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

Jim King wrapped up his Major League Baseball career on September 24, 1967, stepping off the field for the last time as a pro. The Arkansas native played 11 seasons in the big leagues, suiting up for six different teams. He built a reputation as a reliable outfielder with a strong arm and a solid left-handed bat.

King played from 1955 to 1967, finishing with a .240 batting average, 117 home runs, and 401 RBIs in 1,125 games. His best years happened with the expansion Washington Senators, where he stuck around longer than any of the other 27 players drafted by the team in December 1960. He reached double digits in home runs eight times, with a career-high 24 homers in 1963.

King started out in Elkins, Arkansas, and eventually played in the first Major League game held in California with the San Francisco Giants. His journey through professional baseball mirrors the experiences of many players during the sport’s expansion years.

He faced early struggles in the minors, enjoyed some breakthrough seasons, and dealt with the ups and downs of playing for multiple organizations during a time of big changes in baseball.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

James Hubert King was born on August 27, 1932, in Elkins, Arkansas. That small town shaped his early baseball days.

He started out in local youth leagues, then moved on to the American Legion system. Scouts first noticed his natural talent as an outfielder there.

Family Background and Childhood

Jim King grew up in Elkins during the Great Depression. His hometown was a modest spot in the Arkansas mountains, and baseball was a favorite pastime for kids.

The King family encouraged Jim’s early love for the game. Like a lot of boys back then, he learned the basics playing sandlot ball and informal games around town.

Arkansas had a knack for producing baseball talent in the 1930s and 1940s. Many young players honed their skills in rural areas before moving up to organized leagues.

King’s childhood lined up with baseball’s golden age in America. Radio broadcasts of big league games inspired kids everywhere, even in small Arkansas towns like Elkins.

American Legion and High School Years

King really started to develop as a teenager, thanks to American Legion baseball. That program gave him structured competition and coaching, which sharpened his skills as an outfielder.

American Legion ball was a big deal in Arkansas during the 1940s. It let young players compete beyond just high school games.

King’s play in American Legion games caught the eye of local baseball fans. His mix of speed and hitting set him apart from other kids in the region.

He also played for his high school team in Elkins during this time. High school baseball gave him more chances to work on fundamentals and face good competition.

Discovery by Scouts

Scouts started noticing King during his American Legion and high school days. His steady play and natural athleticism got the attention of several organizations.

The St. Louis Cardinals showed the most interest in him. Their scouts were all over Arkansas and nearby states in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

King’s left-handed swing and solid defense in the outfield impressed pro scouts. He could make good contact and cover a lot of ground, which really stood out.

By 1950, King had done enough to earn a contract with the Cardinals’ farm system. That marked the end of his amateur days and the start of his pro baseball adventure.

Minor League Career and Development

Jim King spent almost a decade working on his game in different minor league systems before he really broke through in the majors. His path took him from the independent Longhorn League, through the Cardinals organization, and eventually to International League stardom with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Vernon Dusters and Early Minor Leagues

King’s pro journey started in 1950 with the Vernon Dusters in the independent Class D Longhorn League. He was just 17 but hit .302 with 12 home runs in 144 games.

Scouts, especially Fred Hawn from the Cardinals, noticed King’s raw talent and strong arm. The Cardinals signed him and sent him to Winston-Salem in the Carolina League for 1951.

That jump was tough at first. King, just 18, hit only .213 in 18 games.

He moved to Fresno in the Class C California League in May 1951. The change helped—he bounced back and hit .333 in 116 games. King showed he could adapt and handle tougher competition.

Carolina, California, and Western League Progression

King kept progressing in 1952, joining Omaha in the Class A Western League. He struggled a bit, hitting .238 with one homer in 63 games, so he went back to Fresno.

Back in Fresno, he found his groove again, hitting .328 in 59 games. He proved he could succeed at that level.

In 1953, King returned to Omaha for a full season. At 20, he improved, batting .280 with 10 home runs.

He earned league all-star selections at Vernon in 1950 and Fresno in 1951. Those honors showed his growing reputation as a top outfield prospect in the Cardinals system.

Omaha Years and All-Star Performances

King broke out in 1954 at Omaha, hitting .314 with 25 home runs and a team-record 127 RBIs. His offensive numbers made him one of the Western League’s top players.

He also showed off his defense, racking up 19 outfield assists that year. That strong arm became one of his trademarks.

That season had some memorable moments. King took part in a promotion with Joe DiMaggio and Dizzy Dean, homering in front of 18,284 fans.

On September 10, 1954, he played a part in a quirky bit of baseball history. King scored the only run in what could have been a perfect game, reaching on an error against Lincoln’s Orinthal Anderson for a 1-0 win.

Toronto Maple Leafs and International League MVP

After some short major league stints, King landed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1959. The International League team ran independently, owned by Jack Kent Cooke.

King and his family enjoyed their time in Toronto. He became a star there, earning player of the year honors in 1959 after a strong second half.

The 1960 season was his best in the minors. Even after missing two weeks with mumps, he hit 24 home runs with 86 RBIs and a .384 on-base percentage.

That year, King won International League MVP honors. The Maple Leafs won the league title, thanks in part to his offense and the team’s tough pitching staff.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Jim King broke into the majors in 1955 with the Chicago Cubs at age 22. Over 11 seasons, he played for six different teams. In those early years, he made his mark with steady power hitting and a strong throwing arm in the outfield.

Chicago Cubs and Rookie Success

The Cubs picked King from the Cardinals’ Rochester roster in the minor-league draft in November 1954. Manager Stan Hack listed King as one of six outfielders who could make the 1955 team.

King competed with Ted Tappe for the right field job in spring training. The Cubs even considered trying him at third base to get him more playing time, but that never happened in a real game.

His rookie season went well. King hit .256 in 113 games and got 333 plate appearances in 1955. He hit his first big league homer at the Polo Grounds.

He earned some recognition among National League rookies, picking up 82,212 All-Star votes—well above Roberto Clemente’s 46,827. Both were the top rookie vote-getters who didn’t make the all-star team.

The left-handed hitter followed up with 15 home runs in 118 games in 1956, batting .249. He battled a nagging shoulder injury that started in late 1955 and flared up again in June 1956.

King’s defense stood out in his second year. He led National League left fielders with nine assists in 1956, showing off that strong right throwing arm.

St. Louis Cardinals and Trades

Cardinals GM Frank Lane wanted King back in the St. Louis Cardinals fold. Lane thought King’s left-handed power would play well with the short right-field porch at Busch Stadium.

The trade went down in April 1957. While the Cubs visited St. Louis early in the season, Lane and Cubs GM John Holland made a deal. King joined the Cardinals for outfielder Bobby Del Greco and pitcher Ed Mayer.

Things didn’t go as planned in St. Louis. Just a month after the trade, the Cardinals sent King down to Omaha.

At a postseason luncheon, Lane explained what happened. He and manager Fred Hutchinson wanted to keep King and option Bobby Gene Smith instead, but owner August Busch overruled them.

King played well in Omaha, even after the setback. He hit 20 home runs and fans voted him the team’s most popular player. The Cardinals hoped he’d help their bench in 1958.

San Francisco Giants and California Baseball

King ended up with the San Francisco Giants after another trade in April 1958. The Cardinals needed a catcher, and the Giants wanted a left-handed hitting outfielder. On April 2, King went to San Francisco for catcher Ray Katt.

King told author Steve Bitker, “I thought I’d get a better shot at playing with San Francisco.” That chance came quickly in a historic game.

On April 15, 1958, King started in left field for the Giants in the first major league game ever played in California. He batted second, ahead of Willie Mays, as the newly relocated New York teams kicked off their seasons in San Francisco.

Conditions at Seals Stadium worked in King’s favor. Giants manager Bill Rigney swapped out Hank Sauer for King because of strong winds blowing out to right field. King delivered, going 2-for-3 against Don Drysdale, drawing two walks, and driving in a run.

Even after a strong debut, King’s playing time got spotty after that opener. His biggest moment came on May 14, when he smacked a two-run pinch-hit double to start a wild ninth-inning rally against Pittsburgh.

Washington Senators and Career Highlights

King hit his stride with the expansion Washington Senators, playing six and a half years there and sticking around longer than any other original 1960 expansion draft pick. He had his best season in 1963 with 24 home runs and made some defensive plays that showed off his powerful arm.

Joining via MLB Expansion Draft

The Washington Senators picked King in the American League expansion draft in December 1960. The team paid $75,000 for King, along with 27 other players to fill out their roster.

Cleveland had bought King from Toronto for $15,000 earlier that year but left him unprotected, never actually playing him. So Cleveland made a quick profit.

The expansion draft gave King a new shot in the American League. He was playing winter ball in Venezuela when the Senators picked him. The draft meant more regular playing time with a brand-new club.

King outlasted all the other original expansion draft picks on the Senators. His staying power made him a key figure in the early years of the franchise.

Role and Performance on the Senators

King mostly played right field for the Senators, where he relied on his strong throwing arm. Sometimes, he shifted to left field, especially when facing right-handed pitchers.

In 1961, King put together his best season, batting .270 with 11 home runs and a .363 on-base percentage. He showed patience at the plate, drawing 55 walks in 1962 while striking out just 37 times.

Manager Mickey Vernon counted on King early on, but Gil Hodges took over in May 1963. King seemed to handle the managerial changes without much trouble during his years with the Senators.

He played home games at Griffith Stadium, where that tough 31-foot-high right-field wall loomed. On May 13 and 14, 1961, King cleared that wall for his first two home runs as a Senator.

Record-Setting Home Run Seasons

King hit his most home runs in 1963, launching 24 and setting a personal best. That year, debates flared up about Washington franchise home run records.

On August 15, 1963, both King and the Twins’ Jimmie Hall reached their 20th home run. The Twins claimed Hall had tied Mickey Vernon’s old record for left-handed hitters in Washington.

The Senators pushed back, saying King’s mark should count as the new expansion franchise record. This disagreement really showed how tangled the original Senators’ move to Minnesota had made things.

King reached double-digit home run totals eight times, mostly while in a Senators uniform. Considering he never had more than 511 plate appearances in a season, his power numbers stand out.

Notable Games and Achievements

On August 10, 1963, King made a defensive play people still talk about. He threw out Luis Aparicio at home, sealing a 6-5 win over the Orioles with two outs in the ninth.

He was in left field for the San Francisco Giants during the first major league game ever played in California on April 15, 1958. That day, King went 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI off Don Drysdale.

During his Senators years, King racked up 12 outfield assists, showing off the arm strength he’d had since he was a teenager. His defense really rounded out his game.

King’s approach at the plate paid off—he finished with 363 career walks and 401 strikeouts in 3,338 plate appearances. That discipline especially mattered in Washington.

Career Statistics and Legacy

Jim King put together a solid 11-year career from 1955 to 1967, hitting .240 with 117 home runs and 401 RBIs over 1,125 games. Teams valued his defensive versatility and steady offensive production—he played for six different clubs.

Batting Accomplishments and Milestones

King tallied 699 hits in 2,918 at-bats during his big league run. His best years, at least offensively, happened with the Washington Senators.

He set career highs with 24 home runs and 62 RBIs in 1963. That 1961 season still stands out, too—he hit .270 with an .811 OPS.

Across his career, King drew 363 walks and struck out 401 times. Thanks to his patience, he kept a decent .326 on-base percentage even with a .240 average.

He managed 112 doubles and 19 triples in 11 seasons. King averaged 17 home runs per 162 games, not eye-popping, but pretty steady.

His career WAR hit 11.1, with his top single-season mark of 2.4 coming in 1964 for Washington.

Fielding and Defensive Strength

King’s defensive flexibility made him a useful piece for several teams. He mainly played as an outfielder, covering all three spots, but spent the most time in left field.

Early on, King even caught a few games, showing off his athleticism and baseball smarts. When needed, his arm handled right field just fine.

King kept solid fielding percentages at different outfield positions. Managers liked having him as an option in multiple spots.

That ability to move around probably helped extend his career. Teams always need someone who can fill gaps.

Career Summary and Impact

King’s career stretched from the Chicago Cubs in 1955 to his last games in 1967, when he suited up for three different teams. He stuck with the Washington Senators the longest, playing a key role from 1961 to 1967.

The outfielder logged 3,339 plate appearances and scored 374 runs. His steady production gave a little stability to several teams.

King’s career line—.240/.326/.411—shows a player who provided solid value. With a 104 OPS+, he was just a tick above average for his time.

He wrapped up his playing days with the White Sox and Indians in 1967. King passed away in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2015 at age 82.

Final MLB Season and Retirement

Jim King’s baseball journey ended in 1967 after a strange final year where he played for three teams. Once he stepped away from the game, King headed back to Arkansas and started working in telecommunications.

1967 Season with Multiple Teams

King’s last major league season sent him bouncing around the American League. He started with the Washington Senators, the team he’d called home since 1961.

Mid-season, the Senators traded him to the Chicago White Sox. That move shook things up for King, who had spent six seasons in Washington.

His stint with the White Sox didn’t last long. Before the season finished, King landed with a third team: the Cleveland Indians.

Three teams in one season—definitely not the norm. King only saw limited action as he wrapped up his career.

His career statistics stayed about the same, with that .240 batting average holding steady.

All those moves probably signaled how tough it gets to hang on as a veteran outfielder. At 35, King was reaching the usual retirement age for players at his position.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

After his final MLB game on September 24, 1967, with the Indians, King decided to retire. He’d played 11 seasons for six teams.

King went home to Elkins, Arkansas, where he was born in 1932. After years on the road, he returned to his roots.

He started working for a telephone company in Arkansas. That kind of career shift was pretty common for ex-players of his era, since they didn’t have the financial cushion modern athletes enjoy.

King lived quietly after baseball. He stayed in Arkansas, working in telecommunications.

He seemed to settle in well, spending almost 50 years in his hometown after hanging up his spikes. King died in Elkins in 2015 at age 82, having built a life beyond baseball in the place where he grew up.

Life After Baseball and Personal Legacy

Jim King built a legacy around family and quiet community service after leaving baseball in 1967. He kept strong ties to Arkansas, and people remembered him as a generous, approachable guy who stayed connected to fans even in his later years.

Family and Personal Life

King’s biggest achievement after baseball was his 60-year marriage to Rose Bell King, whom he married right after the 1954 season. Rose, also from Elkins, stood by his side until his death in 2015.

They raised two children together. Sheree King was born in 1955, during Jim’s rookie year with the Cubs. David King arrived in 1958, when Jim was with the Giants.

King liked to share stories from his playing days with his family. Rose and David remembered one in particular—a tense time in January 1958 when armed troops surrounded their plane’s runway in Caracas, Venezuela. A military coup had just happened, and American players had to stay in their hotel for a week.

The family stayed close in King’s retirement. He grew up with six brothers and two sisters, and by the end, he was the last surviving sibling.

Post-Baseball Career and Community

After baseball, King returned to Arkansas and got involved in his community. He kept in touch with the sport and built friendships with fans and collectors.

King became known for answering autograph requests from memorabilia collectors. According to sportscollectors.net, he responded 192 times out of 203 attempts. Even in his 80s, King was still replying—his last recorded autograph came in May 2014.

One collector mentioned King usually replied within two weeks, showing how much he valued those connections. That kind of accessibility made him a favorite for collectors and fans who remembered his days on the field.

Honors, Recognition, and Memorial

King died on February 23, 2015, at age 82 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

His family buried him at Mount Olive Cemetery in Elkins, Arkansas, bringing him back to the place where his baseball story started.

The Toronto Maple Leafs organization especially celebrated his legacy. They’d named him International League MVP in 1960, and after his passing, the team honored his memory, pointing out just how much he meant to them during a key time in their history.

King quietly excelled beyond the numbers. He stood out as the longest-tenured player among the 28 original expansion Washington Senators, sticking with the team for 6½ years.

When his family wrote his February 2015 obituary, they focused on his character and the relationships he built, rather than just his baseball stats.

People in the baseball community remembered King for his power at the plate and his outstanding defense. His rifle arm created some unforgettable moments, like that game-saving throw against Luis Aparicio in 1963.