View source for Jimmie Foxx

{{Short description|American baseball player (1907–1967)}}
{{good article}}
{{distinguish|text=American musician [[Jimmy Fox]] or American actor [[Jamie Foxx]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jimmie Foxx
|image=Jimmie Foxx (Boston Red Sox, 1936-37).jpg
|caption= Foxx with the Boston Red Sox {{c.|1936&ndash;1937}}
|position=[[First baseman]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1907|10|22}}
|birth_place=[[Sudlersville, Maryland]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1967|7|21|1907|10|22}}
|death_place=[[Miami]], Florida, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=May 1
|debutyear=1925
|debutteam=Philadelphia Athletics
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 23
|finalyear=1945
|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.325
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,646
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=534
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,922
|teams=
* [[Philadelphia Athletics]] ({{mlby|1925}}–{{mlby|1935}})
* [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|1936}}–{{mlby|1942}})
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1942}}, {{mlby|1944}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1945}})
|highlights=
* 9× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1933]]–[[1941 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1941]])
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1929}}, {{wsy|1930}})
* 3× [[AL MVP]] (1932, 1933, 1938)
* [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] (1933)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|AL batting champion]] (1933, 1938)
* 4× [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|AL home run leader]] (1932, 1933, 1935, 1939)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|AL RBI leader]] (1932, 1933, 1938)
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]]
* [[Athletics Hall of Fame]]
* [[Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1951 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1951]]
|hofvote=79.2% (seventh ballot)
}}

'''James Emory Foxx''' (October 22, 1907 – July 21, 1967), [[List of sportspeople by nickname|nicknamed]] "'''Double X'''" and "'''the Beast'''", was an [[Americans|American]] professional [[baseball]] [[first baseman]] who played 20 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Philadelphia Athletics]], [[Boston Red Sox]], [[Chicago Cubs]], and [[Philadelphia Phillies]].<ref name="Complete">{{Cite web |title=Jimmie Foxx Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foxxji01.shtml |access-date=January 14, 2016 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> A tremendous power hitter, Foxx retired with the second most [[home run]]s, behind only [[Babe Ruth]], and fifth-most [[runs batted in]] (RBI). His greatest seasons were with the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox, where he hit a then-record 30 or more home runs in 12 consecutive seasons and drove in more than 100 runs in 13 consecutive years.

Considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, Foxx became the ninth player to win a [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] and set a then-record for most MVP awards with three. His 58 home runs hit in 1932 were third-most all-time in a season at the time, his 438 [[total bases]] collected that same season are still fifth most all time, and he is one of only seven batters to accumulate over 400 total bases in a season more than once. Foxx won two [[American League]] (AL) batting titles, led all of baseball in home runs four times, and batted over .300 in eleven full seasons.<ref name="Complete" /> On September 24, 1940, Foxx became the second member of the [[500 home run club]] when he hit a sixth-inning home run off [[George Caster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA194009241.shtml|title=September 24, 1940 Game Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> For nearly 67 years, he held the record for the youngest major leaguer to reach 500 home runs. His 534 home runs are currently 19th all time, and his 1,922 RBI are tenth all time. With a career batting average of .325 and [[slugging percentage]] of .609, he was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1951 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1951]].<ref name="Jimmie Foxx at The Baseball Hall of Fame">{{cite web|url=http://baseballhall.org/hof/foxx-jimmie|title=Jimmie Foxx|publisher=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

==Early years==
James Emory Foxx was born on October 22, 1907, in rural [[Sudlersville, Maryland|Sudlersville]] on the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]] of [[Maryland]],<ref name="sabr">{{sabrbio|e34a045d|John Bennett|May 17, 2022}}</ref> to [[tenant farmer]]s Dell and Mattie Foxx.<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.1">[[#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 1</ref> Dell Foxx had played baseball for a town team when he was younger. Jimmie Foxx did well in school but excelled in sports, particularly soccer, track, and baseball. He played all three sports at [[Queen Anne's County High School|Sudlersville High School]], and set the state record in both the 220 and 80 yard dash in 1923.<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.14">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 14</ref><ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.3">[[#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 3</ref> So great were his athletic exploits he was regarded as "the most promising athletic prospect in the State of Maryland",<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.14"/> and a scholarship to the [[University of Maryland]] was arranged — in track and field — should he wish to attend.<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.15">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 15</ref> In April 1924, Foxx met with [[Home Run Baker|Frank "Home Run" Baker]], a former member of [[Philadelphia Athletics]], and then manager of the minor league [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] level [[Easton Farmers]]. Baker offered Foxx a contract to play for the Farmers for $100 a month.<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.8">[[#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 8</ref>

Foxx had hoped to pitch or play [[third baseman|third base]], but since the team was short on [[catcher]]s, Foxx moved behind the plate, a position he had played in high school and on summer all-star teams.<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.13">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 13</ref> He immediately drew interest from the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] (A's) and [[New York Yankees]]. In July 1924, A's owner [[Connie Mack]] purchased Foxx's contract from the Farmers for $2,000<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.12-14">[[#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 12-14</ref> and Foxx stated that he would finish out the season with Easton before joining the Athletics. He traveled to Philadelphia later in the 1924 season and sat in the dugout during games, and never appeared in one.<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.12-14"/> Foxx, who at this time was a senior in high school, was forbidden by Mack from participating in any school athletics for fear that this might "jeopardize his baseball future."<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.42">[[Jimmie Foxx#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 4</ref> Foxx would drop out of school, and joined the Athletics for [[spring training]] in [[Fort Myers, Florida]]. As a result, he did not graduate, but he did receive a certificate which designated him an honorary member of the class.<ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.12-14"/>

==Professional career==
===Philadelphia Athletics (1925–1935)===
[[File:JimmyFoxxGoudeycard.jpg|thumb|200px|1933 Goudey baseball card]]
During spring training in 1925, Foxx split duties at catcher with [[Mickey Cochrane]] and [[Cy Perkins]], and when the season started he played the role of third-string catcher. On May 1, 1925, in a game against the [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]], he recorded his first career hit off [[Vean Gregg]].<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.48-49">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 48-49</ref> In June, Mack optioned Foxx to the [[Providence Grays]] to accumulate time and practice hitting at a higher level instead of sitting on the bench in Shibe Park.<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.48-49"/><ref name="Daniel, H. Harrison pp.21">[[#Daniel04|Daniel, H. Harrison]], pp. 21</ref> In the next season, Foxx appeared in a few more games, mostly as a pinch hitter or a replacement catcher.<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.54">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 54</ref> In 1927, Foxx signed a contract for $3,000 ({{Inflation|US|3000|1924|fmt=eq}});<ref name="Millikin, Mark R. pp.57">[[#Millikin05|Millikin, Mark R.]], pp. 57</ref> however, because future [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] member Mickey Cochrane was still the primary catcher, he remained in a backup role, but had started to transition to first base. He recorded his first home run on May 31, 1927, against [[Urban Shocker]] of the [[New York Yankees]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA192705312.shtml|title=May 31, 1927 Game Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> and finished the season batting .323 over 61 games.<ref name="Complete" />

[[1929 Major League Baseball season | In 1929]], installed as the A's regular first baseman, Foxx had a breakthrough year. On May 1, he recorded the first 5-hit game of his career<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS192905010.shtml|title=May 1, 1929 Game Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> as well as the first multi home run game of his career, one of three such games that season. By early July, he was batting over .400 until a slump later in the season caused his average to drop. He finished the year with 20 games where he collected 3 or more hits<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b&year=1929|title=1929 Game Logs|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> and finished with a .354 average with 33 home runs.<ref name="sabr"/><ref name="Complete" /> During that year, Foxx appeared on the cover of [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]].<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine|title=Jimmie Fox: July 29, 1929|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19290729,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628142455/http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19290729,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2006|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref> A strong start to [[1930 Major League Baseball season | the 1930 season]] showed that Foxx was a hitter to be feared, and on May 30, he recorded the first six-hit game of his career,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA193005301.shtml|title=May 30, 1930 Game Logs|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> against the Senators. By the end of June, after hitting 11 home runs in both May and June, he had 22 on the season and was batting .360. A slow end to the season lowered his season numbers, however, he still hit over 30 home runs for the second time in his career and finished with a .335 batting average. The [[1931 Major League Baseball season | 1931 season]] was hampered by injuries and a [[Sinusitis|sinus infection]],<ref name="sabr"/> marking his first season where he did not hit above .300. He still managed to hit 30 home runs, extending his streak to 3 straight seasons.<ref name="Complete" />

The [[1932 Major League Baseball season | 1932 season]] would be Foxx's first truly outstanding year. In a sign of games to come, he recorded three hits and a home run during his first game,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b&year=1932|title=1932 Game Logs|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> the first of 20 games where he would record three or more hits that season. By the end of May, he had recorded 17 home runs, 49 runs batted in, and had a batting average of .417, leading the [[American League]] in every major hitting category.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015313/1932-06-01/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=1932&sort=date&rows=20&words=Foxx&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=15&state=Indiana&date2=1932&proxtext=foxx&y=12&x=17&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=3|title=Major League League Leaders|work=[[Indianapolis Times]]|date=June 1, 1932|page=8|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> On July 10, Foxx had his first 3 home run game, against the [[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians]], he also collected 6 hits, including a [[Double (baseball)|double]] in an 18-inning game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE193207100.shtml|title=July 10, 1932 Game Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="3 Home Run July">{{Cite news |last=Talbot |first=Gayle |date=July 11, 1932 |title=Contest Abounds in Unusual Feats |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1932-07-11/ed-1/seq-11/#date1=1932&index=18&rows=20&words=Foxx+Jimmie&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=District+of+Columbia&date2=1932&proxtext=jimmie+foxx&y=8&x=21&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |work=[[The Washington Star|Evening Star]] |page=11}}</ref> Although a thumb and wrist injury in August slowed his pace,<ref name="sabr"/> he still hit 7 home runs and batted .356 over the month. Foxx finished the season strong, hitting over .390 over the last month of the season and collected another 10 home runs, the fourth such month where he reached double digits in home runs hit. At the end of the season, he had amassed 151 [[runs scored]], 213 hits, 58 home runs, 169 RBI, a .364 batting average, and 438 total bases; he led the AL in every major category except hits and batting average. The batting champion that year, [[Dale Alexander]], hit .367 but played in only 124 games. By modern rules that would have disqualified Alexander, and Foxx would have won the Triple Crown with a 15-point lead over the runner up, [[Lou Gehrig]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1932-batting-leaders.shtml|title=1932 AL Batting Leaders|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> Even though Foxx actually hit 60 home runs that year, two were hit in games that were rained out, erasing them from the official batting records, causing him to narrowly miss [[Babe Ruth]]'s Major League record 60 home runs. In October, Foxx would receive 75 out of the maximum 80 possible MVP votes, giving him his first MVP award in his career.<ref name="Complete" /><ref name="sabr"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91068401/1932-10-19/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1932&sort=date&rows=20&words=Foxx&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=10&state=North+Carolina&date2=1932&proxtext=foxx&y=21&x=9&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=2|title=Foxx and Klein to get Player Awards|work=[[The Daily Dispatch|Henderson Daily Dispatch]]|date=October 19, 1932|page=8|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref>

After an uncharacteristically slow start to [[1933 Major League Baseball season | the 1933 season]] that saw him hitting only .301 with 7 home runs by June 6, he started hitting home runs again, with his second three home run game against the New York Yankees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA193306080.shtml|title=June 8, 1933 Game Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> During the month of June, he hit 13 home runs, scored 37 runs, and batted over .380 in 31 games played. On August 14, he [[Hitting for the cycle|hit for the cycle]] and set a then-AL record 9 runs batted in.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1933-08-15/ed-1/seq-29/#date1=1933&sort=date&rows=20&words=Foxx&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=7&state=District+of+Columbia&date2=1933&proxtext=foxx&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=9|title=Foxx, New Ruler of Swat, Far Shy of Ruth in Personality, but a Greater Terror at Bat|work=[[The Washington Star|Evening Star]]|date=August 15, 1933|page=C-1|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> He would hit multiple home runs in seven games<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b&year=1933|title=1933 Game Logs|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 17, 2022}}</ref> and collect four or more hits in five games. He finished the season leading the American league in home runs, RBI, and batting average, which secured him the ninth Triple Crown in MLB history.<ref name="Jordan, David M. pp.118">[[#Jordan99|Jordan, David M.]], pp. 118</ref> He also finished with 403 total bases, leading the American League and making him the third player in history to record 400 total bases in back-to-back seasons, with [[Lou Gehrig]] and [[Chuck Klein]] being the others. As a result of his phenomenal season, he was awarded his second MVP award at the end of the year.<ref name="Complete" />

[[Image:Jimmie Foxx, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Al Simmons.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Foxx with [[Babe Ruth]], [[Lou Gehrig]] and [[Al Simmons]]]]

His [[1934 Major League Baseball season | 1934 season]] saw Foxx continue to terrorize American League pitchers. He finished the season with 44 home runs, 130 runs batted in and a .334 average. While his numbers were down compared to his previous two seasons, he still finished in the top 5 in several batting categories. This also marked the third straight season where he hit 40 or more home runs.<ref name="Complete" /> At the end of the season, during an exhibition game in [[Winnipeg]], he got [[Hit by pitch|hit by a pitch]] in the head and was knocked unconscious.<ref name="sabr"/> After the incident, he suffered sinus problems for the rest of his career. In late 1934, Foxx, along with [[Babe Ruth]], [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Charlie Gehringer]], among others, went on a [[1934 Japan Tour|tour of Japan]] and played 18 games against Japanese teams.<ref name="Jordan, David M. pp.121-122">[[#Jordan99|Jordan, David M.]], pp. 121-122</ref> The start of [[1935 Major League Baseball season| the 1935 season]] saw Foxx return to his original position at catcher because of the loss of [[Mickey Cochrane]] to the [[Detroit Tigers]].<ref name="sabr"/> After poor performance and a series of injuries to the other Athletic infielders, Connie Mack placed Foxx back at first base.<ref name="Jordan, David M. pp.121-122"/> Even after finishing the season leading the American League in home runs for the 3rd time<ref name="Complete" /> and finishing in the top 10 in most batting categories, it was still not enough for the Athletics to finish above last place. Connie Mack sold Foxx to the [[Boston Red Sox]] along with [[Johnny Marcum]] for $150,000 (equivalent to approximately ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|150000|1936|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}).<ref name="sabr"/><ref name="Jordan, David M. pp.123">[[#Jordan99|Jordan, David M.]], pp. 123</ref>

===Boston Red Sox (1936–1942)===
[[File:1937 all stars crop FINAL2.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Seven of the American League's [[1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1937 All-Star players]], from left to right [[Lou Gehrig]], [[Joe Cronin]], [[Bill Dickey]], [[Joe DiMaggio]], [[Charlie Gehringer]], Jimmie Foxx, and [[Hank Greenberg]]. All seven would be elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Fame]].]]
His first season with the Red Sox was another standout campaign as he led the team in every batting category except [[stolen base]]s. He finished in the top 10 in most offensive categories by the end of the season and hit over 40 home runs for the fourth time in his career.<ref name="Complete" /> The following season was the first time where health problems had a large effect. He fell ill with the flu during spring training in 1937 and was admitted to the hospital with pain in his forehead and vision problems.<ref name="sabr jimmie">{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-real-jimmie-foxx/|title=The Real Jimmie Foxx|work=[[SABR]]|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> He missed the first handful of games in the season before returning with the club. He still continued to hit home runs that would leave the ballpark, including one that left [[Fenway Park]] by the center field flagpole.<ref name="sabr"/> Hall of Fame pitcher [[Lefty Gomez]] once joked about a home run hit off him, stating "I knew immediately what it was. That was a home-run ball hit off me in 1937 by Jimmie Foxx" in response to [[Apollo program|Apollo]] [[astronaut]]s finding objects on the [[Moon]].<ref name="Freedman, Lew pp.64">[[#Freedman14|Freedman, Lew]], pp. 64</ref> There is no record of Foxx hitting a home run off Gomez that season, but Foxx had hit 14 home runs off Gomez during his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b|title=Jimmie Foxx Home Run Log|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>

In 1938, Foxx put on an offensive showcase during the months of May, June, and September, recording at least 10 home runs and 30 RBI in each of those three months,
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=foxxji01&year=1938&t=b|title=1938 Batting Splits|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> including over 40 in the final month of the season. On June 16, 1938, he tied an [[American League]] record when he [[Base on balls|walked]] six times in a game.<ref name="sabr"/> His totals at the end of the year set many Red Sox single-season team records. His 175 RBI that year remain a Boston Red Sox record, his 50 home runs were a record until Hall of Famer [[David Ortiz]] surpassed it in 2006 with 54,<ref name="sabr"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/leaders_bat_season.shtml|title=Red Sox Single Season Records|work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> and his 398 total bases were most by a Red Sox until [[Jim Rice]] collected 406 total bases in 1978. Foxx was awarded his third and final MVP award at the end of the season, leading the AL in most categories, with only [[Hank Greenberg]]'s 58 home runs surpassing Foxx's own total of 50.

In 1939, health problems popped up again for Foxx. Early in the season, he sought treatment for pain caused by his presumed sinus problem on a road trip from Chicago to Washington.<ref name="sabr jimmie"/> Later on in the season, he had an emergency [[appendectomy]] in Philadelphia which cut his season short. There were very few teammates that knew how serious his health problems were. One who did was [[Ted Williams]], who he would talk to regularly.<ref name="sabr jimmie"/> It was at this time that Foxx had begun to drink more heavily, although it was used as a self-medication for the chronic pain that he experienced in his later career.<ref name="sabr"/> While his heavy drinking is well known, teammates, including [[Ted Williams]], attest that he was never overtly drunk or violent and continued to act as a mentor to his younger teammates, including [[Dom DiMaggio]].<ref name="sabr"/> With all of the health problems and chronic pain that Foxx had experienced, he still had an outstanding offensive season, hitting an AL leading 35 home runs and batting over .360. He finished second in MVP voting behind [[Joe DiMaggio]].<ref name="Complete" /> His next two seasons saw a continued decline, but Foxx continued to play at near-MVP levels. He hit 36 home runs in 1940, which marked his 12th straight season where he hit 30 or more. He finished sixth in MVP balloting and he was an All Star in his final full season in 1941 where he hit .300 and drove in 105 batters over 135 games played.<ref name="Complete" /> On September 24, 1940, he hit his 500th career home run against [[George Caster]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1940-09-25/ed-1/seq-14/#date1=1940&index=1&rows=20&words=Foxx+Jimmie&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=District+of+Columbia&date2=1940&proxtext=jimmie+foxx&y=10&x=8&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1|title=Bosox, A's on Slugging Spree|work=[[The Washington Star|Evening Star]]|date=September 25, 1940|page=A-14|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> becoming the second member of the [[500 Home Run Club]] after [[Babe Ruth]]. He suffered a broken toe during spring training in 1942 and broke a rib during batting practice later in the season.<ref name="sabr"/> In the twilight of his career, his contract was sold to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for $10,000 ({{Inflation|US|10000|1942|fmt=eq}}) in June.

===Chicago Cubs (1942, 1944)===
With the Cubs in 1942, he split time between first base and [[Pinch hitter|pinch hitting]] duties, and by the end of the season, it was clear that his career was in sharp decline. Over 100 games, he hit .226 and had only eight home runs, by far the lowest totals of his career since his first full season in 1929. He sat out all of 1943 and returned as a pinch hitter in 1944, playing only 14 games.<ref name="Complete" />

===Philadelphia Phillies (1945)===
Foxx joined the Phillies in 1945 and was a [[Two-way player#Baseball|two-way player]]. Between hitting and pitching, he hit 7 home runs over 89 games and compiled a 1–0 record and 1.59 [[earned run average]] (ERA) over 22{{fraction|2|3}} innings.<ref name="Complete" /> He retired at the end of the season.

Foxx finished his 20-year career with 534 home runs, 1,922 runs batted in, 1,751 runs scored, 2,646 hits, 458 doubles, 125 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]], 1,452 walks and a .325 batting average. His 12 consecutive seasons with 30 or more home runs was a major league record until it was broken by [[Barry Bonds]] in 2004. At the end of his career, his 534 home runs placed him second only to Ruth on the all-time list and first among right-handed hitters. He retained these positions until [[Willie Mays]] passed Foxx for second place in 1966. Foxx set the record for the youngest player to reach 500 home runs at age 32 years and 338 days in the final week of the [[1940 in baseball|1940]] Major League Baseball season. It held until August 4, 2007, when it was broken by [[Alex Rodriguez]] at age 32 years and 8 days. During the 1930s, no one hit more home runs than Foxx's 415 between the Athletics and Red Sox.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-statistical-leaders-by-decade|title=MLB Records by Decade|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref> Six years after retirement, he was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1951.<ref name="Complete" /><ref name="sabr"/>

==Career statistics==
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;"
|-
!Years!![[Games played|G]]!![[At bat|AB]]!![[Run (baseball)|R]]!![[Hit (baseball)|H]]!![[Double (baseball)|2B]]!![[Triple (baseball)|3B]]!![[Home run|HR]]!![[Total bases|TB]]!![[Extra base hits|XBH]]||[[Runs batted in|RBI]]!![[Stolen bases|SB]]!![[Bases on balls|BB]]!![[Batting average (baseball)|AVG]]!![[On-base percentage|OBP]]!![[Slugging percentage|SLG]]!![[On-base plus slugging percentage|OPS]]!![[Fielding percentage|FLD%]]
|-
|20||2317||8134||1751||2646||458||125||534||4956||1117||1922||87||1452||.325||.428||.609||1.038||.990
|}
Source:<ref name="Complete" />[https://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pfoxxj101.htm]

In three straight World Series (1929,'30,'31) covering 18 games, Foxx batted .344 (22-for-64) with 11 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 11 RBI, 9 walks, on-base percentage of .425, slugging percentage of .609, and on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.034.

==Post-playing career==
[[File:University of Miami baseball coach Jimmie Foxx with FSU coach Danny Litwhiler in Tallahassee, Florida (9772311054).jpg|thumb|Foxx as head coach for the [[University of Miami]] in 1957]]

Foxx worked as a minor league manager and coach after his playing days ended, including managing the [[Fort Wayne Daisies]] of the [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]] for one season in 1952.<ref name="Beast">{{cite web|url=http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/foxx-james-e/689|title=James E. Foxx AAGPBL Player/Profile<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> He took the team to the playoffs where they lost in the first round 2 games to 1 against the [[Rockford Peaches]]. The character of Jimmy Dugan in the 1992 movie ''[[A League of Their Own]]'', played broadly by [[Tom Hanks]], is loosely based on Foxx, though his players remember Foxx as having behaved significantly more gentlemanly to them, rather than the brusque manner Hanks showed his team. Foxx served as head coach for the [[University of Miami]] baseball team for two seasons, going 9–8 in 1956 and 11–12 in 1957, before being let go following the 1957 season.<ref name="sabr"/>

A series of bad investments left Foxx broke by 1958.<ref name="foxx" /> The Red Sox responded by naming Foxx hitting coach of their [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] affiliate, the [[Minneapolis Millers]] of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]], that season.<ref name="Beast"/> In the early 1960s, he lived in [[Galesburg, Illinois]], where he was working as a greeter at a locally owned steakhouse. He eventually retired to suburban Cleveland in [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]] and was employed by the Lakewood Recreation Department. His two children, a daughter and a son, also lived in Lakewood. His son, Jimmie Foxx, Jr., played [[American football|football]] at [[Lakewood High School (Lakewood, Ohio)|Lakewood High School]] and [[Kent State University]].

==Death==
Foxx died on July 21, 1967, at age 59 in [[Miami, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LZscAAAAIBAJ&pg=4615,5278907&dq=jimmie+foxx+choked&hl=en|title=Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> He became ill while eating dinner with his brother and was taken to a hospital where resuscitative efforts failed. An autopsy showed that Foxx had choked on a piece of food. The year before, Foxx's second wife, Dorothy, had also died of choking.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edes|first=Gordon|title=Foxx news channeling: Ortiz's run prompts a glance into history| newspaper=Boston Globe|date=September 12, 2006|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/09/12/foxx_news_channeling/?page=full|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> Foxx is buried at Flagler Memorial Park in Miami.

==Legacy==
Known as one of the greatest power hitters of all time, [[Ted Williams]] was quoted as saying in response to a question about Foxx breaking [[Babe Ruth]]'s home run record, "What a man. And I'll bet he does it, too!"<ref name="sabr jimmie"/> However, long-standing chronic health problems, injuries, heavy drinking, and a marriage of constant abuse and harassment from his first wife all caused his career to be cut short in his 30s.<ref name="sabr"/> In 1940, Hall of Famer [[Joe Cronin]] said, "He's a marvel, isn't he? Tell me: who was a better all-around ball player than Foxxie? Why right now I'd say he was the best catcher in the American League…They can talk all they want to about some of those old time ball players being able to play different positions. I'll take Foxxie. They don't come any better."<ref name="sabr jimmie"/>

Foxx was known for his intimidating physical strength and often cut the sleeves from his uniforms to show off his biceps.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Geoffrey C. |last2=Burns |first2=Ken |date=2005 |title=Baseball: An Illustrated History |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Baseball/_076VanTBE8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA208&printsec=frontcover |location=New York |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]] |page=208 |isbn=978-0-6797-6541-7 |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref> Lefty Gomez joked that Foxx "had muscles in his hair" and that "He wasn't scouted—he was [[trapping|trapped]]."<ref>{{cite book |last=Redmount |first=Robert |date=1998 |title=The Red Sox Encyclopedia |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Red_Sox_Encyclopedia/tS1hmkDeICUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA268&printsec=frontcover |location=Champaign, Illinois |publisher=Sports Publishing |page=268 |isbn=978-1-5826-1012-2 |access-date=2025-05-01}}</ref>

A statue of Foxx was erected in his hometown of Sudlersville, Maryland, on October 25, 1997. In 1999, he ranked number 15 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''{{'}} list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml|title=100 Greatest Baseball Players by The Sporting News : A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}</ref> and was a nominee for the [[Major League Baseball]] All-Century Team.

[[Tom Hanks]]'s character Jimmy Dugan in the movie ''[[A League of Their Own]]'' was largely based on Foxx and [[Hack Wilson]], although the producers took a number of liberties in creating the role.<ref name="foxx">{{Cite web |title=Reel Life: 'A League of Their Own' |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/closer/020511.html |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

There is a Jimmie Foxx Street in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Merrisa |date=30 September 2014 |title=San Antonio street names and groupings |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/slideshow/San-Antonio-street-names-and-groupings-94695.php |website=mysanantonio.com}}</ref>

Foxx is mentioned in the poem "[[Line-Up for Yesterday]]" by [[Ogden Nash]]:

{{quote box |width= 18em |border= 4px |align= center |bgcolor= #FAF0E6 |qalign= center | title="Line-Up for Yesterday"|quote=''X is the first''<br />''Of two x's in Foxx''<br />''Who was right behind [[Babe Ruth|Ruth]]''<br />''With his powerful soxx.''
|source= —[[Ogden Nash]], [[Sport (US magazine)|''Sport'' magazine]] (January 1949)<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball Almanac|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_line.shtml|access-date=2008-01-23}}</ref>}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{div col}}
* [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Major League Baseball Triple Crown]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career batting average leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career on-base percentage leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career extra base hits leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career OPS leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball individual streaks]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HaliHnRKOcC|title=Jimmie Foxx: The Pride of Sudlersville|last=Millikin|first=Mark R.|year=2005|isbn=9781461660064|publisher=Scarecrow Press|access-date=May 17, 2022|ref=Millikin05}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bld14EkmDxAC|title=Jimmie Foxx: The Life and Times of a Baseball Hall of Famer, 1907-1967|last=Daniel|first=H. Harrison|year=2004|isbn=9780786418671|publisher=McFarland|access-date=May 17, 2022|ref=Daniel04}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bmGBN__334C|title=The Athletics of Philadelphia: Connie Mack's White Elephants, 1901-1954|last=Jordan|first=David M.|year=1999|isbn=9780786406203|publisher=McFarland|access-date=May 17, 2022|ref=Jordan99}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mqPTDRT2v3UC|title=The Day All the Stars Came Out: Major League Baseball's First All-Star Game, 1933|last=Freedman|first=Lew|year=2014|isbn=9780786457755|publisher=McFarland|access-date=May 18, 2022|ref=Freedman14}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/e34a045d |title=Jimmie Foxx |first=John |last=Bennett |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research|SABR]]}}
*{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1996/08/19/216207/lost-in-history-from-1929-to-1931-the-philadelphia-as-were-the-best-team-in-baseball-with-four-future-hall-of-famers-and-a-lineup-that-dominated-babe-ruths-legendary-yankees-so-why-hasnt-anyone-heard-of-them |title=Lost In History |first=William |last=Nack |author-link=William Nack |quote=<small>From 1929 to 1931, the Philadelphia A's were the best team in baseball, with four future Hall of Famers and a lineup that dominated Babe Ruth's legendary Yankees. So why hasn't anyone heard of them?</small> |date=August 19, 1996 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=114367|espn=21723|br=f/foxxji01|fangraphs=1004285|brm=foxx--001jam|retro=F/Pfoxxj101}}
*{{Sabrbio|e34a045d}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=foxxji01 Jimmie Foxx] at Baseball Almanac
*{{Find a Grave}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{succession box | title = [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|American League Triple Crown]] | before = [[Ty Cobb]]| years = 1933 | after = [[Lou Gehrig]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Pinky Higgins]] | title = [[Hitting for the cycle]]| years = August 14, 1933 | after = [[Earl Averill]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Boston Red Sox HOF}}
{{Boston Red Sox team captains}}
{{AL MVPs}}
{{AL batting title}}
{{AL home run champions}}
{{AL RBI champions}}
{{MLB Triple Crowns (batters)}}
{{500 home run club}}
{{50 home run club}}
{{1929 Philadelphia Athletics}}
{{1930 Philadelphia Athletics}}
{{Oakland Athletics HOF}}
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{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
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{{Philly Baseball Wall of Fame}}
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{{Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Foxx, Jimmie}}
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