Senator until 2011.

Bunning suffered a stroke in October of 2016. His death came as a result of complications due to the effects.

MEMORIALS AND FAMILY

Per Fox19 in Cincinnati, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell released the following statement.

“Senator Jim Bunning led a long and storied life. From his days in the major leagues to his years as my colleague in the Senate — and the many points in between, from the City Council to the House of Representatives — Jim rarely shied away from a new adventure. This Hall of Famer will long be remembered for many things. A perfect game, a larger-than-life personality, a passion for Kentucky, and a loving family. Elaine and I offer our sincere condolences to Mary and the entire Bunning family.”

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Here in Philadelphia, he is a baseball immortal. His retired number 14 is displayed at Citizens Bank Park. Richie Ashburn (1), Mike Schmidt (20), Steve Carlton (32) and Robin Roberts (36) also have retired numbers.

Bunning is survived by the former Mary Catherine Theis. The couple was married for 65 years. Per Wikipedia, they had five daughters and four sons. They also had 35 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren as of 2013.