Jim Northrup
Born: 11/24/1939 in Breckenridge, MI, USA
Died: 6/8/2011 in Grand Blanc, MI, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-09-30 | Final Game: 1975-09-27
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: James Thomas Northrup
Biography
Jim Northrup was a professional baseball player born in 1939 who enjoyed a successful career in Major League Baseball from 1964 to 1975. Primarily known as a position player, Northrup played in a total of 1,392 games, establishing himself as a reliable contributor at the plate and in the field. Over the course of his career, he recorded 1,254 hits and belted 153 home runs, while driving in 610 runs. His career batting average stood at .267, reflecting his ability to hit for both average and power, which was particularly valuable during an era where offensive production was increasingly emphasized.
Northrup was known for his versatility on the field, which allowed him to adapt to various roles as the game evolved throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was also noted for his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 39 stolen bases, an asset that complemented his offensive skill set. His contributions to the game and the teams he played for were significant, as he navigated the challenges of a competitive era in baseball. Northrup's legacy is marked not only by his statistics but also by his ability to perform in critical moments, making him a respected figure in the history of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1392 | 4692 | 603 | 1254 | 218 | 42 | 153 | 610 | 39 | 449 | 635 | 0.267 | 0.333 | 0.429 | 0.763 | 10194.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | DET | AL | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.083 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | DET | AL | 80 | 219 | 20 | 45 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 50 | 0.205 | -684.6 |
| 1966 | DET | AL | 123 | 419 | 53 | 111 | 24 | 6 | 16 | 58 | 4 | 33 | 52 | 0.265 | 1045.2 |
| 1967 | DET | AL | 144 | 495 | 63 | 134 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 61 | 7 | 43 | 83 | 0.271 | 855.4 |
| 1968 | DET | AL | 154 | 580 | 76 | 153 | 29 | 7 | 21 | 90 | 4 | 50 | 87 | 0.264 | 2029.9 |
| 1969 | DET | AL | 148 | 543 | 79 | 160 | 31 | 5 | 25 | 66 | 4 | 52 | 83 | 0.295 | 2567.6 |
| 1970 | DET | AL | 139 | 504 | 71 | 132 | 21 | 3 | 24 | 80 | 3 | 58 | 68 | 0.262 | 1254.9 |
| 1971 | DET | AL | 136 | 459 | 72 | 124 | 27 | 2 | 16 | 71 | 7 | 60 | 43 | 0.270 | 1527.5 |
| 1972 | DET | AL | 134 | 426 | 40 | 111 | 15 | 2 | 8 | 42 | 4 | 38 | 47 | 0.261 | 291.1 |
| 1973 | DET | AL | 119 | 404 | 55 | 124 | 14 | 7 | 12 | 44 | 4 | 38 | 41 | 0.307 | 1359.2 |
| 1974 | BAL | AL | 8 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.571 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | DET | AL | 97 | 376 | 41 | 89 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 42 | 0 | 36 | 46 | 0.237 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | WSN | NL | 21 | 54 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0.241 | 0.0 |
| 1975 | BAL | AL | 84 | 194 | 27 | 53 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 29 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 0.273 | 321.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 42 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 0.286 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | ALCS | DET | 5 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.357 |
| 1968 | WS | DET | 7 | 28 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 34 | 22 | 245 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| OF | 1267 | 1158 | 2470 | 56 | 50 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | DET | OF | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | DET | OF | 54 | 48 | 82 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | DET | OF | 113 | 106 | 241 | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 1967 | DET | OF | 143 | 124 | 271 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 1968 | DET | OF | 151 | 148 | 321 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 1969 | DET | OF | 143 | 142 | 323 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| 1970 | DET | OF | 136 | 135 | 284 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | DET | 1B | 32 | 22 | 236 | 16 | 5 | 23 |
| 1971 | DET | OF | 108 | 94 | 205 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 1972 | DET | 1B | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | DET | OF | 127 | 107 | 215 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| 1973 | DET | OF | 116 | 95 | 207 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1974 | BAL | OF | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | DET | OF | 97 | 97 | 209 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 1974 | MON | OF | 13 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1975 | BAL | OF | 58 | 48 | 91 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 34 |
| Left Field | 321 |
| Center Field | 466 |
| Right Field | 719 |
| Designated Hitter | 5 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alma College | Alma | MI | 1958, 1959, 1960 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 35th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 15.0 | 280 | 0 |