Jimmy Wynn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jimmy Wynn |
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Wynn in 2011
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: March 12, 1942 Hamilton, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Died: March 26, 2020 (aged 78) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 10, 1963, for the Houston Colt .45s | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1977, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 291 | ||
| Runs batted in | 964 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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James Sherman Wynn (March 12, 1942 – March 26, 2020) was a famous American baseball player. People called him "The Toy Cannon" because he was small (5 feet 9 inches tall and 160 pounds) but could hit the ball with a lot of power. He played for 15 seasons as a center fielder.
Wynn spent most of his career, ten seasons, with the Houston Colt .45s / Astros. He was also an All-Star twice with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He later played for three other teams before he retired.
Contents
Playing Baseball
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Jimmy Wynn began his baseball journey in 1962. The Cincinnati Reds signed him right after he finished high school. He started playing for a team called the Tampa Tarpons.
In his first year, he played mostly at third base. He hit well, with a .290 batting average and 14 home runs. After that season, the Houston Colt .45s chose him in a special draft for new minor league players.
Years with the Houston Astros (1963–1973)
Wynn started the 1963 season with the San Antonio Bullets, a Double-A team. He played both shortstop and third base there. He hit 16 home runs in 78 games. Because he played so well, he was called up to the major leagues in July.
He made his first major league game on July 10, 1963. He played shortstop and got one hit and one stolen base. For the rest of that year, he played both shortstop and left field.
In 1964, Wynn became a full-time outfielder because he was better at playing defense there. He started as the team's main center fielder. He played in 67 games that season.
His first full season was in 1965, where he played in 157 games. He hit 22 home runs and stole 43 bases. He also had a good on-base percentage of .371.
In 1966, his season ended early after 105 games. He broke his left arm while trying to catch a ball. This happened when he crashed into the outfield wall.
Wynn had a great year in 1967. He played in 158 games and hit a career-high 37 home runs. He also had 107 runs batted in. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game. Many people thought he was the best home run hitter that year.
One of his most famous home runs was on June 10, 1967. The ball flew over a 58-foot scoreboard and landed outside the stadium! A few days later, he hit three home runs in one game. This was the first time a Houston player had done that.
In 1969, Wynn led all of Major League Baseball with 148 walks. He also hit 33 home runs and stole 23 bases. He continued to play well for the Astros until the end of the 1973 season.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1974–1975)
In December 1973, Wynn was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His first season with the Dodgers in 1974 was fantastic. He hit 32 home runs and had a career-high 108 runs batted in. He was named to the All-Star Game again.
He also helped the Dodgers win the National League championship that year. They played in the 1974 World Series, but they did not win.
In 1975, Wynn was chosen for his third and final All-Star Game. He even hit a home run in that game! Later that year, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves.
Later Years (1976–1977)
Wynn played one season with the Atlanta Braves in 1976. He led the major leagues in walks again, with 127. After that season, he was bought by the New York Yankees.
In 1977, his final year, Wynn played for both the Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers. He mostly played as a designated hitter. He retired from baseball at the end of that season.
Career Highlights
Jimmy Wynn played in 1,920 games over 15 seasons. He had a career batting average of .250. He hit 291 home runs and had 964 runs batted in. He also stole 225 bases.
He was known for his ability to get on base, with a .366 on-base percentage. This means he often got to first base, either by hitting or by getting a walk.
After Baseball
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| Jimmy Wynn's number 24 was retired by the Houston Astros in 2005. |
The Houston Astros honored Jimmy Wynn by retiring his number 24. This means no other Astros player will ever wear that number again. The ceremony happened on June 25, 2005.
After he stopped playing, Wynn worked for the Houston Astros. He was a TV analyst for their games. He also worked in the community, helping the team connect with fans.
His Passing
Jimmy Wynn passed away on March 26, 2020, in Houston, Texas. He was 78 years old. The cause of his death was not shared. He is remembered by his wife, Marie, and his two children.
See also
- Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
