Jim Bolger – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jim Bolger spent nearly a decade in the major leagues, kicking off his career with his hometown Cincinnati Reds in 1950 and wrapping things up with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1959. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 23, 1932, Bolger grew into a reliable outfielder and ended up playing for four different teams during his seven-season run.

Bolger retired from Major League Baseball in 1959, playing his final game on September 18 with the Phillies. He appeared in 312 games and posted a .229 batting average.

His stats might not jump off the page, but Bolger’s journey through pro baseball says a lot about a guy who made the most of his chances at the sport’s highest level. He kept at it, even when the odds weren’t exactly in his favor.

Bolger’s career peaked in 1957 with the Chicago Cubs. He served as the team’s fourth outfielder and hit a career-high .275. His path, from the early days with Cincinnati to that last season split between Cleveland and Philadelphia, gives a glimpse into the ups and downs of a 1950s baseball career.

Jim Bolger’s Early Life and Path to Baseball

James Cyril Bolger was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 23, 1932. He honed his athletic skills at Purcell Marian High School.

His connection to Cincinnati proved important when the Cincinnati Reds spotted his talent and signed him straight out of high school in 1950.

Youth and Background in Cincinnati

Bolger grew up in Cincinnati during the 1930s and 1940s. His father Cyril supported his athletic development from a young age.

He attended Purcell Marian High School and quickly became a standout athlete there. Scouts from the Cincinnati Reds took notice of his performance on the diamond.

Bolger’s talent was obvious during his high school years. He looked like a real prospect even as a teenager.

Cincinnati’s baseball culture probably played a role in his development. Living in a city with a big-league team exposed him to pro baseball early on.

Initial Interest in Baseball

Bolger’s skills shined during his time at Purcell Marian, especially as an outfielder. Professional scouts saw his potential.

Playing locally gave him a bit of an edge. The Reds could keep a close eye on his progress.

Bolger had the physical tools for the game. At 6’2” and 180 pounds, he fit the mold for a pro outfielder.

He batted and threw right-handed, which worked in his favor. He could handle multiple outfield spots pretty well.

Transition to Professional Baseball

The Cincinnati Reds signed Bolger on June 20, 1950, right after high school. That made him the 1,000th player to wear a Reds uniform.

Just four days after signing, Bolger debuted in the majors on June 24, 1950. He was only 18 when he first wore a Reds jersey.

A broken ankle in 1951 slowed his progress and limited his time with the Reds. That injury was a tough break early on.

Still, the Reds believed in his abilities. They saw Bolger as an outfield prospect with a real shot at making it.

Major League Career Overview

Jim Bolger played seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1959. He appeared in 312 games as an outfielder.

He spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs. He also suited up for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Debut and Early Years

Bolger started his pro career at just 18. He made his MLB debut on June 24, 1950, with the Cincinnati Reds.

He didn’t get much playing time at first, appearing in only nine games with the Reds in 1950 and 1951.

Early Career Timeline:

• 1950: MLB debut with Cincinnati Reds
• 1951: Traded to Buffalo on October 14 for pitchers Moe Savransky and Tom Acker
• 1954: Brief return to Cincinnati Redlegs

Bolger bounced between the majors and minors quite a bit in those early years. That was pretty common for young players back then.

Primary Positions and Playing Style

Bolger stuck to the outfield during his MLB career. He hit and threw right-handed, stood 6’2”, and weighed 180 pounds.

His build was pretty standard for outfielders in that era. The height and weight gave him some reach and presence.

Playing Statistics:

• Batting Average: .229
• Home Runs: 6
• RBIs: 48
• Games Played: 312

He occasionally filled in at third base, but teams mostly used him as a fourth outfielder. That flexibility made him useful off the bench.

Significant Seasons

Bolger’s best year came in 1957 with the Cubs. He played in 112 games and started 57 as the team’s fourth outfielder.

That season, he hit .275 in 273 at-bats. It was easily his most productive year in the majors.

1957 Season Highlights:

• 112 games played
• 57 starts in the outfield
• 2 starts at third base
• .275 batting average

The year before, in 1956, he’d been a Pacific Coast League all-star with the Los Angeles Angels. He hit .326 with 147 RBIs, 193 hits, and 28 home runs.

That success in the minors helped him earn a bigger role with the Cubs in 1957.

Retirement in 1959

Bolger wrapped up his MLB career in 1959, splitting time between the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies.

His last big-league game came on September 18, 1959, with the Phillies. That year, he played 35 games for Philadelphia and eight for Cleveland.

Final Season Details:

• Cleveland Indians: 8 games
• Philadelphia Phillies: 35 games
• Last game: September 18, 1959

After leaving the majors, Bolger kept playing in the minors. He finished his pro career in 1962, batting .319 for the Triple-A Louisville Colonels.

He played professionally for 13 years and hung it up at age 30.

Teams Played For and League Participation

Jim Bolger played for four MLB teams over seven seasons from 1950 to 1959. He spent most of his 312 games with the Chicago Cubs.

He also played for the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Redlegs

Bolger started his MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds on June 24, 1950, at just 18. That debut meant a lot since he was born in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The team switched between the Reds and Redlegs names during his time there. Bolger played with Cincinnati in 1950-1951 and briefly returned in 1954.

He only played nine games in total for the Reds. Still, this National League team gave him his first shot at the majors.

On October 14, 1951, Cincinnati traded Bolger to Buffalo for pitchers Moe Savransky and Tom Acker. That move ended his first run with his hometown team.

Chicago Cubs Stints

Bolger spent most of his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, playing 260 out of his 312 games for them. He suited up for the Cubs in 1955, 1957, and 1958.

His best season was 1957, when he played 112 games, starting 57 in the outfield. He even filled in at third base twice.

That year, he hit a career-high .275 in 273 at-bats. It came right after a standout 1956 season in the Pacific Coast League.

The Cubs gave Bolger his most steady playing time. He spent over two-thirds of his big-league career with Chicago.

Philadelphia Phillies Period

Bolger finished his MLB days with the Philadelphia Phillies, playing 35 games in 1959. That National League stint was his longest with any team besides the Cubs.

The Phillies gave him more playing opportunities than his other short stops. His last MLB game came on September 18, 1959, in a Phillies uniform.

Cleveland Indians Tenure

Bolger’s time with the Cleveland Indians was brief—just eight games in 1959. That was his only experience in the American League.

He played for Cleveland and Philadelphia in the same year. The Indians didn’t give him much of a look, but it rounded out his four-team MLB career.

His short stint with Cleveland added a little variety to his mostly National League experience.

Statistical Highlights and Performance Metrics

Jim Bolger’s seven-season career from 1950 to 1959 produced a modest statistical record over 312 games. His .229 career batting average and 140 hits show the story of a utility player who never quite locked down a starting spot.

Batting Average and Hits

Bolger wrapped up his career with a .229 batting average in 612 at-bats. His best season was 1957 with the Cubs, where he hit .275 in 112 games.

That year, he collected 75 hits in 273 at-bats. His hit totals shifted quite a bit by season.

In 1955, his first full year, he managed 33 hits in 160 at-bats for a .206 average. In 1958, he had 27 hits in 120 at-bats.

Bolger’s 140 career hits included 14 doubles, 6 triples, and 6 home runs. His doubles peaked at 5 in 1955, and he showed some speed with 4 triples that year.

Home Runs and Power Stats

Bolger wasn’t known for his power. He hit 6 home runs in his MLB career, with 5 coming as a Cub.

His best power year was 1957, when he knocked out 5 homers. His slugging percentage sat at .301—not exactly a power hitter’s stat line.

Bolger picked up 184 total bases in his career. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) landed at .572, which was below league average.

He managed 96 total bases in 1957, his top season. With only 14 doubles and 6 triples, he wasn’t a big extra-base threat.

Runs and RBI Contributions

Bolger scored 65 runs and drove in 48 RBIs over seven years. His 1957 season stood out, with 28 runs and 29 RBIs—that’s almost half his career RBI total in one year.

He didn’t produce many runs most seasons. In 1955, he scored 19 and drove in just 7. The 1958 season saw him notch 15 runs and 11 RBIs.

Bolger’s .272 career on-base percentage limited his chances to score. He walked 32 times but struck out 83 times.

WAR and Advanced Analytics

Bolger’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of -1.4 shows he played below replacement level during his career. In 1959, he posted his worst single season with a -0.9 WAR over 43 games with two teams.

His OPS+ of 54 means he hit 46% below league average. Advanced metrics really paint a tough picture for him. His rOBA (runs above average based on OBA) landed at .267.

From 1955 to 1958, the Cubs got his best production, but even then, his WAR stayed in the negative. His defense just couldn’t make up for his hitting struggles.

These stats help explain why Bolger never locked down a regular starting job.

1959 Season and Retirement

Jim Bolger wrapped up his Major League Baseball career in 1959, playing for two different teams as things wound down. His performance that year, along with other factors, pushed him toward retirement.

Transition Between Teams in 1959

Bolger started 1959 with the Cleveland Indians in the American League. It was his first time in the AL after spending most of his career in the National League.

The Indians released him partway through the season. After that, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and returned to the National League for the rest of the year.

Switching teams mid-season made 1959 a rough ride for Bolger. He had spent several seasons with the same club before, especially during his stretch with the Chicago Cubs.

That split between two teams forced him to adjust to new coaches and systems twice in one year.

Performance Summary for 1959

Bolger played in 43 games during the 1959 regular season with both teams. His playing time dropped compared to earlier years.

His 1959 batting stats show how much he struggled. The splits reveal his offense declined from previous seasons.

The outfielder saw less time on the field, and he wasn’t a regular starter anymore. Both the Indians and Phillies mostly used him off the bench or as a spot starter.

At 27, Bolger was still pretty young to retire. Still, his performance just didn’t meet what teams wanted at the big league level.

Factors Leading to Retirement

Bolger’s career batting average of .229 over seven seasons made it tough for him to hold down a job. That low average meant teams weren’t eager to give him a starting spot.

He didn’t offer much power either. Bolger hit just 6 home runs and drove in 48 RBIs over his 312-game career.

Those team changes in 1959 sent a clear message—clubs saw him as expendable. Neither the Indians nor Phillies offered him a contract for the next year.

By the late 1950s, pro baseball was getting more competitive. Teams wanted higher performance, so guys with modest stats found it harder to stick around.

Bolger retired in 1959 at the end of the season. During his seven-year career, he played for five different franchises, including the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Jim Bolger’s Legacy and Post-Career Impact

Jim Bolger left a mark beyond just his stats, earning a spot as a notable Cincinnati athlete and staying present in baseball record books. When he died in 2020, the baseball world remembered him for his contributions to the game.

Recognition Among Cincinnati Athletes

Bolger stood out as a multi-sport athlete at Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati. His high school success helped make him one of the city’s notable sports figures.

The Cincinnati Reds recognized Bolger as a hometown player who started his pro career with his local team. He debuted with the Reds at age 18 in 1950, making him one of the youngest major leaguers from Cincinnati at the time.

Local sports historians point out Bolger’s place in a generation of Cincinnati athletes who jumped straight from high school sports into pro baseball. His journey from Cincinnati high school baseball to the majors showed what was possible for local talent in the 1950s.

Baseball Community Remembering Jim Bolger

When Bolger passed away in April 2020 at 88, the Cincinnati Enquirer ran an obituary highlighting his dual status as a local sports star and major leaguer. The write-up focused on his Cincinnati roots and his baseball career.

Baseball historians and writers looked back on Bolger’s 13-year professional career, which included both his time in the majors and his strong minor league years. His 1956 Pacific Coast League all-star season, when he hit .326 with 147 RBIs and 28 home runs for the Los Angeles Angels, really showed his peak.

The baseball community remembered Bolger’s versatility. He could handle multiple outfield spots and sometimes played third base. In 1957 with the Chicago Cubs, he batted .275 in 273 at-bats, which turned out to be his best major league season.

Reference in Modern Baseball Databases

Modern baseball databases like The Baseball Cube keep detailed records of Bolger’s career stats and biographical info. You can find both his major and minor league performances there.

Baseball Reference and similar sites list Bolger’s career batting average at .229. They also note his 6 home runs and 48 RBIs over 312 major league games.

These platforms mention his nickname, “Dutch,” along with his height and weight—6’2″, 180 pounds. It’s kind of cool how much detail they include.

The databases record Bolger’s time with four major league teams: the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies. His longest run came with the Cubs, where he played 260 games, and honestly, that stretch really defines his big league career.