Highlighted Year: Jim Landis, 1959

Outfielder, Chicago White Sox

Age:  25

3^rd season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1959:

A California native, Landis played third base at Richmond High School. After playing briefly at Contra Costa College, he was signed by the White Sox for $2500. Initially a third baseman and outfielder with Wisconsin Rapids of the Class D Wisconsin State League in ’52, the 18-year-old batted .274 with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 54 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .381 on-base percentage. Advancing to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class A Western League in 1953, he played exclusively in the outfield and hit .313 with 23 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, a .391 OBP, and a .467 slugging percentage. Landis spent 1954 and ’55 in the Army. Returning to Colorado Springs in 1956 he was speedily moved up to Memphis of the Class AA Southern Association where he batted .257 with 13 extra-base hits, 30 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and a .358 OBP. Landis spent much of 1957 with Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association and was called up to the White Sox, where he appeared in 96 games and excelled in right and center fields defensively, but batted only .212 with a .329 OBP. Fast and sure-handed with an excellent throwing arm in the field, Landis took over as the starting center fielder in 1958 and his hitting improved to .277 with 23 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .351 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. On the speed-oriented club he stole 19 bases, which ranked third in the American League. The stage was set for bigger things in 1959.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 149 games

CF – 148, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 623 [13]

At Bats – 515 [18]

Runs – 78 [18]

Hits – 140 [19]

Doubles – 26 [10, tied with Hector Lopez]

Triples – 7 [3, tied with Harvey Kuenn, Tony Kubek & Roger Maris]

Home Runs – 5

RBI – 60

Bases on Balls – 78 [8, tied with Gene Woodling]

Int. BB – 5 [16, tied with six others]

Strikeouts – 68 [16]

Stolen Bases – 20 [3, tied with Jackie Jensen]

Caught Stealing – 9 [4]

Average - .272

OBP - .370 [10]

Slugging Pct. - .379

Total Bases – 195

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 8 [4]

Sac Hits – 13 [1, tied with Tony Kubek & Al Pilarcik]

Sac Flies – 9 [4]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, 3B – 2, HR – 4, RBI – 28, SB – 10, AVG – .246, OBP - .351

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 7/4

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

Most HR, game – 1 on five occasions

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 4

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Cleveland 7/9, at Detroit 8/13

Pinch-running – 1 R

Fielding

Chances – 433

Put Outs – 420

Assists – 10

Errors – 3

DP – 2

Pct. - .993

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 26, AB – 24, R – 6, H – 7, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 1, IBB – 0, SO – 7, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .292, OBP - .346, SLG -.292, TB – 7, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

7^th in AL MVP voting (66 points – 20% share)

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The White Sox went 94-60 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, their first pennant in 40 years while leading the league in triples (46), stolen bases (113), and fewest batting strikeouts (634). The “Go-go Sox”, benefiting from their emphasis on pitching, speed, and defense, of which Landis played a significant role, moved into first place for good on July 28 but still had to fend off the Indians, solidifying their lead with a late-August four-game sweep of Cleveland. Lost World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1959:

The White Sox dropped to third in 1960 and Landis had a 19-point drop in his batting average to .253 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and a solid .365 OBP. He remained stellar in the field and received his first Gold Glove. His offensive production improved in 1961 to .283 with 18 doubles, 8 triples, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .470 slugging percentage. Still one of the better center fielders, he was awarded another Gold Glove. In 1962 he also received All-Star recognition while batting a mere .228 with 21 doubles, 6 triples, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, a .337 OBP, and a .375 slugging percentage. Once again, he was a Gold Glove recipient. A Gold Glove winner again in 1963, injuries and slumps held his batting production to .225 with 6 triples, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .369 slugging percentage. The White Sox closely contended in 1964 but Landis hit only .208 with 18 RBIs and a .305 OBP. He received his fifth, and last consecutive Gold Glove as his defense didn’t suffer. In the offseason, he was a party in a three-team trade that landed him with the Kansas City Athletics. His batting improved negligibly in 1965 to .239 with 15 doubles, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .346 OBP. Traded again in the offseason, this time Landis was sent to the Cleveland Indians, for catcher Phil Roof. Cleveland wanted his speed in the outfield, and he was utilized primarily in a backup role, appearing in 85 games and hitting .222 with a .317 OBP. Obtained by the Houston Astros to be a utility outfielder in 1967, Landis was dealt to the Detroit Tigers at the end of June where he filled in for injured right fielder Al Kaline until let go in August. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox where he lasted a week until being released. In what proved to be his last major league season, Landis played in 80 games with three clubs and batted .237 with a .329 OBP. He retired following the season. For his major league career, Landis batted .247 with 1061 hits that included 169 doubles, 50 triples, and 93 home runs. He scored 625 runs and compiled 467 RBIs, 139 stolen bases, a .344 OBP, and a .375 slugging percentage. With the White Sox he batted .250 with 532 runs scored, 892 hits, 138 doubles, 47 triples, 83 home runs, 398 RBIs, 127 stolen bases, a .346 OBP, and a .385 slugging percentage. The 1959 World Series marked his only postseason action. A two-time All-Star, he was awarded five Gold Gloves for his exceptional play in center field. In 2000, he was voted onto the White Sox All-Century team which consisted of 27 players. One of his sons played minor league baseball in the San Francisco Giants system without reaching the majors. Another son became a sports agent. Landis died in 2017 at age 83.

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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.