Jim Qualls--1970
Before there was Bo Jackson... there
was Jim Qualls.
Qualls, a utility player for the Chicago
Cubs during their near-miss season of
'69, is remembered for breaking up Tom
Seaver's perfect game bid of July 9,
1969. The hit (a single to left field) was
one of 30 for Qualls during the season,
that saw him hit .250 in 43 games in '69.
Originally a second baseman, Qualls
filled Cubs manager Leo Durocher's
need for speed and a back up
centerfielder for the '69 campaign. He
would rap out just one more hit in parts
of two seasons, finishing with a .223
mark in 63 big league contests.
As one can read from SABR's bioproject
on Qualls, he didn't mesh with his fiery
skipper, thus limiting his time with the
Cubbies. Which is too bad, as Qualls
had the pose of a superstar down pat---
first.
SABR Biography Project: Jim Qualls
was Jim Qualls.
Qualls, a utility player for the Chicago
Cubs during their near-miss season of
'69, is remembered for breaking up Tom
Seaver's perfect game bid of July 9,
1969. The hit (a single to left field) was
one of 30 for Qualls during the season,
that saw him hit .250 in 43 games in '69.
Originally a second baseman, Qualls
filled Cubs manager Leo Durocher's
need for speed and a back up
centerfielder for the '69 campaign. He
would rap out just one more hit in parts
of two seasons, finishing with a .223
mark in 63 big league contests.
As one can read from SABR's bioproject
on Qualls, he didn't mesh with his fiery
skipper, thus limiting his time with the
Cubbies. Which is too bad, as Qualls
had the pose of a superstar down pat---
first.
SABR Biography Project: Jim Qualls
