Jim Rivera
Born: 7/22/1921 in New York, NY, USA
Died: 11/13/2017 in Fort Wayne, IN, USA
MLB Debut: 1952-04-15 | Final Game: 1961-09-30
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 196 lbs
Full name: Manuel Joseph Rivera
Biography
Jim Rivera, born in 1921, was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to Major League Baseball from 1952 until his retirement in 1961. Known for his versatility as a position player, Rivera appeared in 1,171 games throughout his career, during which he recorded 911 hits, 83 home runs, and 422 RBIs. With a batting average of .256, he showcased a solid offensive skill set, complemented by his speed on the bases, as evidenced by his 160 stolen bases. Rivera's ability to impact games both offensively and defensively made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for.
Rivera played during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the integration of the sport and increasing competition. His career spanned the golden age of baseball, where he faced some of the game's greats while honing his craft. His contributions were significant in the context of his teams, as he provided consistent performance and leadership. Rivera's legacy in the sport is remembered not only for his statistics but also for his embodiment of the tenacity and spirit of the game during the 1950s.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1171 | 3552 | 503 | 911 | 155 | 56 | 83 | 422 | 160 | 365 | 523 | 0.256 | 0.328 | 0.402 | 0.729 | 492.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | CHW | AL | 53 | 201 | 27 | 50 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 21 | 27 | 0.249 | -103.1 |
| 1952 | SLA | AL | 97 | 336 | 45 | 86 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 30 | 8 | 29 | 59 | 0.256 | -103.1 |
| 1953 | CHW | AL | 156 | 567 | 79 | 147 | 26 | 16 | 11 | 78 | 22 | 53 | 70 | 0.259 | 105.3 |
| 1954 | CHW | AL | 145 | 490 | 62 | 140 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 61 | 18 | 49 | 68 | 0.286 | 918.3 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 147 | 454 | 71 | 120 | 24 | 4 | 10 | 52 | 25 | 62 | 59 | 0.264 | 422.4 |
| 1956 | CHW | AL | 139 | 491 | 76 | 125 | 23 | 5 | 12 | 66 | 20 | 49 | 75 | 0.255 | -224.6 |
| 1957 | CHW | AL | 125 | 402 | 51 | 103 | 21 | 6 | 14 | 52 | 18 | 40 | 80 | 0.256 | 518.1 |
| 1958 | CHW | AL | 116 | 276 | 37 | 62 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 21 | 24 | 49 | 0.225 | -542.7 |
| 1959 | CHW | AL | 80 | 177 | 18 | 39 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 5 | 11 | 19 | 0.220 | -399.9 |
| 1960 | CHW | AL | 48 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0.294 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | CHW | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | KC1 | AL | 64 | 141 | 20 | 34 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 24 | 14 | 0.241 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS | CHA | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 31 | 30 | 233 | 8 | 3 | 22 |
| OF | 1038 | 587 | 2065 | 78 | 51 | 24 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | CHA | OF | 53 | 0 | 157 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1952 | SLA | OF | 88 | 0 | 273 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| 1953 | CHA | OF | 156 | 0 | 385 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1954 | CHA | OF | 143 | 131 | 255 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | OF | 143 | 115 | 288 | 22 | 6 | 7 |
| 1956 | CHA | OF | 134 | 115 | 271 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| 1957 | CHA | 1B | 31 | 30 | 233 | 8 | 3 | 22 |
| 1957 | CHA | OF | 86 | 76 | 141 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 1958 | CHA | OF | 99 | 72 | 153 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 1959 | CHA | OF | 69 | 43 | 75 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 1960 | CHA | OF | 24 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | KC1 | OF | 43 | 34 | 51 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 31 |
| Left Field | 97 |
| Center Field | 400 |
| Right Field | 587 |