Jim Hardin facts for kids

James Warren Hardin (born August 6, 1943 – died March 9, 1991) was a talented American baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1967 to 1972. Jim Hardin is best known for playing with the Baltimore Orioles. He was part of the Orioles team that won three American League pennants in a row from 1969 to 1971. They also won the World Series in 1970. He also played for the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves.

Jim Hardin's Baseball Journey

Starting His Career

Jim Hardin played baseball at Memphis State University from 1961 to 1962. He was a great player even in college. After only 14 college games, he decided to become a professional player.

He signed a contract with the New York Mets. The Mets were a new team at the time. Jim chose them because he saw many chances to play. He even turned down bigger offers from other teams.

Joining the Orioles

Hardin spent three years playing in the Mets' minor league teams. Then, in 1965, the Baltimore Orioles picked him in a special draft. In 1967, he got his chance to play in the big leagues. He was called up to the Orioles to replace an injured player, Jim Palmer.

Memorable Games and Plays

Jim Hardin had some exciting moments during his career.

• On May 10, 1969, he hit a game-winning home run. This happened in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was a "walk-off" home run, meaning it ended the game instantly.
• On July 27, 1969, Hardin helped the Orioles win big. They beat the Chicago White Sox 17–0. He pitched very well, allowing only two hits. He also hit a home run in that game!
• On May 26, 1970, he pitched a complete game shutout. He allowed only five hits against the Cleveland Indians.
• Three weeks later, he pitched ten innings against the Washington Senators. He gave up only six hits and no walks. The Orioles won that game in 13 innings.
• On August 6, 1970, he pitched another complete game. He helped his own cause by hitting a two-run triple. He also got another run batted in (RBI) by getting a walk with the bases loaded.
• As a player for the Atlanta Braves, he hit a solo home run. This happened on June 28, 1972, against the Padres.

What Teammates Said

Jim Palmer, another famous pitcher, talked about Hardin. He said that some players didn't like Jim very much. But Palmer, Brooks Robinson, and Davey Leonhard thought he was a good person once you got to know him. Palmer also said Hardin was a very impressive pitcher. He had great control of his pitches before he hurt his shoulder.

A Heroic Final Act

Jim Hardin was also a pilot. On March 9, 1991, he was flying his plane in Key West, Florida. Shortly after taking off, his plane had a problem. Jim tried to return to the airport for an emergency landing.

During the plane's descent, Jim Hardin showed great courage. He steered his plane away from a baseball field. This field was full of young children playing. The plane crashed in a parking lot nearby. Jim Hardin saved many lives by making this brave choice. He was survived by his wife and three children.