Jim Bunning, R.I.P.

Your baseball-lovin' Peasant would be remiss if I didn't
pay tribute to Hall of Fame Major League Baseball pitcher,
United States Representative and United States Senator
Jim Bunning, who passed away on May 26 of this year,
aged 85. Bunning was a man of tremendous accomplish-
ments, which included being the only MLB athlete to
be elected to both the House of Representatives and the
United States Senate.

A star athlete in high school and at college, Bunning was
signed by the Detroit Tigers, going on to stardom with
the tigers as well as the Philadelphia Phillies and the
Pittsburgh Pirates. He retired from the sport with having
the second-highest total of career strikeouts among big
league pitchers (he is now 17th on the list), and pitched
the seventh perfect game (no hits, walks, hit batters or wild
pitches) in Major League history against the New York Mets
in 1964.

After his baseball career he began a career in politics, first
being elected to the Fort Thomas (KY) City Council, followed
by service in the Kentucky State Senate where he served as
Minority Leader, then was elected to Congress,serving in
the House and finally ascending to the Senate. A rock-ribbed
conservative, Bunning served six terms in the former
and two terms in the latter, retiring in 2010. He was succeeded
by current U.S. Senator Rand Paul.

Bunning was a friend to hardworking taxpayers, military
personnel and veterans along with their families, small business
owners, and was a champion of the unborn. Contatry to what
many Democrats and labor unions have long claimed, Bunning
was not at all hostile to unions; quite the contrary, he was active
in the Major League Baseball Players Association, the ballplayers'
union. Bunning was instrumental in gaining better pay, benefits,
and conditions for his fellow baseball players, including decent
locker rooms and per diem coverage, this at a time when team
owners could still impose their will on players, which included
providing a poor pension plan with paltry payouts to players,
most of whom didn't even qualify for the plan. Bunning also was
instrumental in establishing free agency for players to help them
shop their services around the majors for the best salary and contract
deals, as well as to veto trades to other teams. Although he didn't agree
with the ideas and plans which organized labor holds these days,
Bunning always recognized the legitimate and rightful need to
protect the basic rights of workers, and lived his convictions both
as a ballplayer and a member of government.

A most remarkable man, a fine athlete, a dedicated public servant,
a devoted husband and father, and an outstanding citizen. Not a bad
legacy. Enjoy your heavenly rest, sir. You have truly earned it.


MEM