Jim Landis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Landis |
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Landis in 1962
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: March 9, 1934 Fresno, California, U.S. |
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| Died: October 7, 2017 (aged 83) Napa, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 16, 1957, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 27, 1967, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .247 | ||
| Home runs | 93 | ||
| Runs batted in | 467 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James Henry Landis (March 9, 1934 – October 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 years, from 1957 to 1967. Jim played most of his career, eight seasons, with the Chicago White Sox. He was chosen as an All-Star in 1962. He also won the Gold Glove Award five times in a row! Many people think Jim Landis was one of the best defensive center fielders ever.
Jim Landis went to Richmond High School and Contra Costa College in California. He was a great baseball player there. The White Sox signed him in 1952. Before starting his pro career, Jim served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Alaska for two years.
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Playing in the Major Leagues
Jim Landis started his MLB career with the Chicago White Sox in 1957. He played with them for eight seasons.
Helping the White Sox Win
In 1959, Jim helped the "Go-Go White Sox" win the American League Pennant. This meant they were the best team in the American League that year. He had a batting average of .272 and hit 26 doubles. Jim also led the American League with 13 sacrifice hits. He was excellent at catching balls in the outfield, with 426 putouts. In the 1959 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he hit .292.
Awards and Achievements
In 1960, Jim had 23 stolen bases. The next year, 1961, was a great one for him. He hit .283 with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs. This was also the year he won his first Gold Glove Award. He would go on to win this award five years in a row, from 1960 to 1964! This award is given to the best defensive players in baseball. In 1962, he was chosen to play in two All-Star games. In 1963, Jim led the American League in fielding average with an amazing .993. This shows how few errors he made while playing center field.
Later Teams
After playing for the White Sox, Jim Landis was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in 1965. He played there for one season. In 1966, he played for the Cleveland Indians. Jim finished his 11-year career in 1967. That year, he played for three different teams: the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Red Sox.
Jim Landis was known for his amazing defense in the outfield. He had a .989 fielding percentage throughout his career. This means he made very few mistakes while playing any of the three outfield positions.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Jim Landis worked in the safety sign business. He also coached baseball for the Babe Ruth League, helping young players. Jim lived in Napa, California, with his wife, Sandy.
His Passing
Jim Landis passed away on October 7, 2017, at his home in Napa. He was 83 years old. His passing came just one day after his 61st wedding anniversary.
Jim Landis's Legacy
Jim Landis is remembered as a great player. On September 30, 2000, the Chicago White Sox honored him. They named him a member of the Chicago White Sox All-Century Team. Fans in Chicago also called him "The Best All-Time Chicago Center Fielder."
Jim Landis was even mentioned on TV! In 1991, an episode of the show Married... with Children asked a sports trivia question. The question was, "Who played centerfield for the '59 White Sox?" The character Al correctly answered, "Landis."
