Jim Bunning Biography

Former Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies star pitcher Jim Bunning became the seventh pitcher to throw the elusive Perfect Game on June 21, 1964 when his Phillies defeated the New York Mets. Bunning also threw a no-hitter in 1958 with the Tigers. Bunning was a 9x All-Star, 3x strikeout champion, AL wins leader in 1957, and a 1996 Hall of Fame inductee. After retiring from baseball, Jim Bunning shifted his focus to politics, where he returned to his native Kentucky and was elected to city council, then to the state senate, where he served as minority leader. Bunning served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987-1999 from Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and served two terms as the Republican junior U.S. Senator. When signing, Jim Bunning is commonly asked to inscribe autographs with a variety of phrases and accolades including PG 6/21/64, 9x All-Star, No-hitter 7/20/58, and HOF 96. Bunnings illustrious career was culminated with his #14 jersey being retired by the Philadelphia Phillies.