Jimmy Outlaw

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Jimmy Outlaw autograph on a 1988 Play Ball card reprint (#155)

James Paulus Outlaw (January 20, 1913 - April 9, 2006) was an outfielder and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1937-1938), Boston Bees (1939), and Detroit Tigers (1943-1949). He batted and threw right-handed.

Born in Orme, Tennessee, Outlaw attended Auburn University, where he played baseball. He started his major league career with the Reds in 1937 as a third baseman. Basically a contact hitter, he lacked power but posted acceptable averages for a 5' 8", 168-pound infielder. On the field, he had good hands and a strong arm.

Before the 1939 season Outlaw was part of successive trades between the Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Bees. In 1940, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League purchased his contract from Boston.

Outlaw returned to the majors in 1943 with the Detroit Tigers as an outfielder, hitting .269 in 20 games. His most productive season came in 1944, his first full season, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.273), runs (69) hits (146), doubles (20), triples (6), home runs (3) and RBI (57). Prior to 1944, Outlaw had never played in more than 65 games. In 1944, he appeared in 137 games, playing at all three outfield positions and leading the American League outfielders with 14 assists.

In 1945, Outlaw started as the Tigers' primary left fielder, hitting .271 in 132 games. After Detroit slugger Hank Greenberg, returned from World War II in July 1945, Outlaw moved to third base to make room for Greenberg to play left field. Outlaw played 21 games at third base in the regular season and started all seven games of the World Series at third base. After 1945, Outlaw played a utility role for Detroit before retiring.

In a 10-season major league career, Outlaw was a .268 hitter with six home runs and 57 RBI in 650 games.

Following his playing career, Outlaw worked for the Dairy Fresh Milk Co. in Jackson, Alabama, and became active in community service.

Outlaw died in Jackson, Alabama, at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest living Tigers player, behind Eddie Mayo (April 15, 1910) and Elden Auker (September 21, 1910). Outlaw, Mayo, and Auker all died in 2006.