Jim Gilliam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Gilliam |
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Gilliam with the Brooklyn Dodgers
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| Second baseman / Third baseman | |||
| Born: October 17, 1928 Nashville, Tennessee |
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| Died: October 8, 1978 (aged 49) Inglewood, California |
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| Professional debut | |||
| NgL: 1946, for the Baltimore Elite Giants | |||
| MLB: April 14, 1953, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 1966, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| NgL/MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .266 | ||
| Home runs | 65 | ||
| Runs batted in | 618 | ||
| Teams | |||
Negro leagues
Major League Baseball
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James "Junior" Gilliam (October 17, 1928 – October 8, 1978) was an American baseball player and coach. He played as a second baseman and third baseman. Junior Gilliam spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. Before joining MLB, he played in the Negro leagues.
In 1953, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year. He was a very important player on ten National League championship teams between 1953 and 1978. For much of the 1950s, he was the Dodgers' leadoff hitter. This means he was usually the first player to bat in a game. He scored over 100 runs in each of his first four seasons. After he stopped playing, he became one of the first African-American coaches in the major leagues.
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Playing in the Negro Leagues
Junior Gilliam was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He started playing on a local semi-pro team when he was 14. He left high school early to focus on his baseball career.
He joined the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro National League. He played with them from 1946 to 1950. During this time, he got his nickname, "Junior." He was chosen as an All-Star three years in a row, from 1948 to 1950. A veteran player named George Scales taught him how to switch hit. This means he could bat well with both his left and right hands.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
In 1951, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Gilliam. They sent him to their Triple-A farm team, the Montreal Royals. Farm teams are where younger players develop their skills. He couldn't play for the Dodgers' Double-A team in Texas. This was because black players were still not allowed in that league at the time. He was a top player in the International League, leading in runs scored in both 1951 and 1952.
Time with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Gilliam joined the Dodgers in April 1953. He had a big job: taking over second baseman from Jackie Robinson. Robinson, a famous player, moved to the outfield and third base. Gilliam did very well, hitting for a batting average of .278. He also led the team with 125 runs scored for the National League champions.
He hit 17 triples, which was the most in the National League that year. This is still the most by a Dodger since 1920. He was also second in the league in walks (100) and third in stolen bases (21). Because of his great season, he won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Gilliam continued to play well when the team was in Brooklyn. In 1954, he hit .282 and had a career-high 13 home runs. In 1955, his average was .249, but the team won the championship. He scored over 100 runs in both 1954 and 1955, and again in 1956.
In 1956, he hit a career-best .300. He was also chosen for his first major league All-Star team. He was second in the league in walks (95) and steals (21). On July 21, 1956, he tied a major league record with 12 assists in one game. In the Dodgers' last season in Brooklyn in 1957, he led the National League in putouts and fielding percentage.
Moving to Los Angeles
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| Jim Gilliam's number 19 was retired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1978. |
Gilliam continued to be a star player after the team moved to Los Angeles in 1958. He slowly moved to playing third base. In 1959, he led the National League in walks (96) and had 23 steals. He was an All-Star again and hit a home run in the second All-Star Game that year.
From 1961 to 1963, he moved back to second base. In 1963, he hit .282, and the team won the pennant. In the 1960s, Maury Wills became the leadoff hitter, and Gilliam usually batted second.
After the 1964 season, Gilliam became a coach. He planned to stop playing, but due to team injuries, he played a lot at third base in 1965 and 1966. The team won the National League championship in both of those seasons. In 1965, he was part of the first all-switch-hitting infield in major league history. This meant all four infielders could bat from both sides.
He officially retired as a player after the 1966 season. He finished his career with a .265 batting average, 1,889 hits, and 1,163 runs scored. He also had 65 home runs, 558 runs batted in, 304 doubles, 71 triples, 1,036 walks, and 203 stolen bases.
World Series Appearances
Gilliam played in seven World Series with the Dodgers. Four of these were against the New York Yankees.
- In the 1953 World Series, he hit a solo home run in Game 1. He also had another home run in Game 5.
- In the 1955 World Series, the Dodgers won their first championship. Gilliam helped by getting a walk with the bases loaded in Game 3, giving the Dodgers the lead. He also drove in the first run in Game 4.
- In the 1956 World Series, he scored the winning run in Game 6, tying the series. He also played in Game 5, where the Yankees' Don Larsen pitched a perfect game.
- In the 1963 World Series, he scored the only run in Game 3. He also scored a key run in Game 4, helping the Dodgers win the series.
- He was also on Dodgers teams that won the World Series in 1959 and 1965.
- His last major league game was in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series.
Becoming a Coach
Gilliam started as a player-coach in 1964. He became a full-time coach in 1967. He continued coaching the Dodgers until he passed away in 1978. During his time as a coach, the Dodgers won three more pennants (in 1974, 1977, and 1978).
His Legacy
Junior Gilliam suffered a serious illness at his home on September 15, 1978. He passed away in Inglewood, California, on October 8, 1978. This was just nine days before his 50th birthday. It was also one day after the Dodgers won their tenth pennant during his time with the team.
His uniform number 19 was retired by the Dodgers two days after his death. This means no other Dodger player will ever wear that number again. His number is the only one retired by the Dodgers for a player who is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.
People respected Gilliam for his personal qualities and good sportsmanship, as well as his playing skills. Here are some things people said about him:
What a great team player he was. He'd hit behind Maury, take pitch after pitch after pitch. And when Maury got to second, he'd give himself up by hitting the ball to the right side, even with two strikes, which most hitters won't do.
—teammate Jeff Torborg
He didn't hit with power, he had no arm, and he couldn't run. But he did the little things to win ballgames. He never griped or complained. He was one of the most unselfish ballplayers I know.
—manager Walter Alston
Father, friend, and locker room inspiration that will never be forgotten.
In 1981, the City of Los Angeles named a park in honor of Junior Gilliam. The Jim Gilliam Park opened in 1984 on La Brea Avenue. It has several facilities named after him.
On May 21, 2015, the Nashville Metro Council renamed a part of Jackson Street to "Junior Gilliam Way." This street is near First Horizon Park, a minor league baseball stadium built in 2015.
See also
- List of Negro league baseball players who played in Major League Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
