Jimmy McMath
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Lee McMath was a professional baseball
player. He played part of the 1968 season in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
, primarily as a left fielder
. Listed at 6' 1½", 195 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
, McMath was drafted by the Cubs in the second round of the 1967 amateur draft
, and immediately was assigned to their minor league
system with the Caldwell Cubs
of the Pioneer League.
McMath garnered some attention after hitting a .388 average in 51 games for the Quincy Cubs
of the Midwest League
to start 1968. He was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions
, where he hit .263 in 75 games. Still just 19 years old, he was promoted to the big club in late September, the youngest player in the National League in 1968. He went 2-for-14 for a .143 average and drove in
two runs in just six games. Defensively, he played 3 games at left field with 6 put outs.
McMath split 1969 between San Antonio and the Triple-A Tacoma Cubs. He returned to Tacoma in 1970, but hit just .213 in 51 games. In 1971, he went backwards through the Cubs system, playing first at San Antonio, where he hit just .212, and then going back down to Quincy. After the season, he was let go, his career over at age 22. Overall, McMath hit .269 with 22 home run
s in 398 minor league games from 1967 to 1971.
McMath died in Meadville, Missouri
, at the age of 60.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He played part of the 1968 season in 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...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, 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...
. Listed at 6' 1½", 195 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, McMath was drafted by the Cubs in the second round of the 1967 amateur draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
, and immediately was assigned to their minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system with the Caldwell Cubs
Caldwell Cubs
The Caldwell Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Caldwell, Idaho. The team played in the Pioneer League from 1964 to 1971, and were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. From 1964 to 1966, they were known as the Treasure Valley Cubs. Their home stadium was Simplot Stadium....
of the Pioneer League.
McMath garnered some attention after hitting a .388 average in 51 games for the Quincy Cubs
Quincy Cubs
The Quincy Cubs were a minor league baseball team located in Quincy, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League. Their home stadium was QU Stadium. The franchise lasted from 1965 to 1973, when the Cubs relocated to Dubuque, Iowa as the Dubuque Packers ....
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
to start 1968. He was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
, where he hit .263 in 75 games. Still just 19 years old, he was promoted to the big club in late September, the youngest player in the National League in 1968. He went 2-for-14 for a .143 average and drove in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
two runs in just six games. Defensively, he played 3 games at left field with 6 put outs.
McMath split 1969 between San Antonio and the Triple-A Tacoma Cubs. He returned to Tacoma in 1970, but hit just .213 in 51 games. In 1971, he went backwards through the Cubs system, playing first at San Antonio, where he hit just .212, and then going back down to Quincy. After the season, he was let go, his career over at age 22. Overall, McMath hit .269 with 22 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 398 minor league games from 1967 to 1971.
McMath died in Meadville, Missouri
Meadville, Missouri
Meadville is a city in Linn County, Missouri, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meadville is located at ....
, at the age of 60.