Sunny Jim Bottomley- from a small town to the Big Leagues

Babe Ruth Ushers in a New Era of Baseball... and Sunny Jim.

On this day, January 5th, in 1920, The New York Yankees announced the purchase of a new player: George Herman “Babe” Ruth. A heavy hitter in the box, he spent his time in the outfield when not up to bat. Babe Ruth and his fabulous home-run hits ushered in a new era for baseball. As they watched a baseball fly over the boundary fence, folks forgot about the scandals of the 1910’s in which gambling influenced the outcome of the games. The Dead-Ball era came to a close, and soon every team in the League wanted a homerun hitter like Ruth to join their lineup. As baseball’s Golden Age came to light, the ‘swing for the fences’ mentality of team scouts led to the discovery of a local player: James ‘Sunny Jim’ Bottomley of Oglesby, Illinois. 

A collector's card for Sunny Jim, containing a slice of a game-use bat.

Sunny Jim left school at the age of 16 in order to support his family, working a number of different jobs such as a grocery clerk and blacksmith. He was no stranger to the game of baseball; he played semi-pro games for just $5 a pop in his spare time, walking 8 miles both to and from the games. During a 1919 Labor Day game in St Louis, Sunny Jim hit two homeruns and had three triples- it was this game that would attract the attention of Branch Richey, the legendary scout known for signing Jackie Robinson. It was Richey who transformed the Cardinals into a standout team; Suny Jim would sign on to the St Louis team under Richey, and play his first Major League game on August 18th, 1922. Sunny Jim quickly became a fan favorite. He was particularly beloved by the Knot Hole Gang Youngsters, a group of baseball-loving kids called such for their usual viewing spot: through the naturally occurring holes in the field fencing. 

It was during his first year that he hit for his highest season batting average, with a .371. Two year into his career, in 1924, Sunny Jim set a Major League Record for the most runs in a single game (12). This record would remain unchallenged for 69 years. He even received a lawsuit for hitting a home run once! The ball sailed straight into the face of an unsuspecting fan, striking the man’s nose. In turn, he decided to file a $7,500 lawsuit… although it did not end in the fan’s favor. 

In 1926, Sunny Jim Bottomley led the Cardinals to a World Series victory, following a hard fought seven-game battle against Babe Ruth and the Yankees. He was recognized as an ideal player when the MLB moved to have baseball seen as ‘the gentleman’s game’, and he was named the MVP in 1928 with one of the highest-ever scores for the award. Player stats allow us to compare and contrast the players of both today and yesteryear, and Sunny Jim Bottomley’s numbers stand strong although time marches on. Many of his records remain unbroken.

Five years before his retirement, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Brawner of St Louis, much to the dismay of the league’s female fans- Sunny Jim once brought a jersey cow onto the field, and reportedly milked the cow to the screams of a 10,000-strong Ladies’ Day crowd. As his heart issues caught up to him, he retired, after the 1937 season, to a 120-acre farm located 60 miles outside of St Louis. He would later reappear on the baseball scene as a talent scout for both the St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. 

James “Sunny Jim” Bottomley would pass on December 11th, 1959, aged 59, from a heart attack. In 1974, he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

Thanks to Leland Bottomley, lifelong resident of Utica, for lending reference material, photos, memorabilia and artifacts related to “Sunny Jim” Bottomley- some of which can be seen on display at the LCHS Canal Warehouse.

This blog was written by LCHS Staff for a Facebook post. Find us on social media as @lchsmuseum !