Jim Roxburgh

James Henry Roxburgh

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut May 30, 1884
• Final Game May 5, 1887
• Born January 17, 1858 in Santa Cruz, CA USA
• Died February 21, 1934 in San Francisco, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Jim Roxburgh, as of 2006, was the only player in Major League history with a last name that starts with "Rox". There were no players in the minor leagues at that time that had a chance of "threatening" this title, although Nick Roxby, who was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 2003 amateur draft, is a former draft pick whose name began with "Rox".

Jim was born in 1858 in Santa Cruz, CA, at a time when it was a town of fewer than 1,000 people. He played ball in San Francisco, CA at least one year before he came to the major leagues. Roxburgh had two games in the big leagues with the Baltimore Orioles in 1884, then played in the minors in 1885 and 1886 before returning to the big leaguess with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1887. He continued to play in the minors through 1890, and was a player-manager in 1890.

After his ball-playing days he worked in the San Francisco school system. [1]

Although Jim is listed as born in Santa Cruz, one site [2] states he was born in San Francisco but grew up in Santa Cruz, and played on local teams.

A "James H. Roxburgh" turns up in connection with various events of the Native Sons of the Golden West, a charitable organization concerned with preservation of historic San Francisco. Since James H. Roxburgh was listed as dying in the period 1933-34, it could well be the same person as Jim Roxburgh.