Career
A native of Barnett, Georgia, Bagby began his playing career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1912. His pitching records that year were not impressive, so the Reds let him go. He returned to major league baseball with the Cleveland Indians in 1916.
Bagby posted 23 wins in 1917, following with 17 wins the next two campaigns.
The 1920 Indians team was powered with stars such as Tris Speaker, Stan Coveleski, Ray Caldwell, minor-league call-up Duster Mails, Bagby, Charlie Jamieson and Elmer Smith. Since that game was played, only three other pitchers: (Dizzy Dean, Lefty Grove and Denny McLain) have collected 30 victories in one season.
On October 10, Bagby"s turn to make World Series history came. lieutenant was a game filled with World Series firsts, as Elmer Smith became the first player in the Series history to hit a grand slam in the game"s first inning.
During the game"s third inning, Bagby came to bat with two men on bases, hitting the first home run by a pitcher in modern World Series history.
Later on, another of Bagby"s teammates, Bill Wambsganss, turned in the first unassisted triple play in WS history. In 1921, it was Bagby"s pitch that Babe Ruth hit as his record-breaking 120th home run. Before the 1923 season Bagby was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He retired at the end of the season.
In a nine-season career, Bagby posted a 127–87 record with 450 strikeouts and a 3.10 European Research Area in 1821.2 innings pitched. In World Series play, he had an 1–1 record with an European Research Area of 1.80.
Baseball historians Bill James and Rob Neyer have ranked Bagby"s screwball the ninth-best of all time. Jim Bagby died in Marietta, Georgia at age 64.
