Jim Mills (minors01)

James Bowie Mills

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• School North Carolina State University
• High School Apex High School
• Born June 24, 1919 in Apex, NC USA
• Died November 14, 2008 in Southern Pines, NC USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Following one year of college ball at North Carolina State University, IF/OF Jim Mills played minor league baseball from 1941 to 1953, missing the 1942-1945 seasons due to military service in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1946, he joined his twin brother Joe on the Raleigh Capitals in the class C Carolina League. He remained in Raleigh in 1947 but then spent the rest of his playing career in southern D leagues. Mills hit over .300 in seven of his nine years, peaking at .386 in 1949, but never hit more than seven home runs. During the last six years of his playing career, Mills compiled a 308-255 managerial record as a player-manager.

Mills returned to the Carolina League as an umpire in 1954. He was named general manager of the Fayetteville Highlanders of the Carolina League in 1956 and remained a Minor League executive through 1971 including a stint as the general manager of the 1962 Asheville Tourists. In 1972, he became a field representative for the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.

From 1977 to 1983, Mills took over as President of the Carolina League and oversaw an expansion of the league from four to eight teams. When he was chosen to succeed Wallace McKenna as president, the loop had an annual attendance of 167,000. By the time Mills' term ended, that figure was up to 600,000. The league's championship trophy has been named in his honor.

Following his tenure as President of the Carolina League, Mills went on to serve as a consultant for the Durham Bulls and was inducted to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Besides his career in baseball, Mills also officiated basketball and football games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference for two decades.

Mills suffered a stroke in September 2008 and passed away in mid-November of the same year. He was survived by his wife of 63 years, Florence, three daughters, a son, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1948	Concord Weavers	North Carolina State League	44-62	7th	none
1949	Mooresville Moors	North Carolina State League	72-52	2nd	none	Lost in 1st round
1950	Mooresville Moors	North Carolina State League	64-47	2nd	none	Lost in 1st round
1951	Rocky Mount Leafs	Coastal Plain League		--	none	--	replaced by Bull Hamons June 25
	Mooresville Moors	North Carolina State League		7th	none		replaced Tuck McWilliams July 12
1952	Mooresville Moors	North Carolina State League	70-39	2nd	none	League Champs
1953	Mooresville Moors	Tar Heel League	58-55	5th	Raleigh Capitals