Jim Beauchamp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Beauchamp |
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Beauchamp as manager on the Greenville Braves in 1986
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| Outfielder / First baseman | |||
| Born: August 21, 1939 Vinita, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Died: December 25, 2007 (aged 68) Union City, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 22, 1963, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 20, 1973, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .231 | ||
| Home runs | 14 | ||
| Runs batted in | 90 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James Edward Beauchamp (born August 21, 1939 – died December 25, 2007) was an American baseball player and coach. He played as a first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jim played from 1963 to 1973 for several teams. These included the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Mets. He went to Grove High School and Oklahoma State University before starting his pro career.
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Playing Baseball: Jim's Journey
Jim Beauchamp was known for hitting the ball with power. In 1963, he had an amazing year playing for the Double-A Tulsa Oilers. He hit for a .337 average, with 31 home runs and 105 RBI. He also hit 35 doubles and 10 triples, scoring 95 runs.
Becoming a Texas League MVP
Because of his great performance, Jim won the 1963 Texas League MVP Award. A sign showing him ready to bat stood outside Tulsa's Oiler Park for many years. Later that year, he got to play a few games in the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on September 22, 1963, when he was 24 years old.
Moving Between Teams
In February 1964, Jim was traded to the Houston Colt .45s. He continued to play well in the minor leagues, hitting 34 home runs and 83 RBI. He also played in 23 Major League games that year.
He started the 1965 season with the Houston Astros. Later, he was traded to the Milwaukee Braves. He played a few games for them that year.
Back to the Minors and Back to MLB
In 1966, Jim played mostly in the minor leagues. He hit .319 with 25 home runs and 77 RBI for the Richmond Braves. He also spent most of 1967 in the minors, hitting 25 home runs. He played a few games for the Atlanta Braves that year.
In October 1967, Jim was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He started the 1968 season in the minors. He hit 13 home runs for the Indianapolis Indians. That year, he also played 31 games in the Major Leagues for the Reds.
Final Years in the Major Leagues
Jim played for the Reds in 1969. After that season, he was traded back to the Houston Astros. He played 31 games for them before being traded again to the St. Louis Cardinals, one of his old teams. He played 44 games for the Cardinals in 1970.
He spent all of 1971 with the Cardinals. Then, he was traded to the New York Mets in October 1971. He played his last two seasons with the Mets. His final regular season game was on September 20, 1973, almost exactly 10 years after his first MLB game. Jim also played in four games of the 1973 World Series for the Mets.
Overall, Jim Beauchamp played in 393 Major League games. He had 153 hits and a .231 batting average. He hit 14 home runs and had 90 RBI. He was a good fielder, with a .979 fielding percentage.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Jim Beauchamp became a baseball manager and coach. He managed minor league teams from 1975 to 1990. Some of the teams he managed included the Columbus Astros, Memphis Blues, Charleston Charlies, Syracuse Chiefs, Greenville Braves, and Richmond Braves.
From 1991 to 2001, he was the Atlanta Braves' bench coach. As a bench coach, he helped the team win the World Series in 1995. After 2002, he worked as the team's minor league outfield coordinator.
Life After Baseball
In 2002, Jim Beauchamp was honored in his hometown of Grove, Oklahoma. The new Grove City Baseball Field was named "Jim Beauchamp Field" after him. This was nearly 50 years after he graduated from high school. The field is home to local baseball teams, including the Grove High School team. Jim's childhood home was right across the street from where the new ballpark now stands. He said it was the greatest honor he had ever received. Interestingly, "beau champ" in French means "beautiful field."
Jim Beauchamp passed away on Christmas Day, 2007, at the age of 68. He had been battling a long illness.
To honor him, the Atlanta Braves wore a special patch with his nickname, "Beach," during the 2008 season.
