Jim Pendleton
Encyclopedia
James Edward Pendleton was an American
professional baseball
player, an outfielder
in the Major Leagues
between 1953 and 1962. The native of St. Charles, Missouri, played for the Milwaukee Braves
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, Cincinnati Reds
, and Houston Colt .45s
. He was a right-handed batter and thrower, measured 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
At the age of 29, on April 17, 1953, Pendleton made his Major League debut with the Milwaukee Braves. He had been a top shortstop
in the Negro National League in the late 1940s. Upon signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers
, he took two years off his age. But Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese
was entrenched as the shortstop for Brooklyn, and Pendleton found himself stuck at the Triple-A
level of the minor leagues for four years, even though he was an excellent hitter.
In , he was traded to the Braves as part of a four-team transaction (involving the Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies
, as well as the Braves and Dodgers). He played more than 100 games in the outfield for Milwaukee, and batted
.299 in a part time role, which increased his popularity. In 1957, he hit .305 in 46 games for the Pirates, but after three at bats in 1958, he was sent back to the minors for the rest of 1958 campaign. He was a member of the first Houston Colt .45s team in and played in 117 games at the age of 38.
In his MLB career, Pendleton appeared in 444 games over eight seasons, hitting 19 home runs. He died in Houston, Texas
, at age 72.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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, an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Major Leagues
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...
between 1953 and 1962. The native of St. Charles, Missouri, played for the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and Houston Colt .45s
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He was a right-handed batter and thrower, measured 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
At the age of 29, on April 17, 1953, Pendleton made his Major League debut with the Milwaukee Braves. He had been a top shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the Negro National League in the late 1940s. Upon signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, he took two years off his age. But Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
was entrenched as the shortstop for Brooklyn, and Pendleton found himself stuck at the Triple-A
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...
level of the minor leagues for four years, even though he was an excellent hitter.
In , he was traded to the Braves as part of a four-team transaction (involving the Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, as well as the Braves and Dodgers). He played more than 100 games in the outfield for Milwaukee, and batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.299 in a part time role, which increased his popularity. In 1957, he hit .305 in 46 games for the Pirates, but after three at bats in 1958, he was sent back to the minors for the rest of 1958 campaign. He was a member of the first Houston Colt .45s team in and played in 117 games at the age of 38.
In his MLB career, Pendleton appeared in 444 games over eight seasons, hitting 19 home runs. He died in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, at age 72.
External links
- http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=pendlji01
- http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Jim_Pendleton_1924
- http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/event_hr.cgi?n1=pendlji01&type=b