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 a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He also worked as a broadcaster after his playing career. Jim Rooker was a left-handed pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers in 1968, the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1973, and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1974 to 1980.
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Early Baseball Career
Jim Rooker started his baseball journey with the Detroit Tigers. He spent seven years playing in their minor league system. This is like a training ground for young players. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball in 1968. He pitched in two games as a relief pitcher, meaning he came into the game after the starting pitcher.
In October 1968, the Kansas City Royals chose him in a special draft. He then became a starting pitcher for them. In 1969, he won four games and lost 16. However, in one game, he made history for the Royals. He became the first player for the team to hit two home runs in a single game!
Jim improved his record in 1970, winning 10 games. Later, after two more seasons, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Jim Rooker had his best seasons while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1973, he won 10 games. In 1974, he had an even better year, winning 15 games. His earned run average (ERA) was 2.78, which was excellent. He also had his highest number of strikeouts that year, with 139.
The Pirates won their division title in 1974. Jim pitched in the playoffs, but his team lost the series. In 1975, Jim continued to play well, and the Pirates won their division again. However, they were defeated in the playoffs once more.
Jim Rooker kept playing consistently in 1976 and 1977. He won 15 games in 1976 and 14 games in 1977. Sadly, he broke his arm in a car accident in late 1977. In 1978, his performance dipped a bit.
Winning the World Series
Jim Rooker and the Pirates won the 1979 World Series. This was a huge achievement! Jim had a 4–7 record during the regular season, often starting games when needed. In Game 5 of the World Series, the Pirates were behind in the series. Jim pitched well, giving up only one run in five innings. The Pirates then rallied and won that game. They went on to win the next two games as well, becoming the World Series champions!
Throughout his career, Jim Rooker won 103 games and lost 109. He had 976 strikeouts and a 3.46 ERA. He was also a good hitter for a pitcher. He had a .201 batting average and hit seven home runs. In 1974, he hit an impressive .305 for the Pirates.
Famous Broadcaster Moment
After he stopped playing baseball, Jim Rooker became a color analyst for the Pirates' radio and television broadcasts. He worked in this role from 1981 to 1993. He also worked for ESPN from 1994 to 1997.
Jim Rooker is famous for something he said during a game on June 8, 1989. The Pirates were playing the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates scored 10 runs in the very first inning! Jim Rooker said on the air, "If we don't win this one, I don't think I'd want to be on that plane ride home. Matter of fact, if we lose this game, I'll walk back to Pittsburgh."
But the Phillies made an amazing comeback! They scored many runs and ended up winning the game 15–11. Jim Rooker had to keep his promise. After the season, he walked over 300 miles from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. This walk was for charity, raising money for a good cause. His journey was even documented in a special video series in 2022.
Personal Life and Interests
Jim Rooker loves dogs and is very good at training them.
After his baseball career, Jim Rooker also tried to get involved in politics. He ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and also for the United States Congress. However, he did not win either of those elections.
Jim Rooker also writes children's literature. He has written three books that combine reading with baseball stories. The books are called Paul the Baseball, Matt the Batt, and Kitt the Mitt. They were published in September 2009.
