Jim Bunning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Bunning
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| United States Senator from Kentucky |
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| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Wendell H. Ford |
| Succeeded by | Rand Paul |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 4th district |
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| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Gene Snyder |
| Succeeded by | Ken Lucas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Paul David Bunning
October 23, 1931 Southgate, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | May 26, 2017 (aged 85) Fort Thomas, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Mary Catherine Theis
(m. 1952) |
| Residences | Southgate, Kentucky |
| Alma mater | Xavier University (B.A.) |
| Profession | Baseball player, investment broker |
| Jim Bunning | |||
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| Pitcher | |||
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| debut | |||
| July 20, 1955, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 3, 1971, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 224–184 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.27 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,855 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1996 | ||
| Vote | Veterans Committee | ||
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning (born October 23, 1931 – died May 26, 2017) was a famous American Major League Baseball pitcher. After his amazing sports career, he became a well-known politician.
Jim Bunning played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball for many years. He played for teams like the Detroit Tigers, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He stopped playing baseball in 1971.
After baseball, Bunning served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999. He was a member of the Republican Party. Then, he became a U.S. Senator for Kentucky, serving from 1999 to 2011.
Jim Bunning was 67 years old when he became a U.S. Senator. He helped create important laws, like the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004. He was also the only person on a special committee to vote against Ben Bernanke becoming the head of the Federal Reserve, which manages the country's money.
In 2010, Jim Bunning decided not to run for Senator again. He supported Rand Paul, who won the election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jim Bunning was born in Southgate, Kentucky. He went to St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later, he studied at Xavier University and earned a college degree.
Amazing Baseball Career
Jim Bunning was a professional baseball pitcher from 1955 to 1971. He is best known for playing with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a right-handed pitcher, meaning he threw the ball with his right hand.
In 1959, he made history by striking out three batters in a row using only nine pitches. This is a very rare and impressive feat in baseball!
Pitching Records
When Jim Bunning stopped playing, he had the second-highest number of strikeouts in Major League Baseball history. Today, he is still ranked among the top pitchers for strikeouts.
Perfect Game and Hall of Fame
As a player for the Phillies, Jim Bunning pitched a "perfect game" on June 21, 1964. This means he pitched an entire game without any opposing player reaching base. It was only the seventh perfect game in Major League Baseball history!
He also pitched a "no-hitter" on July 20, 1958. In a no-hitter, no opposing player gets a hit, but they might still reach base in other ways.
Because of his incredible achievements, Jim Bunning was honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1996. His jersey number, 14, was also retired by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Life in Politics
After his baseball career, Jim Bunning went back to his home in northern Kentucky. He started his political journey by being elected to his city council. Then, he became a member of the state senate. In the state senate, he was the leader of the minority party.
From Local to National Government
In 1986, Bunning was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Kentucky's 4th congressional district from 1987 to 1999.
After serving in the House, he was elected to the United States Senate in 1998. He served two terms as a Republican Senator for Kentucky.
Important Work in the Senate
Jim Bunning was known for his strong opinions. He reportedly stopped a plan to make old records of U.S. Presidents available to the public.
In 2009, a survey showed that 35% of people in Kentucky approved of his work as a Senator.
Saying Goodbye to the Senate
In July 2009, Jim Bunning announced that he would not seek re-election in 2010. He gave his final speech to the Senate on December 9, 2010. Rand Paul took his place as Senator on January 3, 2011.
Personal Life
In 1952, Jim Bunning married Mary Catherine Theis. They had a large family with five daughters and four sons. He lived in his hometown of Southgate, Kentucky.
Death
Jim Bunning passed away on May 26, 2017, at the age of 85. He died in a hospital in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, after having a stroke in October 2016.
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
