Jimmy Stewart

Who was Jimmy Stewart?

James Franklin Stewart was a former Major League Baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros from 1963 to 1973.

He was born June 11, 1939 to John and Nelle Stewart. He graduated in 1957 from Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Alabama, where he starred in baseball, basketball and track. He went to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where he lettered in baseball, basketball and track.

Stewart came up with the Cubs as a middle infielder, making his major league debut at age 24 on September 3, 1963 in a 16-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park. His first career at-bat was a pinch-hit flyout against Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. His first hit came a week later on September 10 in an 8-0 road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Again, he was pinch-hitting against a Baseball hall of Famer, Bob Gibson, but this time he hit a double and later singled against Gibson.

His most productive season came in 1964 for the Cubs, when he played 132 games and hit .253 with three home runs, 33 runs batted in, 17 doubles and 49 walks.

He was purchased from the Cubs by the Chicago White Sox during the 1967 season. After playing in their minor league system for two seasons, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the White Sox in the 1968 rule 5 draft. Due to his versatility in the field, during his three seasons with the Reds Stewart was known as "Super Sub" as he played every position except pitcher. He played in two games of the 1970 World Series, going hitless in two at-bats as the Reds fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games.