Jim Stewart---1967
Signed by the Chicago Cubs after his
Hall of Fame collegiate career at
Austin Peay State University (see
below), Jim Stewart found himself
sandwiched between Ken Hubbs and
Glenn Beckert at second base for the
Chicago Cubs in the 1960s.
Faced with a sudden hole at second
base after former Rookie of the Year
Ken Hubbs lost his life in a tragic
plane crash on Feb. 13, 1964 near
Provo, UT; the Cubbies turned to
Stewart and an aging Joey Amafitano
to split duties at the keystone sack.
Stewart bested the veteran in fielding
percentage (.981) and batting
average (.253), while swiping 10
bases, second best on the club.
Despite his success at just 25, the
Cubs turned over the keys to second
base to Glenn Beckert. From that
point on, Stewart was relegated to a
super utility role, eventually
appearing at every position on the
diamond (even one game at catcher)
during his career. Hence, the "INF-
OF" label on his card by 1967.
He subbed for George Altman in left
field for the Cubs, defensively
replaced the big bat of Alex Johnson
in Cincinnati’s left field and took a few
throws in place of first baseman Lee
May for Houston.
Along the way, his fielding
percentage routinely topped the
league average, while his batting
average fell short of the league
norm, as the pride of Lafayette,
Alabama squeezed out a 10-year
career using his speed and versatile
glove work.
Jim Stewart's Link for APSU Hall of
Fame
Hall of Fame collegiate career at
Austin Peay State University (see
below), Jim Stewart found himself
sandwiched between Ken Hubbs and
Glenn Beckert at second base for the
Chicago Cubs in the 1960s.
Faced with a sudden hole at second
base after former Rookie of the Year
Ken Hubbs lost his life in a tragic
plane crash on Feb. 13, 1964 near
Provo, UT; the Cubbies turned to
Stewart and an aging Joey Amafitano
to split duties at the keystone sack.
Stewart bested the veteran in fielding
percentage (.981) and batting
average (.253), while swiping 10
bases, second best on the club.
Despite his success at just 25, the
Cubs turned over the keys to second
base to Glenn Beckert. From that
point on, Stewart was relegated to a
super utility role, eventually
appearing at every position on the
diamond (even one game at catcher)
during his career. Hence, the "INF-
OF" label on his card by 1967.
He subbed for George Altman in left
field for the Cubs, defensively
replaced the big bat of Alex Johnson
in Cincinnati’s left field and took a few
throws in place of first baseman Lee
May for Houston.
Along the way, his fielding
percentage routinely topped the
league average, while his batting
average fell short of the league
norm, as the pride of Lafayette,
Alabama squeezed out a 10-year
career using his speed and versatile
glove work.
Jim Stewart's Link for APSU Hall of
Fame
