Jim Bunning

College

Xavier University

Pro team(s)

Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers

Hall of Fame

⭐ National Baseball Hall of Fame

James Paul David Bunning was born on October 23, 1931, in Southgate, Kentucky (Campbell County, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati), and went on to Xavier University before signing with the Detroit Tigers. He spent 17 seasons as one of the most dominant pitchers in the American and National Leagues, finishing with 224 career wins and becoming one of only seven pitchers in MLB history at the time to record more than 100 wins and 1,000 strikeouts in each league. His most celebrated moment came on Father's Day — June 21, 1964 — when he pitched a perfect game against the New York Mets for the Philadelphia Phillies, the first perfect game in the National League in 84 years. He was a seven-time All-Star who was feared for his side-arm delivery and pinpoint control. After his baseball career he entered Kentucky politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987-1999) and the U.S. Senate (1999-2011), becoming one of only a handful of Americans to reach the pinnacle of both professional sports and elected federal office. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. Born in Southgate, Kentucky.