Spotlight on the Hall of Fame: An Often-Overlooked Hall-of-Famer, “Sunny Jim” Bottomley

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Spotlight on the Hall of Fame

Let’s Remember The Often-Overlooked Hall-of-Famer, “Sunny Jim” Bottomley!

Did Jim Bottomley have the “greatest” game of all-time? (OK…maybe not the “greatest,” but certainly the most productive!). 

Read on to find out more…

We were recently contacted by Dayna Benaka, a distant relation to Hall-of Famer, “Sunny Jim” Bottomley. Dayna asked if we could do a post on Jim, who was her grandfather’s cousin. Since we’re always happy to honor our readers’ requests, here’s a little information about her Hall-of-Fame family relation:

“I don’t have a regret in the world. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing about my career. I’ve loved every minute of it.” -Jim Bottomley

Jim Bottomley was recognized by his contemporaries as one of the greatest clutch hitters of his era. He was also noted for his light-hearted, sunny disposition, hence his nickname, “Sunny Jim.” He’s also remembered for the cocky way in which he wore his baseball cap, with a characteristic tilt to the side. That always makes him easy to identify in old photos.

Bottomley hit over .300 nine times, and had over 100 RBIs in each season from 1924 to 1929. “Sunny Jim” was the first of two players (Lou Gehrig being the other) to collect 150 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in a career. Jim led the league twice in doubles, RBIs, and total bases; and once in hits, triples, and home runs. 

The Nokomis, Illinois native was a member of four pennant winners (1926, ’28, ’30, ’31), and two World Series championships (1926 and ’31). His best season was 1928 when he was the National League MVP. That year, Jim hit .325, and led the league in home runs (31), RBIs (136), triples (20), and total bases (362). He also hit 42 doubles, .402 on-base percentage, and .628 slugging average. His best post season performance was with the Cardinals in the 1926 World Series when he hit .345 with five RBIs.

In 1931, Bottomley finished with a .3482 batting average, placing third behind his teammate Chick Hafey’s .3489 and Bill Terry’s .3486, the closest batting average finish in major league history.

Jim Bottomley and the “Greatest Game Ever”:

On September 16, 1924, against the Brooklyn Robins, Bottomley had one of the most productive games in major league history, going 6-6 and setting the all-time record for RBIs in a single game with 12 (since tied). Here’s what he did that historic day:

In the first inning he drove in two runs with a single. The next inning he doubled to drive in a run. In the fourth, he hit a grand slam; followed by a two-run homer in the sixth. In the seventh, he smacked another single to drive in two more; and finished the day with a run-scoring single in the ninth. That’s quite a day!

After retiring from the game, Bottomley served as a scout and minor league manager for the Cubs. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974 and has also been elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All from Google search

Information: Excerpts edited from the Jim Bottomley Wikipedia page.

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire” and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation