Jimmy Walsh
Baseball
Enshrined 1997
Outfielder Jimmy Walsh, an Irish immigrant, broke into the major leagues in 1912 with the Philadelphia Athletics. He appeared in two World Series, the first with the Athletics in 1914 where he hit .333. He also won a world championship with the Boston Red Sox in 1916.
The fleet-footed Walsh once teamed with Eddie Collins to work two double-squeeze plays in one game. As Collins placed bunts beyond pitcher Walter Johnson, Walsh came in from second on the heels of the A's runner from third base.
Although his stay in the majors was relatively brief, Walsh played for a number of International League clubs including Newark, Jersey City, Buffalo, Toronto and Syracuse. He won back-to-back batting titles with the Buffalo Bisons (1925 and 1926) and posted a 31-game hitting streak. Walsh played in 1,941 International League games, which is believed to be a league record.
Walsh carried a .300 or better batting average 10 times in the IL and finished with a lifetime average of .316. He was inducted into the IL Hall of Fame in 1958. Walsh is the uncle of former Syracuse mayor William Walsh and great-uncle of Congressman James T. Walsh.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1914: Played for Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s. Played in World Series, batted .333
1916-1917: Played for Red Sox, earned World Series ring
1918: Military service
1919-1926: Played on many International League teams – Newark, Jersey City, Buffalo, Toronto and Syracuse
1925-1926: Played for Buffalo Bisons; Recorded a 31-game hitting streak and won league batting title both years
1958: Inducted into International League Hall of Fame. Lifetime batting average of .316; Career: Played in 1,941 International League games; Coached for the Syracuse Chiefs
1990: Inducted posthumously into Buffalo Bisons Hall of Fame
2002: Inducted into the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame