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James Henry O'Rourke (September 1, 1850 - January 8, 1919), nicknamed "Orator Jim", was an American professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball who played primarily as a left fielder. In the era before the establishment of the 60'6" distance between the batter and the pitcher in 1893, he ranked behind only Cap Anson in career games played (1644), hits (2146), at-bats (6884), doubles (392) and total bases (2936), and behind only Harry Stovey in runs scored (1370).
He was born in East Bridgeport, Connecticut. On April 22, 1876, he had the first base hit in National League history.[citation needed] After leaving the major leagues following the 1893 season, he continued to play in the minor leagues until he was over 50 years old. In 1904 he made a final appearance with the New York Giants under manager and friend John McGraw, becoming at age 54 the oldest player ever to appear in the National League, and the oldest player to ever hit safely in a major league game.[citation needed] He returned to the minors as president of the Connecticut League, and in 1912 returned to the field to catch a complete minor league game at the age of 60.[citation needed]
He graduated from Yale Law School (a non-graduate degree at the time), practicing law in Bridgeport between early playing stints, and earning the nickname "Orator Jim" because of his verbosity on the field, his intellect, and his degree—uncommon in a game regarded as a rough immigrant sport at the time.[1] Legend has it that O'Rourke, a child of Irish immigrants, was asked to drop the "O'" from his last name when he signed a contract with Boston and its Protestant backers, but refused, saying "I would rather die than give up my father's name. A million dollars would not tempt me."[2] As an executive, O'Rourke later hired the first African American minor league baseball player in history.[3]
O'Rourke died of pneumonia at age 68 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945 as one of the earliest inductees from the 19th century. His older brother John O'Rourke and his son James "Queenie" O'Rourke also played in the majors.
"O'Rourke has made a brilliant record for himself as an outfielder, being an excellent judge of a ball, a swift runner, and making the most difficult running catches with the utmost ease and certainty. As a thrower, too, he stands pre-eminent, being credited with a throw of 365 feet, the next to the longest yet accomplished by any player."
– The Sporting Life
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