Jim Bunning
⭐ Hall of Fame 1996
Born: 10/23/1931 in Southgate, KY, USA
Died: 5/26/2017 in Edgewood, KY, USA
MLB Debut: 1955-07-20 | Final Game: 1971-09-03
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: James Paul David Bunning
Biography
Jim Bunning was a distinguished pitcher whose career spanned from 1955 to 1971. Born in 1931, Bunning established himself as a formidable presence on the mound, achieving a career record of 224 wins and 184 losses. With an earned run average (ERA) of 3.27, he was known for his durability and ability to strike out batters, finishing his career with an impressive 2,855 strikeouts. Bunning also recorded 16 saves, showcasing his versatility as a pitcher in various game situations. His performance earned him recognition as an eight-time All-Star, a testament to his skill and consistency during an era marked by fierce competition.
As a key figure in Major League Baseball during the 1960s, Bunning played for teams such as the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was particularly noted for his sharp curveball and competitive spirit, which made him a fan favorite and a respected opponent. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Bunning's impact extended into public service after his baseball career, further solidifying his legacy. His contributions to the game and his community have made him a significant figure in baseball history, remembered not only for his statistics but also for his character and leadership.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | 184 | 591 | 519 | 151 | 40 | 16 | 3760.3 | 3433 | 1366 | 372 | 1000 | 2855 | 3.27 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | DET | AL | 3 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51.0 | 59 | 36 | 32 | 37 | 6.35 | -1310.5 |
| 1956 | DET | AL | 5 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53.3 | 55 | 22 | 28 | 34 | 3.71 | -225.7 |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 20 | 8 | 45 | 30 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 267.3 | 214 | 80 | 72 | 182 | 2.69 | 1427.4 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 14 | 12 | 35 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 219.7 | 188 | 86 | 79 | 177 | 3.52 | 714.2 |
| 1959 | DET | AL | 17 | 13 | 40 | 35 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 249.7 | 220 | 108 | 75 | 201 | 3.89 | 73.5 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 11 | 14 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 252.0 | 217 | 78 | 64 | 201 | 2.79 | 6383.2 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 17 | 11 | 38 | 37 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 268.0 | 232 | 95 | 71 | 194 | 3.19 | 5598.6 |
| 1962 | DET | AL | 19 | 10 | 41 | 35 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 258.0 | 262 | 103 | 74 | 184 | 3.59 | 2322.7 |
| 1963 | DET | AL | 12 | 13 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 248.3 | 245 | 107 | 69 | 196 | 3.88 | -2119.3 |
| 1964 | PHI | NL | 19 | 8 | 41 | 39 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 284.3 | 248 | 83 | 46 | 219 | 2.63 | 6255.6 |
| 1965 | PHI | NL | 19 | 9 | 39 | 39 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 291.0 | 253 | 84 | 62 | 268 | 2.60 | 7966.3 |
| 1966 | PHI | NL | 19 | 14 | 43 | 41 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 314.0 | 260 | 84 | 55 | 252 | 2.41 | 6582.4 |
| 1967 | PHI | NL | 17 | 15 | 40 | 40 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 302.3 | 241 | 77 | 73 | 253 | 2.29 | 6508.9 |
| 1968 | PIT | NL | 4 | 14 | 27 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 160.0 | 168 | 69 | 48 | 95 | 3.88 | -1665.3 |
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56.3 | 65 | 21 | 10 | 33 | 3.36 | - |
| 1969 | PIT | NL | 10 | 9 | 25 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 156.0 | 147 | 66 | 49 | 124 | 3.81 | 3232.1 |
| 1970 | PHI | NL | 10 | 15 | 34 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 219.0 | 233 | 100 | 56 | 147 | 4.11 | 3349.3 |
| 1971 | PHI | NL | 5 | 12 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 110.0 | 126 | 67 | 37 | 58 | 5.48 | -1126.6 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | 1275 | 82 | 213 | 21 | 4 | 7 | 75 | 0 | 34 | 362 | 0.167 | 0.188 | 0.206 | 0.395 | -8806.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | DET | AL | 15 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | DET | AL | 15 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1957 | DET | AL | 45 | 94 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 0.213 | -402.4 |
| 1958 | DET | AL | 36 | 75 | 7 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0.187 | -507.2 |
| 1959 | DET | AL | 40 | 89 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 0.191 | -497.8 |
| 1960 | DET | AL | 38 | 81 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 0.160 | -681.4 |
| 1961 | DET | AL | 38 | 100 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 0.130 | -1035.2 |
| 1962 | DET | AL | 43 | 95 | 9 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0.242 | -361.1 |
| 1963 | DET | AL | 41 | 84 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0.155 | -597.3 |
| 1964 | PHI | NL | 41 | 99 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0.121 | -1024.8 |
| 1965 | PHI | NL | 39 | 103 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 25 | 0.214 | -516.7 |
| 1966 | PHI | NL | 43 | 106 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 39 | 0.179 | -715.6 |
| 1967 | PHI | NL | 40 | 104 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 0.163 | -624.8 |
| 1968 | PIT | NL | 27 | 51 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0.098 | -507.8 |
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 9 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | PIT | NL | 25 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.043 | 0.0 |
| 1970 | PHI | NL | 35 | 71 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0.127 | -738.0 |
| 1971 | PHI | NL | 31 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0.120 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 591 | 519 | 206 | 372 | 23 | 20 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | DET | P | 15 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | DET | P | 15 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | DET | P | 45 | 30 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | DET | P | 35 | 34 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | DET | P | 40 | 35 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 1 |
| 1960 | DET | P | 36 | 34 | 11 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | DET | P | 38 | 37 | 21 | 29 | 3 | 6 |
| 1962 | DET | P | 41 | 35 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 1963 | DET | P | 39 | 35 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | PHI | P | 41 | 39 | 10 | 31 | 3 | 2 |
| 1965 | PHI | P | 39 | 39 | 29 | 40 | 3 | 2 |
| 1966 | PHI | P | 43 | 41 | 18 | 30 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | PHI | P | 40 | 40 | 16 | 33 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | PIT | P | 27 | 26 | 6 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | LAN | P | 9 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | PIT | P | 25 | 25 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970 | PHI | P | 34 | 33 | 12 | 27 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | PHI | P | 29 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 591 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | TSN All-Star | P |
| 1957 | TSN All-Star | P |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Cy Young Award | NL | 2nd | 1.0 | 20 | 1 |
| 1967 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 22th | 5.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 23.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 8.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1957 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 46.0 | 336 | 0 |