Jim Baumer
Encyclopedia
James Sloan Baumer was an American
infielder
and front office executive in Major League Baseball
. A right-handed-hitting shortstop
born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, he was a graduate of Broken Arrow Senior High
.
Baumer had a highly unusual major league playing career. After reaching the majors at age 18 with the Chicago White Sox
, Baumer hit .400 (four hits
in ten at bat
s, including a double
and a triple
). He then disappeared into the minor leagues
and would not return to MLB until, as a 30-year-old, he had a brief trial with the Cincinnati Reds
before he was traded to the Detroit Tigers
for first baseman Dick Gernert
and returned to the minor leagues. Overall, he batted
.206 in 18 games and 34 at bats, with two runs batted in. After his major league career, Baumer played for the Nishitetsu Lions in Japan from until .
When his playing career ended, Baumer became a scout with the Houston Astros
and Milwaukee Brewers
, and became Milwaukee's director of scouting in . The following season, he succeeded Jim Wilson
as the Brewers' general manager
. Baumer's most successful transaction during his three-year tenure as GM was his acquisition of first baseman
Cecil Cooper
from the Boston Red Sox
following the season. However, the Brewers struggled on the field and after their eighth straight losing season in Milwaukee in , Baumer was fired and replaced by Harry Dalton
.
He then joined the Philadelphia Phillies
as a scout, and was promoted to director of the Phils' scouting and farm system operations in 1981. Two laters later, Baumer was named a team vice president. His role diminished after a front-office purge in , but he remained with the Phillies as an area scout.
Baumer died at age 65 in the Philadelphia suburb of Paoli, Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and front office executive in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. A right-handed-hitting shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
born in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, he was a graduate of Broken Arrow Senior High
Broken Arrow Senior High
Broken Arrow Senior High School is the highest level of secondary education in the Broken Arrow Public Schools system, for students in eleventh and twelfth grades. The school, combined with North Intermediate High School and South Intermediate High School, is the largest high school in the state...
.
Baumer had a highly unusual major league playing career. After reaching the majors at age 18 with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Baumer hit .400 (four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in ten at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, including a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
). He then disappeared into the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and would not return to MLB until, as a 30-year-old, he had a brief trial with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
before he was traded to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for first baseman Dick Gernert
Dick Gernert
Richard Edward Gernert was a first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Detroit Tigers , Cincinnati Reds and Houston Colt .45's . He threw and batted right-handed...
and returned to the minor leagues. Overall, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.206 in 18 games and 34 at bats, with two runs batted in. After his major league career, Baumer played for the Nishitetsu Lions in Japan from until .
When his playing career ended, Baumer became a scout with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and became Milwaukee's director of scouting in . The following season, he succeeded Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson (pitcher)
James Alger Wilson , was a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1945-1958. He would play for the Boston Red Sox, St...
as the Brewers' general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
. Baumer's most successful transaction during his three-year tenure as GM was his acquisition of first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
from the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
following the season. However, the Brewers struggled on the field and after their eighth straight losing season in Milwaukee in , Baumer was fired and replaced by Harry Dalton
Harry Dalton
Harry I. Dalton was an American front-office executive in Major League Baseball. He served as general manager of three American League teams, the Baltimore Orioles , California Angels and Milwaukee Brewers , and was a principal architect of the Orioles' dynasty of 1966–1974 as well as the only AL...
.
He then joined the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
as a scout, and was promoted to director of the Phils' scouting and farm system operations in 1981. Two laters later, Baumer was named a team vice president. His role diminished after a front-office purge in , but he remained with the Phillies as an area scout.
Baumer died at age 65 in the Philadelphia suburb of Paoli, Pennsylvania
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Paoli is a census-designated place in Chester County near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated in portions of two townships: Tredyffrin and Willistown...
.