Jim Bluejacket facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Bluejacket |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 8, 1887 Adair, Mayes County, Oklahoma |
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| Died: March 26, 1947 (aged 59) Pekin, Illinois |
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| debut | |||
| August 6, 1914, for the Brooklyn Tip-Tops | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 16, 1916, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 14–17 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.46 | ||
| Strikeouts | 78 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Jim Bluejacket was a talented baseball player who pitched in the early 1900s. He was born William Lincoln Smith on July 8, 1887. He played for two major league teams: the Brooklyn Tip-Tops from 1914 to 1915 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1916. Jim Bluejacket was known for his skills as a pitcher.
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About Jim Bluejacket's Life
When Jim Bluejacket started playing professional baseball in 1905, he chose the name Jim Bluejacket. He used this name for his career. Even after he stopped playing, he kept Jim Bluejacket as his legal name.
Jim was born William L. Smith in Adair, Oklahoma. He met Jennie Piro in Pekin, Illinois, while playing baseball there. They got married on December 31, 1912. At that time, his wedding license still showed his birth name, William L. Smith.
Jim Bluejacket's Baseball Career
Jim Bluejacket played for the Bloomington Bloomers team in several seasons. In 1914, when he was 27, he became very good at pitching. He won twelve games in a row! This amazing streak caught the eye of major league scouts.
Joining the Major Leagues
The New York Giants wanted to sign him first. But then, the Brooklyn Tip-Tops from the Federal League offered him more money. Jim decided to sign with the Tip-Tops instead. This caused some arguments between the two teams.
Jim played his first game for the Tip-Tops on August 6, 1914. For the rest of that season, he won 4 games and lost 4 games. The Tip-Tops played their home games in Washington Park in Brooklyn.
A Unique Win
While playing for the Tip-Tops, Jim Bluejacket made history. He became the first major league pitcher to win a game without throwing a single pitch! Here's how it happened:
He came into a game against the Pittsburgh Rebels in the ninth inning. There were two outs and a runner on first base. Without throwing a pitch, Jim quickly picked off the runner at first base. This made the third out of the inning. Because his team then scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, Jim was given credit for the victory.
Native American Player
Jim Bluejacket was a member of the Cherokee nation. He was one of the first Native American players to play in Major League Baseball.
Jim Bluejacket's Legacy
Jim Bluejacket's family continued his baseball tradition. His great-grandson, Bill Wilkinson, also became a major league baseball player. Bill was a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners in the 1980s. Jim and Bill were the first great-grandfather and great-grandson pair to play in the major leagues.
Jim also made a big difference in baseball on the island of Aruba. He worked there for 15 years. He spent many hours helping young people in Aruba. He was also very important in starting the Lago Sports Park there.
Interestingly, a man named Charley Mantle lived with Jim Bluejacket's parents in 1910. Charley Mantle later became the grandfather of the famous baseball player, Mickey Mantle.
