Jim Bottomley
β Hall of Fame 1974
Born: 4/23/1900 in Oglesby, IL, USA
Died: 12/11/1959 in St. Louis, MO, USA
MLB Debut: 1922-08-18 | Final Game: 1937-09-16
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: James Leroy Bottomley
π View Manager Career
Biography
Jim Bottomley, born in 1900, was a prominent first baseman in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1922 until 1937. Known for his powerful hitting and consistent performance, Bottomley played in a total of 1,991 games, where he recorded 2,313 hits and amassed 219 home runs. His impressive offensive capabilities were underscored by a remarkable batting average of .310 and an outstanding 1,422 runs batted in, reflecting his ability to drive in runs during crucial moments. Additionally, he showcased his speed on the bases with 58 stolen bases throughout his career.
Bottomley was a key figure in the league during the 1920s and 1930s, an era characterized by a transition towards more offensive play and the emergence of powerful sluggers. His contributions were vital to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played the majority of his career and was a significant part of the teamβs success during that period. His legacy extends beyond just statistics; he was a two-time All-Star and won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 1928, solidifying his place in baseball history as one of the era's standout players. Jim Bottomley's impactful career left an indelible mark on the game, and he remains a celebrated figure in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7471 | 1177 | 2313 | 465 | 151 | 219 | 1422 | 58 | 664 | 591 | 0.310 | 0.369 | 0.500 | 0.869 | 24523.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | STL | NL | 37 | 151 | 29 | 49 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 35 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 0.325 | 467.7 |
| 1923 | STL | NL | 134 | 523 | 79 | 194 | 34 | 14 | 8 | 94 | 4 | 45 | 44 | 0.371 | 3168.7 |
| 1924 | STL | NL | 137 | 528 | 87 | 167 | 31 | 12 | 14 | 111 | 5 | 35 | 35 | 0.316 | 1576.0 |
| 1925 | STL | NL | 153 | 619 | 92 | 227 | 44 | 12 | 21 | 128 | 3 | 47 | 36 | 0.367 | 3830.3 |
| 1926 | STL | NL | 154 | 603 | 98 | 180 | 40 | 14 | 19 | 120 | 4 | 58 | 52 | 0.299 | 2176.0 |
| 1927 | STL | NL | 152 | 574 | 95 | 174 | 31 | 15 | 19 | 124 | 8 | 74 | 49 | 0.303 | 2608.3 |
| 1928 | STL | NL | 149 | 576 | 123 | 187 | 42 | 20 | 31 | 136 | 10 | 71 | 54 | 0.325 | 4533.9 |
| 1929 | STL | NL | 146 | 560 | 108 | 176 | 31 | 12 | 29 | 137 | 3 | 70 | 54 | 0.314 | 2926.2 |
| 1930 | STL | NL | 131 | 487 | 92 | 148 | 33 | 7 | 15 | 97 | 5 | 44 | 36 | 0.304 | 904.2 |
| 1931 | STL | NL | 108 | 382 | 73 | 133 | 34 | 5 | 9 | 75 | 3 | 34 | 24 | 0.348 | 2052.9 |
| 1932 | STL | NL | 91 | 311 | 45 | 92 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 48 | 2 | 25 | 32 | 0.296 | 657.0 |
| 1933 | CIN | NL | 145 | 549 | 57 | 137 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 83 | 3 | 42 | 28 | 0.250 | -87.1 |
| 1934 | CIN | NL | 142 | 556 | 72 | 158 | 31 | 11 | 11 | 78 | 1 | 33 | 40 | 0.284 | 168.7 |
| 1935 | CIN | NL | 107 | 399 | 44 | 103 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 49 | 3 | 18 | 24 | 0.258 | -1316.7 |
| 1936 | SLA | AL | 140 | 544 | 72 | 162 | 39 | 11 | 12 | 95 | 0 | 44 | 55 | 0.298 | 991.9 |
| 1937 | SLA | AL | 65 | 109 | 11 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 18 | 15 | 0.239 | -134.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 90 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 22 | 0.200 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | WS | SLN | 7 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.160 |
| 1930 | WS | SLN | 6 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.045 |
| 1928 | WS | SLN | 4 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0.214 |
| 1926 | WS | SLN | 7 | 29 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0.345 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1885 | 0 | 18337 | 814 | 223 | 1562 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | SLN | 1B | 34 | 0 | 346 | 12 | 5 | 22 |
| 1923 | SLN | 1B | 130 | 0 | 1264 | 43 | 18 | 95 |
| 1924 | SLN | 1B | 133 | 0 | 1297 | 48 | 24 | 110 |
| 1924 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1925 | SLN | 1B | 153 | 0 | 1466 | 74 | 21 | 133 |
| 1926 | SLN | 1B | 154 | 0 | 1607 | 54 | 19 | 118 |
| 1927 | SLN | 1B | 152 | 0 | 1656 | 70 | 20 | 149 |
| 1928 | SLN | 1B | 148 | 0 | 1454 | 52 | 20 | 113 |
| 1929 | SLN | 1B | 145 | 0 | 1347 | 75 | 13 | 122 |
| 1930 | SLN | 1B | 124 | 0 | 1164 | 41 | 12 | 127 |
| 1931 | SLN | 1B | 93 | 0 | 897 | 43 | 12 | 95 |
| 1932 | SLN | 1B | 74 | 0 | 662 | 41 | 10 | 67 |
| 1933 | CIN | 1B | 145 | 0 | 1511 | 72 | 15 | 112 |
| 1934 | CIN | 1B | 139 | 0 | 1303 | 77 | 15 | 106 |
| 1935 | CIN | 1B | 97 | 0 | 934 | 53 | 8 | 74 |
| 1936 | SLA | 1B | 140 | 0 | 1250 | 47 | 10 | 103 |
| 1937 | SLA | 1B | 24 | 0 | 179 | 12 | 1 | 16 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1885 |
| Second Base | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
| 1928 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1925 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 1B |
| 1925 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 6.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1931 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 8.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1928 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 76.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1927 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 6.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1925 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 7th | 28.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1924 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 17th | 4.0 | 80 | 0 |