James J. Corbett

James John Corbett
(Gentleman Jim)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Sacred Heart High School (San Francisco)

• Born September 1, 1866 in San Francisco, CA USA
• Died February 18, 1933 in Bayside, NY USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Heavyweight boxer James Corbett was one of the most famous American athletes of the 19th century as one of the first great champions of the sport. He was also a great baseball fan and played a number of minor league games. His brother, Joe Corbett, pitched in the major leagues.

He was never a regular in the minor leagues, but given his fame was regularly invited to join minor league teams for a game or two as a drawing card. He was also a decent player as a first baseman, so this was not just a money-grabbing scheme. For example, in 1897, he is listed as appearing with a little under 20 teams, in low-level leagues like the Connecticut State League but also in higher-caliber ones such as the Western Association, the Atlantic League and the Eastern League. His final appearance is said to have come with the Binghamton Bingoes of the New York State League on June 27, 1900, and to have been the 37th of a career that began in 1895.

As a boxer, he is best known as the first and only man to defeat the great John L. Sullivan on September 7, 1892 in a bout that lasted 21 rounds in New Orleans, LA and remains one of the most famous boxing matches of all time. He lost the title in 1897 to Irishman Bob Fitzsimmons. After Fitzsimmons refused a rematch, Corbett fought the man who defeated him, James J. Jeffries, in Coney Island in 190, but lost in 23 rounds after a valiant effort. He found only a couple more times after that, including another more lopsided loss to Jeffries that was the final bout of his career in 1903. As a boxer he was known for introducing the "scientific style" that emphasized technique over raw power and allowed him to get the better of much larger men. He also developed modern training methods that gave him tremendous stamina to endure the very long bouts that were the norm at the time. The fact that he was a handsome man with a good education also contributed a lot to making boxing a mainstream sport.

He appeared in numerous films during his lifetime, including a few after the end of his career, and also performed on stage. His second wife was a famous actress, Jessie Taylor. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.