Jim Bolger (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Bolger |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 23, 1932 Cincinnati, Ohio |
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| Died: April 9, 2020 (aged 88) | |||
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| debut | |||
| June 24, 1950, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 18, 1959, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .229 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 48 | ||
| Fielding percentage | .961 | ||
| Putouts | 340 | ||
| Teams | |||
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James Cyril Bolger (born February 23, 1932 – died April 9, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder, which means he played in the outfield area of the baseball field. Jim Bolger played in 312 games over seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Most of his time in the big leagues was spent with the Chicago Cubs, where he played 260 games. He also played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies for shorter periods. During his career, Jim Bolger made 140 hits, including 14 doubles, six triples, and six home runs. His career batting average was .229. Jim Bolger threw and batted right-handed. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Jim Bolger was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Purcell Marian High School there. After high school, he started his professional baseball journey with the Cincinnati Reds in 1950. He also played in their Minor League Baseball (MiLB) system, which is where players develop their skills before reaching the major leagues.
Moving Teams: A Trade to Buffalo
On October 14, 1951, Jim Bolger was traded by the Cincinnati Redlegs (another name for the Cincinnati Reds at the time). He was sent to a team in Buffalo in exchange for two pitchers named Moe Savransky and Tom Acker. This is a common way teams exchange players in baseball.
Jim Bolger's Best Season
Jim Bolger had his best season in Major League Baseball in 1957. He played the entire year with the Chicago Cubs. He was their fourth outfielder, meaning he was a backup player who could fill in when needed.
Playing for the Cubs
In 1957, Jim Bolger played in 112 games for the Cubs. He started 57 of those games, and even played a couple of times as a third baseman. He had a career-high batting average of .275 that year, which is quite good.
Success in the Minor Leagues
The year before his great MLB season, in 1956, Jim Bolger was named an all-star in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). This was a very strong minor league at the time. He played for the Los Angeles Angels and had an amazing year. He batted .326, had 147 runs batted in, 193 hits, and hit 28 home runs!
End of a Baseball Career
Jim Bolger's professional baseball career lasted for 13 years. It came to an end in 1962. In his final season, he played for the Triple-A Louisville Colonels and had a strong batting average of .319.
Later Life and Passing
Jim Bolger passed away on April 9, 2020, at the age of 88.
