Jim Ray Hart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Ray Hart |
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| Third baseman / Left fielder | |||
| Born: October 30, 1941 Hookerton, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died: May 19, 2016 (aged 74) Acampo, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 7, 1963, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 27, 1974, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .278 | ||
| Home runs | 170 | ||
| Runs batted in | 578 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
James Ray Hart (born October 30, 1941 – died May 19, 2016) was an American baseball player. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jim Ray Hart played for the San Francisco Giants from 1963 to 1973. He also played for the New York Yankees in 1973 and 1974.
Hart was a right-handed player, meaning he batted and threw with his right hand. During his 12 years in MLB, he had a batting average of .278. He hit 170 home runs and helped score 578 runs (RBIs). He played in 1,125 Major League games.
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Playing Baseball: Jim Ray Hart's Career Highlights
Jim Ray Hart had many exciting moments during his baseball career. In 1964, he was one of the top new players, finishing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1966, he was chosen to play in the All-Star Game for the National League. This is a special game where the best players from different teams play against each other.
A big month for him was July 1967. He was named the National League Player of the Month. He hit very well, with a .355 batting average, 13 home runs, and 30 RBIs that month.
Hitting for the Cycle: A Rare Baseball Feat
On July 8, 1970, Jim Ray Hart achieved something very rare in baseball: he hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game!
On that same day, he also made history by getting six RBIs in just one inning. He did this by hitting a three-run triple and a three-run home run in the fifth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves.
Playing Defense: Jim Ray Hart's Position on the Field
While Jim Ray Hart was a great hitter, he was known for struggling a bit with defense at third base. In his first three full seasons (1964–1966), he made many errors at third base. After that, he didn't play as many games at third base.
Baseball expert Bill James once wrote that Jim Ray Hart was a better hitter than many other famous third basemen. This shows how strong he was with the bat, even if his defense wasn't his strongest skill.
After leaving Major League Baseball in 1974, Hart played baseball in Mexico. He then retired from the sport completely in 1976.
Life After Baseball: What Jim Ray Hart Did Next
After his baseball career, Jim Ray Hart started a new job. He worked for the Teamsters union as a warehouseman for Safeway supermarkets. He first worked in Richmond, California.
Later, in 1992, he moved to Tracy, California, when the company's operations moved there. He worked at Safeway until he retired in 2006.
Jim Ray Hart passed away on May 19, 2016.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
