Jim Rivera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Rivera |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: July 22, 1921 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: November 13, 2017 (aged 96) Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 15, 1952, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 1961, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .256 | ||
| Home runs | 83 | ||
| Runs batted in | 422 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Manuel Joseph "Jim" Rivera (born July 22, 1921 – died November 13, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jim played for three different teams over ten seasons. These teams were the St. Louis Browns (1952), the Chicago White Sox (1952–1961), and the Kansas City Athletics (1961).
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Jim Rivera's Baseball Career
Jim Rivera was born in New York City. His parents had moved there from Puerto Rico. People started calling him "Jim" when he was 17. Later, when he joined the Chicago White Sox in 1952, he was called "Big Jim."
How "Jungle Jim" Got His Name
In 1953, a sports writer named Edgar Munzel gave him the nickname "Jungle Jim." This was because of his exciting and unusual way of playing baseball. Jim was also known for his very outgoing personality. He threw and batted with his left hand. During his playing days, he was 6 feet tall and weighed 196 pounds.
Rivera's Impact on the Field
Jim Rivera was a very fast and smart runner on the bases. He would slide headfirst into bases, even before it became a common thing to do! He also made many amazing catches in right field that saved games.
He was a "ground ball hitter," meaning he often hit the ball on the ground. He used his speed to turn these hits into singles or doubles. Jim was also known for being tough in important game situations.
In 1953, Jim led the American League in triples with 16. A triple is when a batter hits the ball and reaches third base safely. In 1955, he led the league in stolen bases with 25. A stolen base is when a runner advances to the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball.
Jim was a key player for the "Go-Go White Sox" team in the 1950s. This team was famous for its speed and aggressive base running. In 1959, his team won the American League pennant. This meant they were the best team in the American League that year.
World Series and Career Stats
After winning the pennant, the White Sox played in the 1959 World Series. They played against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The White Sox lost the series in six games.
Over his career, Jim Rivera played in 1,171 games. He had a lifetime batting average of .256. This means he got a hit about 25.6% of the time he was at bat. He hit 83 home runs and had 422 RBIs (Runs Batted In). He also scored 503 runs, hit 155 doubles, and 56 triples.
Jim stole 160 bases in his career. His lifetime fielding average was .978, which means he was very good at catching and throwing the ball without making errors.
Later Years and Legacy
Jim Rivera played his last season in 1961 for the Kansas City Athletics. He was 40 years old. He played in 64 games that year and had a batting average of .241. Jim once said that Whitey Ford was the "toughest" pitcher he ever faced. He also liked being called "Big Jim."
After his baseball career, Jim Rivera became a part-owner and manager. He worked for two professional softball teams: the Fort Wayne Scouts (1979) and the Fort Wayne Huggie Bears (1980).
Jim Rivera passed away on November 13, 2017, at the age of 96.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
