Jim Bunning

Played For
Detroit Tigers (1955-1963)
Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1967)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1968-1969)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1969)
Philadelphia Phillies (1970-1971)

All-Time Rankings
Jim Bunning ranks #40 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒

Best Season: 1964
In his first season with the Phillies, Bunning established himself as the team ace, winning 19 games against 8 defeats, throwing 5 shutouts. He completed 13 games, including a perfect game no-hitter over the Mets. He struck out 219 and walked just 43 batters.

Helping youself to a 1-0 Victory
The pitchers listed below are the only pitchers to win a 1-0 game and also drive in the only run with a home run. 8/3/1906, Tom Hughes, Senators, off Fred Glade, Browns (10th inning) 8/13/1932, Red Ruffing, Yankees, off Tommy Thomas, Senators (10th inning) 5/21/1938, Spud Chandler, Yankees, off Thornton Lee, White Sox 5/1/1959, Early Wynn, White Sox, off Tom Brewer, Red Sox 4/18/1962, Milt Pappas, Orioles, off Bill Stafford, Yankees 8/6/1962, Johnny Klippstein, Reds, off Don McMahon, Colt-45s (13th inning) 5/5/1965, Jim Bunning , Phillies, off Warren Spahn, Mets 9/16/1971, Juan Pizarro, Cubs, off Tom Seaver, Mets 6/17/1983, Bob Welch, Dodgers, off Mario Soto, Reds 8/28/2002, Odalis Perez, Dodgers, off Rick Helling, Diamondbacks

Two-League Stars
Bunning's most famous claim to fame is his success in both leagues. He won 100 games in both, he tossed a no-hitter in both, and so on. These are the pitchers who have won 100 in each league, through 2001: Pitchers Who Won 100 Games in both the AL and NL Name AL NL Total Cy Young 225 286 511 Al Orth 104 100 204 Jim Bunning 118 106 224 Fergie Jenkins 115 169 284 Gaylord Perry 139 175 314 Nolan Ryan 189 135 324

Bunning's Record, by Team
Here's Bunnings' mark with each of his four major league teams. Team W L Pct ERA K Tigers 118 87 .576 3.45 1406 Phillies 89 73 .549 2.93 1197 Pirates 14 23 .378 3.84 219 Dodgers 3 1 .750 3.36 33

For the Record
Bunning had a 118-87 record with the Tigers in the AL, and was 106-97 in the National League with three teams. He led both circuits in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Where He Played
Starting pitcher

Born
James Paul David Bunning was born on October 23, 1931, in Southgate, KY.

Batted:  Right
Threw:  Right

Primary Position:  P

Primary Team:  DET

Major League Debut
July 20, 1955

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1955
Brooks Robinson
Roberto Clemente
Ken Boyer
Rocky Colavito
Clete Boyer
Elston Howard
Sandy Koufax
Jim Bunning
Bill Virdon

Uniform Numbers
#15 (1955), #14 (1956-1971), #17 (1969 Dodgers)

Similar Players
Jerry Koosman, Luis Tiant

Related Players
Bunning was traded on December 4, 1963 to the Phillies with Gus Triandos for Don Demeter and Jack Hamilton… On May 10, 1967, Hank Aaron hit the only inside-the-park home run of his career, off Bunning… On December 15, 1967 Pittsburgh dealt for Bunning, sending Woody Fryman, Bill Laxton, Harold Clem and Don Money to the Phils… In his first win for Pittsburgh, Bunning recorded his 1,000th NL strikeout, making him the first man since Cy Young to reach 1,000 in each league.

Hall of Fame Voting Year Election Votes Pct 1977 BBWAA 146 38.1% 1978 BBWAA 181 47.8% 1979 BBWAA 147 34.0% 1980 BBWAA 177 46.0% 1981 BBWAA 164 40.9% 1982 BBWAA 138 33.3% 1983 BBWAA 138 36.9% 1984 BBWAA 201 49.9% 1985 BBWAA 214 54.2% 1986 BBWAA 279 65.6% 1987 BBWAA 289 70.0% 1988 BBWAA 317 74.2% 1989 BBWAA 283 63.3% 1990 BBWAA 257 57.9% 1991 BBWAA 282 63.7% 1996 Veterans %

No-Hitter
7/20/1958: For DET (A) vs. BOS (A), 3-0 at BOS. 9 innings pitched.
6/21/1964: For PHI (N) vs. NYM (N), 6-0 at NYM. 9 innings pitched.

Feats
Won 100 games and threw a no-hitter in each league… On August 2, 1959, Bunning struck out three Red Sox on nine pitches, the first pitcher to do so in more than a decade.

Milestones

• May 25, 1969: 200th Win... First game of DH

Transactions
Signed as an amateur free agent by Detroit Tigers (1950); Traded by Detroit Tigers with Gus Triandos to Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Don Demeter and Jack Hamilton (December 4, 1963); Traded by Philadelphia Phillies to Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Don Money, Woodie Fryman, Bill Laxton and Harold Clem (December 15, 1967); Traded by Pittsburgh Pirates to Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Ron Mitchell, Chuck Goggin and cash (August 15, 1969); Released by Los Angeles Dodgers (October 22, 1969); Signed by Philadelphia Phillies (October 29, 1969).

All-Star Selections
1957 AL
1959 AL
1961 AL
1962 AL
1963 AL
1964 NL
1966 NL

Best Strength as a Player
Durability. Bunning pitched in relief an average of four times after he won 20 games for the first time. He was more than just a starter, he would come in a few times every year in tough spots and pitch between starts.

Largest Weakness as a Player
Bunning gave up the longball, at a record pace.

Learn More about Jim Bunning
Search Amazon.com for Books about Jim Bunning ⇒
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