STRATFORD—Every year, baseball enthusiasts and historians make a pilgrimage to St. Michael Cemetery in Stratford to pay tribute to the most famous ballplayer to come out of Bridgeport — Jim O’Rourke, one of the first 19th century players who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
James Henry O’Rourke, born September 1, 1850, was a professional ballplayer in the National Association and Major League Baseball who was primarily a left-fielder. He is one of 14 pro-baseball players buried at St. Michael, which is believe to be the highest number of any cemetery in the state.
A statue of O’Rourke, who later became a lawyer and was known as “Orator Jim” is at Harbor Yards. Born in East Bridgeport, he worked on the family farm and played in the youth league and semi-pro baseball during his early years. He made his professional debut with the Middletown Mansfields in 1872 and joined the National Association team as a catcher.
After the Mansfields folded, he was offered a contract with the Boston Red Stockings and played with them until 1878. O’Rourke was the first person in the National League to record a base hit on April 22, 1876.
During his career, he also played for the Providence Grays, the Boston Red Caps, the Buffalo Bisons, the New York Giants and the Washington Senators and managed for several seasons with the Bisons and Senators. In 1880, he was the National League home run leader.
O’Rourke graduated from the Yale School of Law in 1887 and practiced in the city when he wasn’t playing ball. According to the Sporting Life, O’Rourke “earned the nickname ‘Orator Jim’ because of his verbosity on the field, his intellect and his law degree—uncommon in a game regarded as a rough immigrant sport at the time.”
He and only 28 other players in baseball history had careers that spanned four decades. Even though he left the major leagues in 1893, he played in the minors until he was more than 50 years old. While he was an executive for a Bridgeport team in the Connecticut league in 1895, O’Rourke hired the first African American minor league ball player.
When O’Rourke was 54, he became the oldest player to take the field in the National League for his final appearance with the New York Giants on September 22, 1904. At 60, he caught a complete game in the minor leagues. Primarily a left fielder, he also served as catcher and first baseman. His lifetime batting average was 311, he had 2,643 hits, 62 home runs and 1,208 runs batted in.
Several legends surround O’Rourke, who was the son of Irish immigrants and married to a woman born in Ireland. According to the Sporting Life, he was asked to drop the “O” from his name when he signed with Boston and he reportedly responded, “I would rather die than give up my father’s name. A million dollars would not tempt me.”
In addition, it is said that one condition for O’Rourke to sign his first contract with the Mansfields was that management had to get someone to do the chores on the family farm. John O’Rourke, his older brother, and James O’Rourke, his son, also played in the major leagues.
Jim O’Rourke died at 68 on January 8, 1919 in Bridgeport and was buried at St. Michael Cemetery. Very often, his enthusiasts and fans honor him and keep his memory alive by leaving behind baseballs, balloons, cards, rosaries and even a spatula and wooden spoon at his grave.
By Joe Pisani
