Highlighted Year: Jim Bunning, 1961

Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Age:  29

7^th season with Tigers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1961:

A Kentucky native, Bunning grew up in Southgate, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and attended Reds games along with his father. He also began pitching during his youth. Attending St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, he played football and basketball in addition to baseball. Admitted to Xavier University in 1949, Bunning drew the interest of a Tigers scout as a sophomore and signed for $4000 on the stipulation that he continue his college education and not have to report until the end of the spring semester each year, which caused him to miss three years of spring training. Initially reporting to Richmond of the Class D Ohio-Indiana League as an 18-year-old in 1950 and after winning his first five starts, he lost seven straight and finished at 7-8 with a 3.22 ERA. Advancing to Davenport of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1951 Bunning produced an 8-10 tally with the last-place team along with a 2.88 ERA and 103 strikeouts, along with 105 walks, over 150 innings. In 1952 with Williamsport of the Class A Eastern League, his record was a disappointing 5-9 with a 3.49 ERA, 10 complete games, and 85 strikeouts over 129 innings pitched. Having graduated college in 1953 with a degree in Economics, Bunning continued with his baseball career by adjusting his pitching delivery to a three-quarter side-arm motion. Initially assigned to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League, he was switched to Little Rock of the Class AA Southern Association where he produced a 5-12 mark with a 4.56 ERA, 6 complete games, and 124 strikeouts over 158 innings while reducing his walks to 66. Returning to Little Rock in 1954, his tally improved to 13-11 with a 4.29 ERA, 11 complete games, and 140 strikeouts over 193 innings. Reassigned to Buffalo in 1955, he worked on supplementing his fastball with breaking pitches and went 8-5 with a 3.77 ERA, 8 complete games, and 105 strikeouts with 81 walks over 129 innings. Called up to the Tigers in July he was 3-5 as a starter/reliever with a high 6.35 ERA and 37 strikeouts with 32 walks over 51 innings. Following a winter pitching in Mexico to further develop his breaking pitches, Bunning was optioned to the Charleston Senators of the Class AAA American Association in 1956 where he had a 9-11 tally and 3.53 ERA when he was recalled to the Tigers in July. Appearing in 15 games (12 in relief), Bunning’s record was 5-1 with a 3.71 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 53.1 innings. Working out of the bullpen with the Tigers early in the 1957 season, he developed a slider to add to his repertoire along with his fastball, curve, and changeup. His delivery was such that his follow-thru had the lanky pitcher falling off the mound toward first base while his gloved left hand would touch the ground. An impressive May start against the Red Sox put Bunning into the rotation as he went on to compile a 20-8 record along with a 2.69 ERA and 182 strikeouts over a league-leading 267.1 innings. Along the way he started the All-Star Game for the AL and retired all nine NL batters that he faced. The only significant downside was serving up 33 home runs. Bunning got off to a rocky start in 1958 heightened by a rib injury in May. A strong second half that included a no-hitter against the Red Sox lifted him to a 14-12 tally and 3.52 ERA with 177 strikeouts over 219.2 innings. Bunning led the AL with 201 strikeouts in 1959 while producing a 17-13 mark and 3.89 ERA. He once again had problems with giving up the long ball while surrendering a league-leading 37 home runs. Along the way in a relief appearance in August he pulled off the rare feat of striking out three batters in an inning on nine pitches. His record was a disappointing 11-14 in 1960 but he again topped the league with 201 strikeouts while accumulating 252 innings and a 2.79 ERA.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 38 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 38

Games Started – 37 [2]

Complete Games – 12 [4, tied with four others]

Wins – 17 [4]

Losses – 11

PCT - .607 [13]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 4 [3, tied with Milt Pappas & Frank Lary]

Innings Pitched – 268 [3]

Hits – 232 [11]

Runs – 113 [13]

Earned Runs – 95 [15]

Home Runs – 25 [11, tied with Ray Herbert & Bob Shaw]

Bases on Balls – 71

Strikeouts – 194 [3]

ERA – 3.19 [7, tied with Hal Brown]

Hit Batters – 9 [4, tied with Bud Daley]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 2 

Midseason Snapshot: 9-6, ERA – 3.54, SO - 102 in 137.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) vs. Baltimore 7/19

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 8 IP) at Washington 8/25

Batting

PA – 104, AB – 100, R – 6, H – 13, 2B – 1, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 2, SO – 30, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .130, GDP – 3, HBP – 0, SH – 2, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 53

Put Outs – 21

Assists – 29

Errors – 3

DP – 6

Pct. - .943

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (started for AL in second game)

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The Tigers went 101-61 to finish second in the AL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (62), shutouts (20), and fewest bases on balls issued (469). The Tigers started off fast and were in first place from April 29 until June 6 and then again from June 17 through July 6. They were in first or second for the remainder of July but in second to stay through August and September. After losing three straight to the Yankees in New York to start September, they continued to lose until the string reached eight straight to end any pennant hopes.

Aftermath of 1961:

The Tigers dropped to fourth place in 1962, but Bunning, who relieved effectively six times in addition to his regular starting assignments produced a 19-10 record and 3.59 ERA with 12 complete games and 184 strikeouts while compiling 258 innings. Detroit dropped a spot lower in the standings in 1963 and replaced manager Bob Scheffing with Chuck Dressen during the season and Bunning expressed dissatisfaction with Dressen’s handling of him during a year in which he posted a disappointing 12-13 tally with a 3.88 ERA and 196 strikeouts over 248.1 innings. He was still an All-Star for the fifth time in a Detroit uniform, but his outspokenness and tough contract negotiating skill led to his being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason along with catcher Gus Triandos for outfielder Don Demeter and RHP Jack Hamilton. In 1964 Bunning combined with LHP Chris Short to create an impressive righty-lefty tandem for the Phillies. Along the way he pitched a perfect game against the New York Mets. Come September the Phillies were in first place by 6.5 games with 12 remaining to play when they endured an epic collapse, losing 10 straight games and finishing in a tie for second place. Manager Gene Mauch took much criticism for starting Bunning and Short on short rest down the stretch to try and right the ship. Bunning, who three times started on just two days of rest, was charged with three of the losses during the collapse and finished with a 19-8 record and 2.63 ERA along with 13 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 219 strikeouts while pitching 284.1 innings. In 1965 he had another solid season by going 19-9 with a 2.60 ERA, 16 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 268 strikeouts. Bunning continued his string of 19-win seasons in 1966 with a 19-14 tally along with a 2.41 ERA, 314 innings pitched, 16 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 252 strikeouts. He won fewer games in 1967 with his 17-15 record but led the NL in strikeouts (253), innings pitched (302.1), and shutouts (6) and was among the leaders with his 2.29 ERA and 16 complete games. The Phillies, who had not contended since 1964 chose to deal the 36-year-old veteran in the offseason as part of a youth movement. He went to the Pittsburgh Pirates for LHP Woody Fryman and three minor league prospects. Hindered by multiple injuries in 1968, Bunning’s record dropped to 4-14 and a 3.88 ERA while accumulating only 160 innings and 95 strikeouts. He performed better in 1969 and was 10-9 with a 3.81 ERA when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August. He finished with a combined tally of 13-10, a 3.69 ERA, and 157 strikeouts over 212.1 innings with 5 complete games. Released by the Dodgers in the offseason, Bunning returned to the floundering Phillies in 1970. He posted a 10-15 mark with a 4.11 ERA and 147 strikeouts over 219 innings. In 1971 he started the first Phillies home game at the new Veterans Stadium, drawing a win. It was one of 5 for the season against 12 losses, and Bunning retired. For his major league career, he produced a 224-184 record with a 3.27 ERA, 151 complete games, 40 shutouts, 16 saves, and 2855 strikeouts over 3760.1 innings. With Detroit he went 118-87 with a 3.45 ERA, 78 complete games, 16 shutouts, 12 saves, and 1406 strikeouts over 1867.1 innings. He never appeared in the postseason. Highly consistent and a nine-time All-Star, Bunning was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. The Phillies retired his #14 and put a plaque in his honor on the Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame at Citizens Bank Park. Following his playing career Bunning managed in the Phillies farm system for several years. Formerly active with the players’ association, he also acted as a player agent. Bunning brought his determination and competitiveness to the political arena and served in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate, representing Kentucky. He died in 2017 at the age of 85.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.