Jim Mills (minors01)

From BR Bullpen

James Bowie Mills

BR minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

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[edit]

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