View source for Jim Busby

{{Short description|American baseball player (1927–1996)}}
{{distinguish|Jim Busby (third baseman)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jim Busby
|position=[[Center fielder]]
|image=Jim Busby 1953.jpg
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1927|1|8}}
|birth_place=[[Kenedy, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|1996|7|8|1927|1|8}}
|death_place=[[Augusta, Georgia]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 23
|debutyear=1950
|debutteam=Chicago White Sox
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=July 8
|finalyear=1962
|finalteam=Houston Colt .45s
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.262
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=48
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=438
|teams=
*[[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1950}}–{{mlby|1952}})
*[[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] ({{mlby|1952}}–{{mlby|1955}})
*[[Chicago White Sox]] ({{mlby|1955}})
*[[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1956}}–{{mlby|1957}})
*[[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1957}}–{{mlby|1958}})
*[[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1959}}–{{mlby|1960}})
*[[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1960}}–{{mlby|1961}})
*[[Houston Colt .45s]] ({{mlby|1962}})
|highlights=
*[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1951 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1951]])
}}
'''James Franklin Busby''' (January 8, 1927 – July 8, 1996) was an American [[center fielder]] and [[coach (baseball)|coach]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played with the [[Chicago White Sox]] (1950–52, 1955), [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]] (1952–55), [[Cleveland Indians]] (1956–57), [[Baltimore Orioles]] (1957–58, 1960–61), [[Boston Red Sox]] (1959–60) and [[Houston Colt .45's]] (1962).

Busby was born in [[Kenedy, Texas]], and attended [[Texas Christian University]].

He threw and batted right-handed and was listed as {{convert|6|ft|1|in}} tall and {{convert|175|lb}}.

A cousin, [[Steve Busby]], was a [[starting pitcher]] for the [[Kansas City Royals]] between 1972–80.

Jim Busby was signed by the White Sox in 1948 and made his major league debut early during the {{mlby|1950}} season. He became the regular center fielder for the White Sox in {{mlby|1951}}. A fast runner and a good contact hitter, Busby compiled his best offensive seasons early in his career, exceeding the .280 [[batting average (baseball)|batting]] mark in 1951, {{mlby|1953}} (when he hit a career-best .312) and 1954. He also drove in 80 or more [[Run batted in|RBI]] during both 1953—54. But he earned a reputation as a superb defensive outfielder who committed only 42 [[Error (baseball statistics)|errors]] in 3,394 [[total chances]] (.988) over his lengthy career. He was an [[American League]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in 1951.

In all or parts of 13 MLB seasons, Busby batted .262, with 48 [[home run]]s, 438 runs batted in, 541 [[Run (baseball statistics)|runs]], 1,113 [[Hit (baseball statistics)|hits]], 162 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 35 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], and 97 [[stolen base]]s in 1,352 [[games played]]. Defensively, he recorded a .988 [[fielding percentage]] as a center fielder.

When his career ended, in the middle of the {{baseball year|1962}} season, he became a full-time [[coach (baseball)|coach]] with Houston (through 1967), then spent eight seasons (1968–75) on the staff of the [[Atlanta Braves]], before returning to the American League to finish his coaching career with the White Sox (1976) and [[Seattle Mariners]] (1977–78).

As a player and coach, Busby had a 29-year MLB career.

He died in [[Augusta, Georgia]], at 69 years of age.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-07-11-1996193046-story.html Jim Busby, Oriole and Senator in 1950s, dies in Georgia at 69 He was among AL's best as fielder, base stealer]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|br=b/busbyji01}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061113004246/http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Busby.Jim.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
*{{Find a Grave}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Busby, Jim}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves coaches]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Karnes County, Texas]]
[[Category:Boston Red Sox players]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox coaches]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]]
[[Category:Chicago White Sox scouts]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:Houston Astros coaches]]
[[Category:Houston Colt .45s coaches]]
[[Category:Houston Colt .45s players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball center fielders]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball third base coaches]]
[[Category:Miami Marlins (International League) players]]
[[Category:Muskegon Clippers players]]
[[Category:Oklahoma City 89ers players]]
[[Category:People from Kenedy, Texas]]
[[Category:Sacramento Solons players]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners coaches]]
[[Category:TCU Horned Frogs baseball players]]
[[Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Waterloo White Hawks players]]
[[Category:20th-century United States Army personnel]]