Jim Riley

Who was Jim Riley?

James Norman Riley was a Canadian professional ice hockey and baseball player.

Born in Bayfield, New Brunswick, Riley played 17 games in the National Hockey League and 90 games in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, as a member of the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, and Seattle Metropolitans. He won the Stanley Cup with Seattle in 1917. In 1922–23, he was named a PCHA First Team All-Star.

In addition, Riley played professional baseball for 12 seasons, from 1921 to 1932, mostly in the minor leagues. He started his career as a second baseman, and played in four games at that position for the 1921 St. Louis Browns of the American League, thus becoming the only athlete in sports history to play both Major League Baseball and in the National Hockey League. After that season, he switched permanently to first base, and returned to the major leagues with the 1923 Washington Senators, playing two games with them, before resuming his career in the minors.

Riley died in Seguin, Texas, the day of his 74th birthday.