- Hall of Famers
- The Members
- Hall of Fame Weekend
- Rules for Election
- Membership Spokesman
- Museum
- Experience
- Exhibits
- Library
- Artifacts
- Awards
- Activities
- Plan Your Visit
- Entering the Hall
- Cooperstown
- Events
- Special Experiences
- Offers
- News & Media
- Headlines
- Features
- Hall Directory
- Connections
- Education
- Public Programs
- School Programs
- Internship Program
Home › Hall of Famers ›
Bottomley, Jim
James Leroy Bottomley
Born:
April 23, 1900, Oglesby, Illinois
Died:
December 11, 1959, St. Louis, Missouri
Bats:
Left
Throws:
Left
Played For:
St. Louis Cardinals (1922-1932), Cincinnati Reds (1933-1935), St. Louis Browns (1936-1937)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee:
1974
Biography:
With a disposition that earned him the nickname "Sunny Jim," James Leroy Bottomley became the first league Most Valuable Player to emerge from a team's own farm system. Bottomley played over 1,800 games at first base and held a lifetime batting average of .310 with nine .300-plus seasons during his 16-year career. In 1928, Bottomley led the National League in home runs and RBIs and captured the Most Valuable Player Award, while leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series, one of four Fall Classics in which he would play.
Click here to see additional information provided by Baseball-Reference
Did You Know:
that in 1936, Jim Bottomley set the single-season record for most unassisted double plays by a first baseman with eight?
I don't have a regret in the world. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't chane a thing. I've loved every minute of my life, the excitement of baseball.
Photo Galleries
Video Clips
This Day in Baseball History
On May 24, 1972, California Angels pitcher Don Rose homers in his first major league at-bat. Rose connects against Oakland A’s left-hander Vida Blue, giving himself and the Angels a dramatic 6-5 win. Rose will never win another game or hit another home run in the major leagues.


