Jim Middleton

James Blaine Middleton
(Rifle Jim)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut April 18, 1917
• Final Game September 18, 1921
• Born May 28, 1889 in Argos, IN USA
• Died January 12, 1974 in Argos, IN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jim Middleton pitched in a celebrated game on St. Patrick's Day 1917, prior to his debut in the majors. The New York Giants played a pre-season exhibition game in Galveston, TX against the Galveston team managed by Paul Sentell. A disputed call and reversal by the umpire caused the revival of a feud between Sentell and Giants manager John McGraw. At one point the Galveston crowd was said to have threatened the "utter destruction" of the Giants team, but after McGraw threatened to pull his team from the field, the Galveston owner got Sentell to back down.

Middleton pitched the entire game, which the Giants won. One month and a day later, he made his major league debut with the Giants, not too long before his 28th birthday.

He came back to the majors four years later, at age 32, to play under another strong-willed manager, Ty Cobb.

He was born and died in Argos, Indiana, the only major leaguer to do either.