Jimmy Stewart (baseball) facts for kids

James Franklin Stewart (June 11, 1939 – November 24, 2012) was a talented American baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for ten seasons. He was known as a "utility man" because he could play many different positions on the field. Jimmy played for teams like the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros.

Jimmy was born in Opelika, Alabama. He went to Lafayette High School (Alabama) and was a star in baseball, basketball, and track. Later, he attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. He continued to excel in all three sports there.

Playing Baseball in the Major Leagues

Jimmy Stewart started his professional baseball journey with the Chicago Cubs. He signed with them before the 1961 season. After playing for three years in the minor leagues, he made it to the major leagues.

First MLB Games and Hits

Jimmy was 24 years old when he played his first MLB game. This happened on September 3, 1963, with the Cubs. His first time at bat was as a pinch hitter. He faced a famous pitcher named Juan Marichal.

A week later, on September 10, he got his first hit. He was pinch-hitting again, this time against another Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Gibson. Jimmy hit a double and later a single in that game.

His Best Season with the Cubs

His most successful year was in 1964 while playing for the Cubs. He played in 132 games that season. Jimmy had a batting average of .253. He also hit three home runs and had 33 runs batted in.

Moving to Other Teams

In 1967, the Chicago White Sox bought Jimmy's contract. He played 24 games for them. He often came into games as a pinch hitter or to play defense. After that, he played in the White Sox's minor league system.

The Cincinnati Reds then drafted him in 1968. Jimmy was very good at playing many positions. Because of this, fans called him "Super Sub" during his three years with the Reds. He played every position except pitcher!

Playing in the World Series

In 1970, Jimmy played in the 1970 World Series with the Reds. They played against the Baltimore Orioles. The Reds lost the series in five games.

Joining the Houston Astros

In 1971, Jimmy was part of a big trade. He moved to the Houston Astros. This trade also brought famous players like Joe Morgan to the Reds. Joe Morgan later won two MVP awards and helped the Reds win two World Series.

Jimmy played for the Astros in 1972 and 1973. He continued to be a versatile player for them. He played his last major league game on September 29, 1973.

Career Highlights and Positions Played

Jimmy Stewart played for ten years in the major leagues. He finished his career with a .237 batting average. He had 336 hits, including 45 doubles and 8 home runs.

He was truly a utility player. He played almost every position on the field:

• Left field (179 games)
• Second base (122 games)
• Shortstop (107 games)
• Center field (43 games)
• Third base (37 games)
• First base (10 games)
• Right field (10 games)
• Catcher (1 game)

Life After Playing: A Baseball Scout

After his playing career, Jimmy Stewart continued to be involved in baseball. In 1978, he was honored by being inducted into the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame.

Working as a Scout

In 1980, Jimmy rejoined the Cincinnati Reds. He first worked as a manager in their minor league system. Then, he became a scout. A scout's job is to find new talented players.

He was a major league scout for the Reds from 1984 to 1991. After that, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992. He worked as a special assignment scout for them. He stayed in this role until he retired from baseball in 2006.

Jimmy Stewart retired to Florida with his wife, Donna. He passed away at the age of 73 on November 24, 2012, in Odessa, Florida.