Is Jim Bunning Living or Dead?

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Is American baseball player and politician Jim Bunning dead? Or ... still alive?

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By Andrew Droid Webber

Updated 18 March 2023

Image info

Artist	From collection of JGHowes, self-scanned for Wikipedia. Original uploader was JGHowes at en.wikipedia
Credit	"Detroit Tigers Official Profile, Photo and Data Book". Published by the Detroit Tigers without any copyright notice in 1957.
License	pd
Desc	Major League Baseball Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning (currently U.S. Senator from Kentucky) in his official 1955 photo, his rookie season with the Detroit Tigers
Usage	Public domain

Image info/credit

American baseball player and politician

Jim Bunning is ...

Dead

Born	23 October 1931 in Southgate
Died	26 May 2017 in Fort Thomas
Age	85 years, 7 months
Cause	cerebrovascular disease

Sex or gender	male
Country of citizenship	United States of America
Occupation	politician, baseball player and Investment broker
Country for sport	United States of America
Position held	United States Senator, United States representative, councillor and member of the State Senate of Kentucky
Sport	baseball
Member of sports team	Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers

About Jim Bunning

Jim Bunning: Baseball Legend and Political Maverick

Jim Bunning was a man of many talents. Born in Southgate, Kentucky in 1931, he grew up playing baseball and football, and went on to become one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history. But Bunning was more than just a sports hero. He was also a politician, serving as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky for two terms.

Bunning's baseball career began in 1955, when he signed with the Detroit Tigers. He quickly established himself as a dominant pitcher, earning a reputation for his blazing fastball and pinpoint control. He was a nine-time All-Star and a two-time 20-game winner, and he threw a no-hitter in both the American and National Leagues.

After retiring from baseball in 1971, Bunning turned his attention to politics. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986, and then to the Senate in 1998. As a conservative Republican, he was known for his strong stance on fiscal issues and his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage.

Bunning's political career was not without controversy. In 2009, he made headlines when he blocked a bill that would have extended unemployment benefits, arguing that it would add to the national debt. He also drew criticism for his comments about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, whom he called "a bigot" during her confirmation hearings.

Despite his sometimes contentious political views, Bunning was widely respected for his integrity and his commitment to public service. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy as both a baseball legend and a political maverick.

References:

- "Jim Bunning, Hall of Fame pitcher and former senator, dies at 85." The Washington Post, May 27, 2017.

- "Jim Bunning, former MLB pitcher and U.S. senator, dies at 85." ESPN, May 27, 2017.

- "Jim Bunning, Hall of Fame pitcher and cantankerous senator, dies at 85." The New York Times, May 27, 2017.

About Death

Bunning diedin Edgewood, Kentucky on the night of May 26, 2017, at the age of 85 following a stroke he suffered in October 2016.Following a funeral service at Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Covington, Bunning was buried at St. Stephen Cemetery in Fort Thomas.