"After putting together a stellar season for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jim Gilliam was named the National League Rookie of the Year on this day in 1953. For Gilliam, who would go on to spend his entire career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles organization, his 1953 breakout season was highlighted by a .278 batting average, team-leading 125 runs scored, and an impressive league-leading 17 triples."
"Gilliam was voted 1953 NL Rookie of the Year over St. Louis Cardinals standouts Harvey Haddix and Ray Jablonski. Beginning his professional baseball career with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues from 1946-1950, Gilliam proved to be a greatly impactful player throughout his Dodgers career. A lifetime .266 hitter, he was part of four Dodgers World Series teams and hit a career-best .300 during the 1956 pennant season."
"An All-Star in 1956 and 1959, Gilliam's legacy and impact on the organization were forever enshrined in 1978 as his iconic No. 19 was officially retired just two days after his passing prior to Game 1 of the World Series that year. MLB free agency created Also on this day in Dodgers history, baseball free agency and player contracts were officially altered as a landmark decision by arbitrator Peter Seitz in 1975."
Jim Gilliam produced a breakout 1953 season for the Brooklyn Dodgers, batting .278, scoring a team-leading 125 runs and leading the National League with 17 triples. Gilliam won the 1953 NL Rookie of the Year over Harvey Haddix and Ray Jablonski. Gilliam began his professional career with the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro Leagues from 1946–1950 and finished with a .266 lifetime batting average. He played on four Dodgers World Series teams, hit a career-best .300 in 1956, and was an All-Star in 1956 and 1959. His No. 19 was retired in 1978 two days after his passing prior to Game 1 of the World Series. In 1975 arbitrator Peter Seitz declared Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally the first true free agents, overturning the reserve clause; they were granted free agency on March 16, 1976 and Messersmith signed with the Atlanta Braves almost one month later.
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