View source for Jim Bottomley

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{About|the American baseball player|other people of this name|James Bottomley (disambiguation)}}
{{Short description|American baseball player and manager (1900–1959)}}
{{good article}}

{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jim Bottomley
|image= Jim Bottomley - Cardinals.jpg
|position=[[First baseman]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
|birth_date={{birth date|1900|4|23}}
|birth_place=[[Oglesby, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|1959|12|11|1900|4|23}}
|death_place=[[St. Louis]], Missouri, U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 18
|debutyear=1922
|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 16
|finalyear=1937
|finalteam=St. Louis Browns
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.310
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,313
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=219
|stat4label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,422
|teams=
'''As player'''
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|1922}}–{{mlby|1932}})
* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1933}}–{{mlby|1935}})
* [[St. Louis Browns]] ({{mlby|1936}}–{{mlby|1937}})
'''As manager'''
* [[St. Louis Browns]] ({{mlby|1937}})
|highlights=
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1926}}, {{wsy|1931}})
* [[NL MVP]] (1928)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|NL home run leader]] (1928)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|NL RBI leader]] (1926, 1928)
* [[St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum|St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1974 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1974]]
|hofmethod=Veterans Committee
}}
'''James Leroy Bottomley''' (April 23, 1900 – December 11, 1959) was an American professional [[baseball]] player, [[Scout (sport)|scout]] and [[Manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) as a [[first baseman]] from 1922 to 1937, most prominently as a member of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] where he helped lead the team to four [[List of National League pennant winners|National League pennants]] and two [[World Series]] titles. 

Born in [[Oglesby, Illinois]], Bottomley grew up in [[Nokomis, Illinois]]. He dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to raise money for his family. While he was playing [[semi-professional]] baseball, the Cardinals scouted and signed Bottomley before the {{mlby|1920}} season. He became an integral member of the Cardinals [[Batting order (baseball)|batting order]], driving in 100 or more [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] between 1924 and 1929 as the team's [[cleanup hitter]]. In {{mlby|1924}}, he established a major league record for driving in 12 runs in a nine inning game.<ref>http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1924/B09160BRO1924.htm  The record has been equaled only once; by [[Mark Whiten]] 0/7/93  retrieved August 30, 2015</ref> 

In {{mlby|1926}} he led the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) in [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] and [[total bases]], helping the Cardinals win their first World Series championship. Bottomley was named the NL's [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] in {{mlby|1928}} after leading the league in [[home run]]s, runs batted in and total bases. He won another World Series with the Cardinals in {{wsy|1931}}. Bottomley hit above .300 nine times and had accumulated a .310 career batting average by the end of his sixteen-year major league career. He also played for the [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[St. Louis Browns]] and also served as [[player-manager (baseball)|player-manager]] for the Browns in 1937. 

After finishing his playing career with the Browns, Bottomley joined the [[Chicago Cubs]] organization as a [[scout (sport)|scout]] and [[minor league baseball]] manager. After suffering a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]], Bottomley retired to raise cattle with his wife in [[Missouri]]. Bottomley was nicknamed "Sunny Jim" because of his cheerful disposition. Bottomley was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1974 by the [[Veterans Committee]] and to the Cardinals [[St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum|Hall of Fame]] in 2014.

==Early life==
Bottomley was born on April 23, 1900,<ref name=sabr/> to Elizabeth ([[née]] Carter) and John Bottomley in [[Oglesby, Illinois]]. His family later moved to [[Nokomis, Illinois]], where Bottomley enrolled in grade school and [[Nokomis High School]].<ref>[http://www.lib.niu.edu/2006/ih050622.html Bases loaded: Nokomis second to none in baseball history]</ref> He dropped out when he was 16 years old in order to help support his family financially. Bottomley worked as a [[coal miner]], [[truck driver]], [[grocer|grocery clerk]], and [[railroad]] clerk. His younger brother, Ralph, died in a mining accident in 1920.<ref name=sabr>{{cite web|first=Bill |last=Johnson |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ea08fc60 |title=Jim Bottomley |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

Bottomley also played [[semi-professional]] baseball for several local teams to make additional money, earning $5 a game (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5|1918}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iAowAAAAIBAJ&pg=2007,81994&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=End For A Blithe Spirit: Sunny Jim Bottomley Dies Suddenly; Combined Color And Top-Flight Talent|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[Toledo Blade]]|page=14|date=December 12, 1959|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> A [[police officer]] who knew [[Branch Rickey]], the [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], saw Bottomley play, and recommended Bottomley to Rickey.<ref name=sabr/>

==Professional career==

===St. Louis Cardinals===
Rickey dispatched [[scout (sport)|scout]] [[Charley Barrett (baseball)|Charley Barrett]] to investigate Bottomley. The Cardinals decided to invite Bottomley to a tryout in late 1919, and signed him to a $150-a-month (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|150|1919}}}} in current dollar terms) contract.<ref name=sabr/> Bottomley began his professional career in [[minor league baseball]] in 1920. That year, Bottomley played for the [[Mitchell Kernels]] of the Class-D [[South Dakota League]], posting a .312 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] in 97 games, as Barrett continued to scout him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1929-03-22 |title=Puzzlers In Baseball |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/thiyctimrnlmqyrumvcflqcesrgavwbv_ip-10-166-46-95_1739761963005 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=[[The News and Courier]] |page=8 |publication-place=Charleston, South Carolina |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref> He also played six games for the [[Sioux City Packers]] of the Class-A [[Western League (1900–1958)|Western League]]. During his time in the minor leagues, the media began to call Bottomley "Sunny Jim", due to his pleasant disposition.<ref name=sabr/>

The next season, Bottomley played for the [[Houston Buffaloes]] of the Class-A [[Texas League]].<ref name=sabr/> Bottomley suffered a leg injury early in the season which became infected, and impeded his performance during the season. Bottomley managed only a .227 batting average in 130 games and struggled with his fielding. Unable to sell Bottomley after the season to Houston for $1,200 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1200|1921}}}} in current dollar terms), Rickey sold Bottomley to the [[Syracuse Chiefs]] of the Class-AA [[International League]] for $1,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000|1921}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=discarded>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IvEuAAAAIBAJ&pg=2837,4605628&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Talk To Students Gives Rickey Star First Sacker: Jim Bottomley, Discarded as Failure, Stages Meteoric Comeback to Fame|agency=Associated Press|page=6|newspaper=[[Ludington Daily News]]|date=November 21, 1923|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> Fully recovered from his leg injury in 1922, Bottomley batted .348 with 14 [[home run]]s, 15 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], and a .567 [[slugging percentage]] for the Chiefs. After the season, the Cardinals purchased Bottomley from the Chiefs for $15,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|15000|1922}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name=sabr/>

Bottomley made his [[Major League Baseball]] debut for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] on August 18, 1922. Replacing [[Jack Fournier]], Bottomley batted .325 in 37 games. The Cardinals named Bottomley their starting [[first baseman]] in 1923. As a rookie, Bottomley batted .371, finishing second in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) behind teammate [[Rogers Hornsby]], who batted .384. His .425 [[on-base percentage]] also finished second in the NL behind Hornsby, while he finished sixth in slugging percentage, with a .535 mark. His 94 [[runs batted in]] (RBIs) were tenth-best in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1923-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1923 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

Bottomley posted a .316 batting average in 1924.<ref name=sabr/> In a game against the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] on September 16, 1924, Bottomley set the major league record for RBIs in a single game, with 12, breaking [[Wilbert Robinson]]'s record of 11, set in 1892. Robinson was serving as the manager of the Dodgers at the time.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{Cite news |date=1924-09-17 |title=Robinson Looks On As Jim Bottomley Breaks His Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-robinson-looks-on-as-ji/165876425/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Hartford Courant |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> (Bottomley had two home runs, a double and three singles as he went 6-for-6 at the plate.)  This mark has since been tied by [[Mark Whiten]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ron |last=Fimrite |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137983/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502071046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137983/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 2, 2011 |title=Mark Whiten |magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 20, 1993 |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> As he finished the season with 111 RBIs, placing third in the NL, Bottomley's 14 home runs were seventh-best in the NL, while his .500 slugging percentage was good for tenth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1924-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1924 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> On August 29, Bottomley became the last left-handed player to record an assist while playing second base.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Preston|first1=JG|title=Left-handed throwing second basemen, shortstops and third basemen|url=https://prestonjg.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/left-handed-throwing-second-basemen-shortstops-and-third-basemen/|website=prestonjg.wordpress.com|date=September 6, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref>

Bottomley hit .367 in 1925, finishing second in the NL to Hornsby. He led the NL with 227 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], while his 128 RBIs were third-best, and his .413 on-base percentage was seventh-best in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1925-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1925 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> Bottomley batted .298 during the 1926 season, with an NL-leading 120 RBIs. His 19 home runs placed second in the NL, behind [[Hack Wilson]]'s 21, while his .506 slugging percentage was sixth-best.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1926-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1926 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> He batted .345 in the [[1926 World Series]], as the Cardinals defeated the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name=sabr/>

[[File:Jim Bottomley, 1928 NYT photo.jpg|thumb|Bottomley as a member of the Cardinals in 1928]]

In 1927, Bottomley finished the season with 124 RBIs, fourth best in the league, and a .509 slugging percentage, finishing sixth in the NL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1927-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1927 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> Bottomley hit .325 with 31 [[home run]]s and 136 RBIs in 1928, leading the league in home runs and RBIs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1928-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1928 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> He also became the second Major League player in history to join the [[20–20–20 club]], and became the first (since achieved by [[Jimmy Rollins]] in 2007) to record a 30 double, 20 triple, 30 home run season.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Martell |first1=Matt |title=Jimmy Rollins Has a Long Way to Go Before He Gets His Hall of Fame Due |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/12/27/jimmy-rollins-hall-of-fame-case |access-date=January 16, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 27, 2022}}</ref> That year, he won the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|League Award]], given to the [[most valuable player]] of the NL.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QjhPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6772,980370&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Voted Most Valuable In National League: St. Louis Player Awarded Coveted Baseball Honors; "Sunny Jim" Leads Freddy Lindstrom of Giants by Six Points; Eight Baseball Writers Select Infielder|first=Brian|last=Bell|agency=Associated Press|pages=2–3|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=December 5, 1928|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> The Cardinals reached the [[1928 World Series]], and Bottomley batted .214 as they lost to the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1928_WS.shtml |title=1928 World Series – New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals (4–0) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

In 1929, Bottomley hit 29 home runs, finishing seventh in the NL, while his 137 RBIs were fifth-best, and his .568 slugging percentage placed him in eighth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1929-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1929 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> After having what manager [[Gabby Street]] considered a "poor year" in 1930,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kJUwAAAAIBAJ&pg=2059,1807171&dq=jim-bottomley+1930&hl=en|title=Street, Summing Up Cards' Chances, Believes Bottomley Due For Great Year|newspaper=Kentucky New Era|page=4|first=Gabby|last=Street|date=February 17, 1931|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Bottomley struggled in the [[1930 World Series]], batting .045 in 22 [[at-bat]]s, as the Cardinals lost to the [[Philadelphia Athletics]]. Following the series, Bottomley described his World Series performance as "a bust as far as hitting goes".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1930-11-16 |title='Sunny Jim' Bottomley Has Unwelcome Record |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-sunny-jim-bottomley-h/165876971/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Hartford Courant |page=7C |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eLZRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5064,6400854&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Admits He Was Bust In Series: Has No Excuses To Offer for Batting Slump|first=Jim|last=Bottomley|agency=Universal Service|page=18|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=October 9, 1930|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1930_WS.shtml |title=1930 World Series – Philadelphia Athletics over St. Louis Cardinals (4–2) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

Amid questions about Bottomley's status with the Cardinals heading into the 1931 season, he demonstrated renewed hitting ability during [[spring training]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p5JRAAAAIBAJ&pg=4998,3198880&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en |title=Jim Bottomley Regains Old Hitting Form: Veteran to Hold Down First Base For Cards Again|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=March 23, 1931|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> Despite the presence of [[Ripper Collins (baseball)|Ripper Collins]], a superior fielder who transferred to the Cardinals from the [[Rochester Red Wings]] of the International League, Street announced that Bottomley would remain the starting first baseman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=csoaAAAAIBAJ&pg=1855,6896765&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title='Sunny Jim' Bottomley Will Remain With Cards As First Baseman|first=Ralph|last=Davis|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=47|date=March 27, 1931|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> However, Bottomley suffered an injury and struggled early in the 1931 season after returning to the game, and it appeared that he might lose his job to Collins, who filled in for Bottomley during his injury.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1931-08-29 |title=Jim Bottomley Regains Batting Eye on Eastern Trip |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/bowxcuihpksnuyuizanyowcljqvmrpzd_ip-10-166-46-126_1739762491555 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=2 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Bottomley returned to form after his return, and he finished the season with a .3482 batting average, placing third behind teammate [[Chick Hafey]]'s .3489 and [[Bill Terry]]'s .3486, the closest batting average finish in MLB history.<ref name=sabr/> His .534 slugging percentage was the sixth best in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1931-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1931 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> The Cardinals reached the [[1931 World Series]], with Bottomley batting .160, as the Cardinals defeated the Athletics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1931_WS.shtml |title=1931 World Series – St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Athletics (4–3) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> That offseason, other teams began to attempt to trade for either Bottomley or Collins.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=43AbAAAAIBAJ&pg=2607,5267183&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en |title=Carey Seeking Jim Bottomley: With Bissonette Injured, Robins Need First-Sacker|agency=United Press International|page=39|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=March 25, 1932|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref> Bottomley batted .296 in 1932, though he played in only 91 games.<ref name=sabr/>

===Cincinnati Reds===
After the 1932 season, the Cardinals traded Bottomley to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] for [[Ownie Carroll]] and [[Estel Crabtree]], in an attempt to partner Bottomley with [[Chick Hafey]] in developing a more potent offensive attack. Bottomley had also sought Cincinnati's managerial position that offseason, which instead went to [[Donie Bush]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1932-09-25 |title=Jim Bottomley May Be Named Manager Of Reds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-jim-bottomley-may-be-na/165878350/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Hartford Courant |page=29 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1932-12-18 |title=Jim Bottomley Is Traded To Redlegs by St. Louis |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/mysqpdqrxmxlbbfhxinipkjbhsnajvuo_ip-10-166-46-149_1739762864549 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |page=1-B |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Bottomley threatened to quit baseball in a salary dispute with the Reds, as he attempted to negotiate a raise from his $8,000 salary (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|8000|1933}}}} in current dollar terms), a reduction from the $13,000 salary (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|13000|1932}}}} in current dollar terms) he earned with the Cardinals the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1L8aAAAAIBAJ&pg=5711,1532954&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Threatens To Quit|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|agency=United Press International|page=28|date=January 31, 1933|access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> He and the Reds eventually came to terms on a one-year contract believed to be worth between $10,000 and $13,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LH1ZAAAAIBAJ&pg=1464,373106&dq=jim-bottomley+1933+salary&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Signs One-year Contract With Cincinnati: Yields After 4-Hour Talk With Weil|newspaper=Rochester Evening Journal|date=March 3, 1933|access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref> Bottomley finished eighth in the NL with 83 RBIs in 1933, and ninth with 13 home runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1933-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1933 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> In three seasons with the Reds, Bottomley failed to hit higher than .283 or record more than 83 RBIs in a season. Bottomley left the Reds during [[spring training]] in 1935 due to a salary dispute,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1935-03-30 |title=Jim Bottomley Quits the Reds |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/cjykakrerukbanoszorxnhpgdyfnrkmz_ip-10-166-46-126_1739762961472 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=2 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> deciding to return to the team in April.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qv8cAAAAIBAJ&pg=6577,2068765&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en |title=Jim Bottomley Will Return to Redlegs|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=31|date=April 9, 1935|access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

===St. Louis Browns===
Before the 1936 season, the Reds traded Bottomley to the [[St. Louis Browns]] of the [[American League]] (AL), who were managed by Hornsby, for [[Johnny Burnett (baseball)|Johnny Burnett]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-03-22 |title=To Join Browns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-to-join-browns/165879467/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Palm Beach Post |page=15 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> During a July road trip, Bottomley announced his retirement as a result of an injured back;<ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-07-18 |title=Sunny Jim Bottomley Announces His Retirement From Baseball |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/czcrxbylwameqqhpmjumkwupbszgzbni_ip-10-166-46-73_1739763118140 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=6 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OUsiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2081,2063902&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Checks Out: Jim Bottomley Given Big Cheer Last Time Up|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=San Jose News|page=6|date=July 17, 1936|access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> however, he changed his mind and decided to remain with the team.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1936-07-22 |title=Jim Bottomley to Hold Post |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-jim-bottomley-to-h/165880470/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=10, part II |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Bottomley batted .298 for the 1936 season.<ref name=sabr/>

Bottomley decided to return to baseball in 1937.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1937-01-03 |title=Jim Bottomley Changes Mind About Retiring From Game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-jim-bottomley-chan/165880593/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=11, part II |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> When the Browns struggled during the 1937 season, beginning the season with a 25–52 [[win–loss record]], the Browns fired Hornsby and named Bottomley their player-manager.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aE8iAAAAIBAJ&pg=1758,1863471&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Hornsby Is Given Air By Barnes: Jim Bottomley Named Acting Manager of Brownies|agency=Associated Press|page=6|newspaper=San Jose News|date=July 21, 1937|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> Bottomley led the Browns to 21 more victories, as the team finished the season in eighth place, with a 46–108 record. The Browns trailed the seventh place Athletics by {{frac|9|1|2}} games, and were 56 games out of first place. As a player, Bottomley batted .239 in 65 games during the 1937 season.<ref name=sabr/> Bottomley was among the ten oldest players in the AL that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1937-other-leaders.shtml |title=1937 American League Awards, All-Stars, & More Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

The Browns did not retain Bottomley after the 1937 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zBNPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3971,2537144&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Given Release: Popular St. Louis Diamond Performer Loses Job as Browns' Pilot|page=16|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|agency=Associated Press|date=November 20, 1937|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> replacing him with Street, who served as his [[coach (baseball)|first assistant]] during the 1937 season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1937-11-28 |title=Gabby Street and Jim Bottomley Part Company |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/jdoknyucdbajvulwqtvxksafukunlgzh_ip-10-166-46-185_1739763558150 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=33 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]]}}</ref> In 1938, Bottomley served as the player-manager of Syracuse. After a bad start to the season, and with team president [[Jack Corbett]] not adding capable players, Bottomley resigned and was replaced with [[Dick Porter]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0oUuAAAAIBAJ&pg=3981,2536932&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Quits Syracuse Manager Post|agency=United Press International|page=30|newspaper=Schenectady Gazette|date=May 20, 1938|access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> Bottomley also indicated that he did not want to continue playing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1nZHAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452,4691890&dq=jim-bottomley&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Resigns As Chiefs' Manager|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Meriden Record|page=4|date=May 20, 1938|access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>

===Career statistics===
In 1,991 games over 16 seasons, Bottomley posted a .310 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (2,313-for-7,471) with 1,177 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 465 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 151 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 219 [[home runs]], 1,422 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 58 [[stolen bases]], 664 [[bases on balls]], .369 [[on-base percentage]] and .500 [[slugging percentage]]. Defensively, he recorded a .988 [[fielding percentage]] as a first baseman. In 24 World Series games over four Series, he batted just .200 (18-for-90) with one home run and 10 RBI.<ref name="Jim Bottomley player page">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bottoji01.shtml|title=Jim Bottomley statistics and history|work=Baseball Reference.com| access-date = March 20, 2021}}</ref>

==Managerial record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Games!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
|-
![[1937 St. Louis Browns season|SLB]]|| {{mlby|1937}}
||77||21||56||{{Winning percentage|21|56}}|| 8th in AL || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 77 || 21 || 56 || {{Winning percentage|21|56}} || || 0 || 0 || – ||
|}

==Personal life==
Bottomley married Elizabeth "Betty" Browner, who operated a St. Louis [[beauty parlor]], on February 4, 1933.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 1933 |title="Sunny Jim" Bottomley Signs Marriage Contract |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post/125063574/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The couple had no children.<ref name=sabr/> After he retired from baseball in 1938, Bottomley and his wife moved to the [[Bourbon, Missouri]], area, where he raised [[Hereford cattle]].<ref name=sabr/> In 1939, Bottomley became a [[radio broadcaster]], signing a deal with [[KXFN|KWK]], an [[AM broadcasting]] station, to broadcast Cardinals and Browns games.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1939-04-29 |title=Jim Bottomley Gets Job on Radio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-jim-bottomley-gets/165881111/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=13 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aIlHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4602,2112119&dq=jim-bottomley+radio&hl=en|title=Jim Bottomley Gets Job As Baseball Announcer|agency=Associated Press|page=4|newspaper=Meriden Record|date=April 29, 1939|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

Bottomley returned to baseball as a scout for the Cardinals in 1955.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1955-04-21 |title='Sunny Jim' Bottomley To Scout for Cardinals |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-sunny-jim-bottomley-t/165881213/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Hartford Courant |page=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 1957, he joined the [[Chicago Cubs]] as a scout<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d7kfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4993,2677639&dq=jim-bottomley+scout+cubs&hl=en|title=Bottomley Joins Chicubs As Scout|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[The Gadsden Times]]|page=10|date=January 27, 1957|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> and managed the [[Pulaski Cubs]] of the Class D [[Appalachian League]]. While managing in Pulaski, Bottomley suffered a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]]. The Bottomleys moved to nearby [[Sullivan, Missouri]].<ref name=sabr/> Bottomley died of a heart ailment in December 1959.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1959-12-12 |title=Jim Bottomley Dies |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/title/awtccyuyrqoqikakxtxfbhghlfhbbldq_ip-10-166-46-135_1739763850380 |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Milwaukee Journal |page=14 |via=[[GenealogyBank.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He and his wife Betty were interred in the International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery, Sullivan, Missouri.<ref name=sabr/>

==Honors==
Bottomley holds the single-season record for most unassisted double plays by a first baseman, with eight. Bottomley is also known as the only man to be sued for hitting a home run ball that hit a fan. The plaintiff was not looking. He had over 100 RBIs in each season from 1924 to 1929. Bottomley was the second player in baseball history to hit 20 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in one season ([[Frank Schulte]] being the first)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-09-07-3913329224_x.htm |title=Granderson joins elite homer-double-triple club, helping Tigers beat Seattle |work=USA Today|date=September 7, 2007|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> and the first of two players ([[Lou Gehrig]] being the other) to collect 150 or more doubles, triples, and home runs in a career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ksdk.com/sports/pro_baseball/story.aspx?storyid=182759&catid=153|title=How Jim Bottomley smiled his way to the Hall of Fame|work=KSDK|date=August 17, 2009|access-date=May 14, 2013}}</ref>

Bottomley was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] posthumously in 1974 by the [[Veterans Committee]]. The [[Baseball Writers' Association of America]] charged that the Veterans Committee was not selective enough in choosing members.<ref name=brouhaha>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2OQLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6792,627078&dq=george-kelly+veterans+committee&hl=en|title=Baseball Brouhaha Brewing|page=1C|newspaper=The Evening Independent|date=January 19, 1977|access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> Charges of cronyism were levied against the Veterans Committee.<ref name=cronyism>{{cite news|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123734/http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/sullivan/20021221-9999_1s21sullivan.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |title=Hall voter finds new parameters unhittable |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union Tribune]] |first=Tim |last=Sullivan |page=D.1 |date=December 21, 2002 |access-date=November 3, 2011 }}</ref> When Bottomley was elected, the Veterans Committee included [[Frankie Frisch]], a teammate of Bottomley's with the Cardinals. Frisch and [[Bill Terry]], also a member of the Veterans Committee at the time, shepherded the selections of teammates [[Jesse Haines]] in [[1970 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1970]], [[Dave Bancroft]] and [[Chick Hafey]] in [[1971 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1971]], [[Ross Youngs]] in [[1972 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1972]], [[George Kelly (baseball)|George Kelly]] in [[1973 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1973]], and [[Freddie Lindstrom]] in [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1976|1976]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=11592|title=Prospectus Hit and Run: Don't Call it the Veterans' Committee|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|work=[[Baseball Prospectus]]|date=July 28, 2010|access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref> This led to the Veterans Committee having its powers reduced in subsequent years.<ref name=goodnews>{{cite news|url=http://www.dotnews.com/columns/2010/good-news-baseball-hall-looking-electoral-revamp|title=The good news: Baseball Hall looking at electoral revamp |first=Clark |last=Booth |newspaper=Dorchester Reporter |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=December 21, 2011}}</ref>

In 2014, the Cardinals announced Bottomley was among 22 former players and personnel to be inducted into the [[St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum]] for its inaugural class of [[2014 St. Louis Cardinals season|2014]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Cardinals Press Release |url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140118&content_id=66822534&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126165854/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140118&content_id=66822534&vkey=pr_stl&c_id=stl |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |title=Cardinals establish Hall of Fame & detail induction process |publisher=www.stlouis.cardinals.[[MLB.com|mlb.com]] |date=January 18, 2014 |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref>

The city park in his adopted home town of Sullivan, Missouri, is named for Bottomley.<ref name=sabr/> Also the park in his birthplace [[Oglesby, Illinois]]. A museum in [[Nokomis, Illinois]], the Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum, is dedicated to Bottomley and fellow Hall of Famers [[Ray Schalk]] and [[Red Ruffing]], who were also Nokomis residents.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite web |last=Kane |first=Dave |url=http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x576544733/Towns-baseball-ties-on-display-at-museum |title=Town's baseball ties on display at museum |location=Galesburg, Illinois |work=[[The Register-Mail]] |date=October 8, 2009 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123141914/http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x576544733/Towns-baseball-ties-on-display-at-museum |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{div col}}
* [[20–20–20 club]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball player-managers]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball runs batted in records]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders]]
* [[List of St. Louis Cardinals team records]]
* [[St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ea08fc60 |title=Jim Bottomley |first=Bill |last=Johnson |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007191357/http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Bottomley.Jim.Obit.html Obituary] at The Deadball Era via [[Wayback Machine]]

==External links==
*{{bbhof|bottomley-jim}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=111266|espn=19395|br=b/bottoji01|fangraphs=1001228|brm=bottom001jam|retro=B/Pbottj101}}
*{{baseball-reference manager|bottoji01}}
* {{findagrave|4650}}
:

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Bob Fothergill]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = July 15, 1927 | after = [[Cy Williams]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{1974 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals HOF}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame}}
{{1926 St. Louis Cardinals}}
{{1931 St. Louis Cardinals}}
{{NL League Award}}
{{NL home run champions}}
{{NL RBI champions}}
{{20-20-20 Club}}
{{St. Louis Browns managers|width=100}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bottomley, Jim}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
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