Jim Rooker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Rooker |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 23, 1942 Lakeview, Oregon, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 30, 1968, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 2, 1980, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 103–109 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.46 | ||
| Strikeouts | 976 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James Phillip Rooker (born September 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). After his playing career, he became a broadcaster.
Jim Rooker was a left-handed pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. Then he joined the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1973. His final team was the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played from 1974 to 1980.
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Starting His Baseball Journey
Jim Rooker began his baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. He signed with them as a young player. For seven years, he played in their minor league teams. These teams help young players get ready for the big leagues.
In 1968, Rooker finally made his MLB debut. He pitched in two games as a relief pitcher. Later that year, the Kansas City Royals picked him. This happened in a special "expansion draft." This draft helps new teams get players. Rooker then became a starting pitcher for the Royals.
Early Years with the Royals
In 1969, Rooker had a tough season. He won four games but lost 16. However, he made history for the Royals. In one game, he hit two home runs. This was a first for any Royals player. Both home runs were against pitcher Jim Kaat.
Rooker improved his record in 1970. He finished the season with 10 wins and 15 losses. One game was a close 12-inning match. He almost pitched a no-hitter against the New York Yankees. But a player named Horace Clarke got a hit in the ninth inning. After two more seasons, Rooker was traded. He went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for another player.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Jim Rooker had his best years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1973, he had a strong record of 10 wins and 6 losses. The next year, 1974, was even better. He won 15 games and lost 11. His ERA was 2.78, which was excellent. He also had a career-high 139 strikeouts.
Chasing Championships
The Pirates won their division in 1974. Rooker pitched in a playoff game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched well, giving up only two runs. But the Dodgers won that game and the series. In 1975, Rooker continued to play well. He had 13 wins and 11 losses. The Pirates won their division again. However, they lost in the playoffs to the Cincinnati Reds.
Rooker kept playing consistently in 1976 and 1977. He won 15 games in 1976 and 14 in 1977. But the Pirates did not win their division those years. In late 1977, Rooker broke his arm in a car accident. This affected his 1978 season. His performance dropped, and his ERA went up.
World Series Champion
In 1979, Jim Rooker and the Pirates won the World Series. This was a huge achievement. Rooker had a smaller role that season. He started some games and finished with 4 wins and 7 losses.
He started Game 5 of the World Series. The Pirates were losing the series three games to one. Rooker pitched five innings and gave up only one run. The Pirates were losing 1–0 when he left the game. But his team rallied and scored seven runs. They won that game 7–1. The Pirates then won the next two games to become champions!
Rooker's Batting Skills
Jim Rooker was also a good hitter for a pitcher. Most pitchers are not known for their hitting. He had a .201 batting average in his career. He hit seven home runs and had 56 RBI. In 1969, he hit four home runs for the Royals. In 1974, he hit an impressive .305 for the Pirates.
Life After Playing Baseball
After retiring from playing, Jim Rooker became a broadcaster. He was known for speaking his mind. From 1981 to 1993, he worked for the Pirates' radio and TV team. He also worked for ESPN from 1994 to 1997.
The Famous "Walk Home" Promise
Rooker's most famous moment as a broadcaster happened in 1989. The Pirates were playing the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates scored 10 runs in the very first inning! This included a home run by Barry Bonds. Rooker was so sure the Pirates would win. He said on the air, "If we lose this game, I'll walk back to Pittsburgh."
But the Phillies made an amazing comeback. They scored many runs. Two Phillies players even hit two home runs each. In the eighth inning, the Phillies took the lead. They won the game 15–11. Rooker had to keep his promise! After the season, he walked over 300 miles. He walked from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh for charity. This event was even made into a documentary later on.
Jim Rooker's Personal Life
Jim Rooker loves dogs very much. He is also a skilled dog trainer.
After his baseball career, Rooker tried to get into politics. He ran for office in Pennsylvania. He tried to become a state representative and a member of the U.S. Congress. However, he did not win either election.
Rooker also writes children's literature. He has written three books for kids. These books combine reading with baseball stories. The titles are Paul the Baseball, Matt the Batt, and Kitt the Mitt. They were published in 2009.
