Jim Command facts for kids

James Dalton Command (born October 15, 1928 – died August 10, 2014) was an American professional baseball player. He also worked as a scout after his playing days. Jim played for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 1954 and 1955 seasons. He played in 14 big league games, mostly as a third baseman or a pinch hitter.

Jim Command was a very flexible player. He spent 14 seasons in Minor League Baseball from 1947 to 1959, and again in 1962. During this time, he played all the infield positions, the outfield, and even became a catcher later in his career.

Jim Command's Baseball Journey

Jim Command batted left-handed and threw with his right hand. He was quite tall at 6 feet 2 inches and weighed 205 pounds. Jim lived his whole life in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he went to Creston High School.

He had been playing in the Phillies' minor league system for eight years. Then, in the middle of the 1954 season, he got his first chance to play in the MLB. Jim started as a pinch hitter and a substitute third baseman. He didn't get any hits in his first few tries.

A Big Hit in the Big Leagues

On July 11, 1954, Jim started his first Major League game. It was against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He didn't have a hit yet, but he did get to first base by earning a base on balls from pitcher Carl Erskine.

Later in the game, in the eighth inning, the Phillies were losing 7–3. There were two outs, and the bases loaded with runners. Jim Command came up to bat. The Dodgers' manager, Walter Alston, asked his pitcher, Carl Erskine, about this new player. Erskine said he didn't know anything about Command.

Jim Command later told the Grand Rapids Press in 2009 that Alston then told Erskine to "just pitch to him." Jim hit Erskine's pitch for a grand slam home run! This amazing hit tied the game at seven runs each. It was his very first hit in the Major Leagues, and his only home run. Even with that big hit, the Phillies still lost the game 8–7.

More Hits and His Final Games

In his next two games, Jim got three more hits, including a double. He also brought in two more runs batted in. These few games were when he got all his hits in the Major Leagues. In total, Jim Command had four hits in 23 times at bat during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.

After Playing: A Longtime Scout

After his time in the Major Leagues, Jim Command continued playing in the top minor leagues. In 1956, he played for the Miami Marlins and even caught pitches from the famous pitcher Satchel Paige.

When Jim stopped playing baseball, he became a scout for the Detroit Tigers. He worked for them for 36 years! As a scout, Jim helped find talented players for the team. He was part of the Tigers organization when they won two World Series championships.