20 Facts About Jim Gilliam

1.

Jim Gilliam was named the 1953 National League Rookie of the Year, and was a key member of ten National League championship teams from 1953 to 1978.

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2.

Jim Gilliam joined the Negro National League's Baltimore Elite Giants, with whom he played from 1946 to 1950.

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3.

Jim Gilliam was voted an All-Star three straight years from 1948 to 1950.

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4.

Jim Gilliam led the International League in runs in both 1951 and 1952.

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5.

Jim Gilliam made his debut with the Dodgers in April 1953, with the formidable task of taking over second base from Jackie Robinson, who was shifted to the outfield and third base; he proved capable, batting.

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6.

Jim Gilliam continued to play well during the team's Brooklyn years, batting.

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7.

Jim Gilliam continued to star with the team after their 1958 move to Los Angeles, though he gradually shifted to third base; for the 1959 champions he led the National League in walks, along with 23 steals, and was again an All-Star, hitting a home run in that year's second All-Star Game.

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8.

Jim Gilliam was named a coach after the 1964 season, and intended to end his playing career, but team injuries resulted in his seeing substantial play at third base in 1965 and 1966, with the team again winning the National League championship in both seasons.

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9.

Jim Gilliam played in seven World Series with the Dodgers, four of them against the New York Yankees.

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10.

Jim Gilliam was on Dodgers teams which won the Series in 1959 against the Chicago White Sox and 1965 against the Minnesota Twins.

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11.

Jim Gilliam served as a player-coach beginning in 1964, and became a full-time coach in 1967.

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12.

Jim Gilliam continued as a coach with the Dodgers until his death in 1978, including three more Dodger pennant teams in 1974,1977, and 1978; they lost the World Series in each year.

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13.

Jim Gilliam suffered a massive brain hemorrhage at his home on September 15,1978, and, following surgery, lapsed into a coma from which he did not recover.

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14.

Jim Gilliam died in Inglewood, California, nine days before his 50th birthday, one day after the Dodgers clinched their tenth pennant during his tenure in the 1978 National League Championship Series.

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15.

Jim Gilliam's number is the only one retired by the Dodgers of a player not in the Hall of Fame.

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16.

Jim Gilliam was respected for his personal qualities and sportsmanship, in addition to his playing ability, over his 28-year career with the Dodgers.

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17.

Jim Gilliam didn't hit with power, he had no arm, and he couldn't run.

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18.

In 1984 the Jim Gilliam Park opened to the public, and is located on La Brea Avenue.

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19.

The Jim Gilliam Park is marked by several facilities named after him.

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20.

The center part of this stretch named for Jim Gilliam is the location of Nashville's First Horizon Park, a minor league baseball stadium built in 2015 for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

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