Jimmy Stewart (baseball)

Jimmy Stewart
Infielder/Outfielder
Born: (1939-06-11)June 11, 1939
Opelika, Alabama
Died: November 24, 2012(2012-11-24) (aged 73)[1]
Tampa, Florida
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 1963, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1973, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Batting average .237
Home runs 8
Runs batted in 112
Teams
Career highlights and awards

James Franklin Stewart (June 11, 1939 – November 24, 2012 born in Opelika, Alabama) was a Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros from 1963 to 1973.[2]

He was born June 11, 1939 to John and Nelle Stewart. He graduated in 1957 from Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Alabama, where he starred in baseball, basketball and track.[3] He went to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where he lettered in baseball, basketball and track.[4]

Stewart came up with the Cubs as a middle infielder, making his major league debut at age 24 on September 3, 1963 in a 16-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park. His first career at-bat was a pinch-hit flyout against Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal.[5] His first hit came a week later on September 10 in an 8-0 road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Again, he was pinch-hitting against a Baseball hall of Famer, Bob Gibson, but this time he hit a double and later singled against Gibson.[6]

His most productive season came in 1964 for the Cubs, when he played 132 games and hit .253 with three home runs, 33 runs batted in, 17 doubles and 49 walks.

He was purchased from the Cubs by the Chicago White Sox during the 1967 season. After playing in their minor league system for two seasons, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the White Sox in the 1968 rule 5 draft. Due to his versatility in the field, during his three seasons with the Reds Stewart was known as "Super Sub" as he played every position except pitcher.[7] He played in two games of the 1970 World Series, going hitless in two at-bats as the Reds fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games.

On November 29, 1971, Stewart was part of a trade that brought Joe Morgan, César Gerónimo, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham and Denis Menke to the Reds from the Houston Astros for Stewart, Lee May and Tommy Helms. After two seasons with the Astros, he played his final major league game at age 34 on September 29, 1973.

He ended his 10-year career with 777 games played with a .237 batting average, eight home runs and 112 runs batted in.[8]

In 1978 he was inducted into the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame.[9]

After his playing days ended, in 1980 Stewart rejoined the Reds, serving first as a minor league manager and then as a scout, serving as major league scout from 1984 through 1991. In 1992 he joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a major league special assignment scout, and remained in that position until his retirement in 2006.

He retired to Florida with his wife Donna. Jimmy Stewart died at age 73 on November 24, 2012 in Odessa, Florida. He was survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna; two sons, Jimmy and Andy; eight grandchildren, Brad, Andrew, Jeremy, Kristina, Lindsey, Donna, Valeria and Andrea; and seven great-grandchildren.[10]

References

  1. ↑ APSU: APSU Hall of Famer Jimmy Stewart dies
  2. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewaji01.shtml
  3. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=101338838
  4. ↑ http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1835087&fh_id=11664
  5. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN196309030.shtml
  6. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196309100.shtml
  7. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewaji01.shtml
  8. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stewaji01.shtml
  9. ↑ http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20121126/SPORTS/311260027/APSU-baseball-great-Jimmy-Stewart-dies
  10. ↑ http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1835087&fh_id=11664

External links

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