Jimmie Foxx

Early years

Jimmie Foxx was born on October 22, 1907, in rural Sudlersville on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, to tenant farmers Dell and Mattie Foxx. His father had played baseball for a town team. Foxx excelled in soccer, track, and baseball at Sudlersville High School, setting the state record in both the 220 and 80 yard dash in 1923. He was regarded as "the most promising athletic prospect in the State of Maryland," and a scholarship to the University of Maryland in track and field was arranged.

In April 1924, Foxx met Frank "Home Run" Baker, a former Philadelphia Athletics player and manager of the minor league Easton Farmers, who offered him a contract for $100 a month. Foxx moved to catcher, a position he had played in high school. The Philadelphia Athletics purchased his contract from the Farmers for $2,000 in July 1924. Foxx traveled to Philadelphia later that season but never appeared in a game.

Athletics owner Connie Mack forbade Foxx from participating in school athletics, and Foxx dropped out of high school, receiving an honorary certificate.

Professional career

During spring training in 1925, Foxx split duties at catcher with Mickey Cochrane and Cy Perkins, and began the season as third-string catcher. He recorded his first career hit on May 1, 1925, off Vean Gregg. Mack optioned Foxx to the Providence Grays in June to gain playing time. In 1927, Foxx signed a contract for $3,000 and began transitioning to first base; he hit his first home run on May 31, 1927, against Urban Shocker, finishing the season batting .323 over 61 games.

Installed as the A's regular first baseman in 1929, Foxx had a breakthrough year, recording the first 5-hit game and first multi-home run game of his career on May 1. He batted over .400 until a slump, finishing with a .354 average and 33 home runs. In 1930, he recorded the first six-hit game of his career on May 30, and by the end of June had 22 home runs and a .360 average; he finished with over 30 home runs and a .335 batting average. The 1931 season was hampered by injuries and a sinus infection, marking his first season below .300, though he still hit 30 home runs, extending his streak to three straight seasons.

Post-playing career

After his playing career, Foxx managed the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the 1952 season, leading them to the playoffs where they fell to the Rockford Peaches two games to one. He later coached the University of Miami baseball team for two years, posting a 9–8 record in 1956 and an 11–12 mark in 1957 before being dismissed.

By 1958, poor investments had left him broke, and the Red Sox hired him as hitting coach for their Triple-A Minneapolis Millers. In the early 1960s, he lived in Galesburg, Illinois, working as a steakhouse greeter. He eventually retired to Lakewood, Ohio, where he worked for the recreation department.

Legacy

Foxx was known as one of the greatest power hitters of all time. Ted Williams commented on Foxx's potential to break Babe Ruth's home run record. Long-standing chronic health problems, injuries, heavy drinking, and a marriage of constant abuse and harassment from his first wife all caused his career to be cut short in his 30s. In 1940, Red Sox teammate Joe Cronin called Foxx a marvel and the best all-around ball player.

Foxx was known for his intimidating physical strength and often cut the sleeves from his uniforms to show off his biceps. Lefty Gomez joked that Foxx "had muscles in his hair" and that "He wasn't scouted—he was trapped." A statue of Foxx was erected in his hometown of Sudlersville, Maryland, on October 25, 1997. In 1999, he ranked number 15 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Did You Know?

• In three straight World Series (1929, 1930, 1931) covering 18 games, Foxx batted .344 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI.
• Foxx died after choking on a piece of food while eating dinner with his brother; his second wife had also died of choking the year before.
• Tom Hanks's character Jimmy Dugan in the movie A League of Their Own is loosely based on Foxx, though Foxx's players said his behavior was more gentlemanly.