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Jim O'Rourke (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
James Henry O'Rourke nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American
professional baseball
player in the National Association and Major League Baseball
who played primarily as a left fielder
. For the period 1876–1892, he ranks behind only Cap Anson
in career major league games played (1644), hits
(2146), at-bats (6884), doubles
(392) and total bases
(2936), and behind only Harry Stovey
in runs scored
(1370). (Stovey was a younger player. Anson played five seasons and O'Rourke four prior to 1876.)
He was born in East Bridgeport
, Connecticut
. On April 22, 1876, he had the first base hit in National League history. After leaving the major leagues following the 1893 season he continued to play in the minor leagues until he was over 50 years old. In 1904 he made a final appearance with the New York Giants
under manager and friend John McGraw, becoming at age 54 the oldest player ever to appear in the National League
, and the oldest player to hit safely in a major league game. He returned to the minors as president of the Connecticut League
, and in 1912 returned to the field to catch a complete minor league game at the age of 60.
O'Rourke is one of only 29 players in baseball history to appear in Major League games in four decades.
He graduated from Yale Law School
(a non-graduate degree at the time), practicing law in Bridgeport between early playing stints, and earning the nickname "Orator Jim" because of his verbosity on the field, his intellect, and his degree—uncommon in a game regarded as a rough immigrant sport at the time. Legend has it that O'Rourke, a child of Irish immigrants, was asked to drop the "O'" from his last name when he signed a contract with Boston and its Protestant backers, but refused, saying "I would rather die than give up my father's name. A million dollars would not tempt me." As an executive, O'Rourke later hired the first African American minor league baseball player in history.
O'Rourke died of pneumonia at age 68 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945
as one of the earliest inductees from the 19th century. His older brother John O'Rourke and his son James "Queenie" O'Rourke
also played in the majors.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player in the National Association and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played primarily as a left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. For the period 1876–1892, he ranks behind only Cap Anson
Cap Anson
Adrian Constantine Anson , nicknamed "Cap" and "Pop", was a National Association and Major League Baseball first baseman...
in career major league games played (1644), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(2146), at-bats (6884), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(392) and total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(2936), and behind only Harry Stovey
Harry Stovey
Harry Duffield Stovey, born Harry Duffield Stowe was a 19th century Major League Baseball player and the first player in major league history to hit 100 home runs...
in runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(1370). (Stovey was a younger player. Anson played five seasons and O'Rourke four prior to 1876.)
He was born in East Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. On April 22, 1876, he had the first base hit in National League history. After leaving the major leagues following the 1893 season he continued to play in the minor leagues until he was over 50 years old. In 1904 he made a final appearance with the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
under manager and friend John McGraw, becoming at age 54 the oldest player ever to appear in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, and the oldest player to hit safely in a major league game. He returned to the minors as president of the Connecticut League
Connecticut League
The Connecticut League, also known as the Connecticut State League is a now defunct minor baseball league based in Connecticut. The league began as off-shoot of the original Connecticut State League in 1902 as a Class D league with teams in eight cities...
, and in 1912 returned to the field to catch a complete minor league game at the age of 60.
O'Rourke is one of only 29 players in baseball history to appear in Major League games in four decades.
He graduated from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
(a non-graduate degree at the time), practicing law in Bridgeport between early playing stints, and earning the nickname "Orator Jim" because of his verbosity on the field, his intellect, and his degree—uncommon in a game regarded as a rough immigrant sport at the time. Legend has it that O'Rourke, a child of Irish immigrants, was asked to drop the "O'" from his last name when he signed a contract with Boston and its Protestant backers, but refused, saying "I would rather die than give up my father's name. A million dollars would not tempt me." As an executive, O'Rourke later hired the first African American minor league baseball player in history.
O'Rourke died of pneumonia at age 68 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1945
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1945 included the first regular election conducted in three years and a strong response to criticism of the slow pace of honors....
as one of the earliest inductees from the 19th century. His older brother John O'Rourke and his son James "Queenie" O'Rourke
Queenie O'Rourke
James Stephen "Queenie" O'Rourke was a Major League Baseball player. He played in the 1908 baseball season with the New York Highlanders...
also played in the majors.
See also
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions