Editing Jim Bunning

{{Short description|American baseball player and politician (1931–2017)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name                = Jim Bunning
| image               = Jim Bunning as ballplayer.jpg
| caption             = Bunning with the Detroit Tigers in 1955
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1931|10|23}}
| birth_place         = {{nowrap|[[Southgate, Kentucky]], U.S.}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2017|5|26|1931|10|23}}
| death_place         = [[Edgewood, Kentucky]], U.S.
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=July 20
|debutyear=1955
|debutteam=Detroit Tigers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 3
|finalyear=1971
|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value = 224–184
|stat2label = [[Earned run average]]
|stat2value = 3.27
|stat3label = [[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value = 2,855
|teams=
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{MLB Year|1955}}–{{MLB Year|1963}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{MLB Year|1964}}–{{MLB Year|1967}})
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{MLB Year|1968}}–{{MLB Year|1969}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{MLB Year|1969}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{MLB Year|1970}}–{{MLB Year|1971}})
|awards=
* 9× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1957]], [[1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1959]], [[1961 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)|1961]]–[[1964 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1964]], [[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]])
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|AL wins leader]] (1957)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|Strikeout leader]] (1959, 1960, 1967)
* Pitched a [[Jim Bunning's perfect game|perfect game]] on June 21, 1964
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on July 20, 1958
* [[Philadelphia Phillies#Retired numbers|Philadelphia Phillies No. 14]] retired
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[1996 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1996]]
|hofvote = Veterans Committee
| module              = 
{{Infobox officeholder
|embed=yes
| image               = Jim_Bunning_official_photo.jpg
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| state               = [[Kentucky]]
| term_start          = January 3, 1999
| term_end            = January 3, 2011
| predecessor         = [[Wendell Ford]]
| successor           = [[Rand Paul]]
| state1              = [[Kentucky]]
| district1           = {{ushr|KY|4|4th}}
| term_start1         = January 3, 1987
| term_end1           = January 3, 1999
| predecessor1        = [[Gene Snyder]]
| successor1          = [[Ken Lucas (politician)|Ken Lucas]]
| state_senate5       = Kentucky
| district5           = [[Kentucky's 11th Senate district|11th]]
| term_start5         = January 1, 1980
| term_end5           = January 1, 1984
| predecessor5        = Donald Johnson
| successor5          = [[Art Schmidt]]
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Mary Catherine Theis|1952}}
| children            = 9
| education           = [[Xavier University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Jim Bunning in Support of Confirming Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General.ogg|title=Jim Bunning's voice|type=speech|description=Bunning speaks in support of the confirmation of [[Alberto Gonzales]] as [[United States attorney general]]<br/>Recorded February 2, 2005}}
}}
}}
'''James Paul David Bunning''' (October 23, 1931 – May 26, 2017) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] and politician from [[Kentucky]] who served in both chambers of the [[United States Congress]], a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1987 to 1999 and a member of the [[United States Senate]] from 1999 to 2011. He is the only [[Major League Baseball]] athlete to have been elected to both the [[United States Senate]] and the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] to date.

Bunning pitched from 1955 to 1971 for the [[Detroit Tigers]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. When Bunning retired, he had the second-highest total [[Top 100 Major League Baseball strikeout pitchers|career strikeouts]] in Major League history; he currently ranks 22nd. As a member of the Phillies, Bunning pitched [[Jim Bunning's perfect game|the seventh perfect game]] in Major League Baseball history on June 21, 1964, the first game of a [[Father's Day (United States)|Father's Day]] doubleheader at [[Shea Stadium]], against the [[New York Mets]]. It was the first perfect game in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] since 1880.<ref>{{cite web|last=Valentine |first=Matt |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/27/jim-bunning-dies-121196 |title=Jim Bunning, U.S. senator and baseball luminary, dies at 85 |date=May 27, 2017 |publisher=Politico |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Bunning was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] in [[1996 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1996]] after election by the Hall's Veterans Committee.

After retiring from baseball, Bunning returned to his native northern [[Kentucky]] and was elected to the [[Fort Thomas, Kentucky|Fort Thomas]] city council, then the [[Kentucky Senate]], in which he served as minority leader. In [[1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election|1983]], Bunning was the Republican nominee for [[governor of Kentucky]]. In [[1986 United States House of Representatives elections#Kentucky|1986]], Bunning was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[Kentucky's 4th congressional district]], and served in the House from 1987 to 1999. He was elected to the [[United States Senate]] from Kentucky in [[1998 United States Senate election in Kentucky|1998]] and served two terms as the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] junior [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]]. In July 2009, he announced that he would not run for re-election in [[2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky|2010]]. Bunning gave his farewell speech to the Senate on December 9, 2010, and was succeeded by fellow Republican [[Rand Paul]] on January 3, 2011.

==Education and family==
Bunning was born in [[Southgate, Kentucky]], the son of Gladys (née Best) and Louis Aloysius Bunning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/bunning.htm |title=Learning Centers at ancestry.com |publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com |access-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522103109/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/bunning.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He graduated from [[St. Xavier High School (Cincinnati)|St. Xavier High School]] in [[Cincinnati]] in 1949<ref name="perfect games">{{cite book |last=Coffey |first=Michael |title=27 Men Out: Baseball's Perfect Games |publisher=Atria Books |location=New York |year=2004 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/27menoutbaseball00coff/page/79 79–95] |isbn=0-7434-4606-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/27menoutbaseball00coff/page/79 }}</ref> and received a bachelor's degree in economics from [[Xavier University]] in 1953.<ref name=sabr>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bcacaa59|title=Jim Bunning|first=Ralph |last=Berger|publisher=[[Society of American Baseball Research]]|access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> Like a large percentage of residents in the [[Northern Kentucky]] region, the Bunning family was [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]].

In 1952, Bunning married Mary Catherine Theis. They had five daughters and four sons. One of Bunning's sons, [[David Bunning]], is a federal judge for the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky]], who presided over the Kim Davis case, ''[[Miller v. Davis]]''. Jim and Mary Catherine also have 35 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, as of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/sports/baseball/jim-bunning-fifty-years-ago-perfect-game-put-stamp-on-hall-of-fame-career|title=Jim Bunning: Fifty years ago, perfect game stamped his Hall of Fame ticket|author=Greg Noble|work=WCPO|access-date=January 23, 2015|date=June 21, 2014}}</ref>  One of those grandchildren is Patrick Towles, a former starting quarterback for the [[Kentucky Wildcats football|University of Kentucky football team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/patrick_towles_807276.html|title=Patrick Towles Bio – Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site|work=ukathletics.com|access-date=January 23, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215055559/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/patrick_towles_807276.html|archive-date=February 15, 2015}}</ref>

==Professional baseball career==
After pitching for the [[Xavier Musketeers]] as a freshman, Bunning signed a professional contract with the [[Detroit Tigers]], though he continued to attend classes at Xavier.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite news |last=Xavier Athletic Communications |date=May 27, 2017 |title=Former U.S. Senator, MLB Hall of Famer Jim Bunning (Xavier '53) Passes Away at 85 |url=http://www.goxavier.com/news/2017/5/27/baseball-former-us-senator-mlb-hall-of-famer-jim-bunning-xavier-53-passes-away-at-85.aspx?path=baseball |work=GoXavier.com |publisher=Xavier University |location=Cincinnati, OH}}</ref> Bunning played in [[Minor League Baseball]] from 1950 through 1954 and part of the 1955 season, when the Tigers club described him as having "an excellent curve ball, a confusing delivery and a sneaky fast ball".<ref>{{cite book |title=Official Profile, Photo and Data Book |publisher=Detroit Tigers |year=1957 |page=13}}</ref> His first game in the major leagues was on July 20, 1955, with the [[Detroit Tigers]]. He had his breakout season in 1957, when he led the American League in wins (20) and innings pitched ({{frac|267|1|3}}), and was the starting pitcher for the AL in the [[1957 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]. Bunning pitched his first [[no-hitter]] on July 20, 1958, for the Tigers against the [[Boston Red Sox]].<ref name="perfect games" /> On August 2, 1959, Bunning struck out three batters on nine pitches in the ninth inning of a 5–4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Bunning became the fifth American League pitcher and the 10th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish an [[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning|immaculate inning]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=Dan |url=https://www.detroitathletic.com/blog/2013/09/15/when-the-tigers-struck-out-four-times-in-one-inning-and-other-odd-facts/ |title=When the Tigers struck out four times in one inning, and other odd feats |publisher=Detroitathletic.com |access-date=May 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809025323/https://www.detroitathletic.com/blog/2013/09/15/when-the-tigers-struck-out-four-times-in-one-inning-and-other-odd-facts/ |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bunning pitched for the Detroit Tigers through 1963. During the 1963 [[Winter Meetings]], the Tigers traded Bunning and [[Gus Triandos]] to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for [[Don Demeter]] and [[Jack Hamilton (baseball)|Jack Hamilton]].<ref name=sabr /> In his first season with the Phillies, Bunning entered play on June 21 with a 6–2 record on the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/TPHI01964.htm |title=The 1964 Philadelphia Phillies |publisher=Retrosheet, Inc |access-date=October 22, 2009}}</ref> He was opposed on the mound by [[Tracy Stallard]] in the first game of a doubleheader. Through the first four innings, Bunning totaled four [[strikeout]]s through 12 batters.<ref name="bunningpg">{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/B06211NYN1964.htm |title=Philadelphia Phillies 6, New York Mets 0 (1) |date=June 21, 1964 |publisher=Retrosheet, Inc |access-date=October 22, 2009}}</ref> In the fifth inning, Phillies second baseman [[Tony Taylor (baseball)|Tony Taylor]] preserved the perfect game with his strong defensive play. A diving catch and a throw from the knees kept Mets catcher [[Jesse Gonder]] off the bases.<ref name="pittpost">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uioNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5480,3622205&dq=jim+bunning+perfect+game&hl=en |title=Phils' Bunning Hurls Perfect Game |date=June 22, 1964 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |pages=22, 24 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=October 22, 2009}}</ref> Bunning also had a good day at the plate, hitting a double and driving in two runs in the sixth inning.<ref name="bunningpg" /> By the end of the game, even the Mets fans were cheering Bunning's effort;<ref>{{cite news |quote=The Phils won the contest ... before 32,904 fans who were screaming for Bunning during the last two innings ... Yesterday's perfect pitching turned the usually loyal Met fans into Bunning fans in the late innings. From the seventh inning on ... Bunning had the crowd ... behind him. |title=Bunning Pitches a Perfect Game; Mets Are Perfect Victims, 6 to 0 |date=June 22, 1964 |first=Gordon S. Jr. |last=White |newspaper=The New York Times |page=1}}</ref> he had reached a three-ball count on only two batters, and retired shortstop [[Charley Smith]] on a pop-out, and pinch-hitters [[George Altman]] and [[John Stephenson (baseball)|John Stephenson]] on strikeouts, to complete the perfect game.<ref name="bunningpg" />

Bunning, who at the time had seven children, said that his game, pitched on Father's Day (although Father's Day did not officially become a holiday until 1972<ref>{{cite news|last1=Geranios|first1=Nicolas K.|title=The un-Spokane history of Father's Day|url=http://hamptonroads.com/node/283021|access-date=May 28, 2017|work=The Virginian Pilot|publisher=Pilot Media|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208175650/http://hamptonroads.com/node/283021|url-status=dead}}</ref>), could not have come at a more appropriate time. He remarked that his slider was his best pitch, {{"'}}just like the no-hitter I pitched for Detroit six years ago{{'"}}.<ref name="pittpost" /> Bunning posted the first regular-season perfect game since [[Charlie Robertson]] in 1922 ([[Don Larsen]]'s [[Don Larsen's perfect game|perfect game]] was in the [[1956 World Series]]).<ref name="NoHitters">{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/nohit_chrono.htm |title=No Hitters Chronologically |publisher=Retrosheet, Inc |access-date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> The Phillies also won the second game of the doubleheader, 8–2, behind [[Rick Wise]], who earned his first major league victory in his first start.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1964/B06212NYN1964.htm |title=Philadelphia Phillies 8, New York Mets 2 (2) |date=June 21, 1964 |publisher=Retrosheet Inc |access-date=October 22, 2009}}</ref>

[[Jim Bunning's perfect game|Bunning's perfect game]] was the first thrown by a National League pitcher since 1880. It was also the first no-hitter by a Phillies pitcher since [[Johnny Lush]] no-hit the [[Brooklyn Superbas]] on May 1, 1906. He is one of only seven pitchers to have thrown both a perfect game and an additional no-hitter, the others being [[Randy Johnson]], [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Addie Joss]], [[Cy Young]], [[Mark Buehrle]], and fellow Phillie [[Roy Halladay]], whose additional no-hitter came in Game 1 of the [[2010 National League Division Series]].<ref name="perfect games" /> He is one of five players to have thrown a no-hitter in both leagues, the others being Young, Johnson, [[Nolan Ryan]], and [[Hideo Nomo]]. Bunning was the first pitcher to pitch a no-hitter, win 100 games, and record 1,000 strikeouts in both leagues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/19/sports/baseball-age-is-no-deterrent-to-perfection.html|title=Age Is No Deterrent to Perfection|date=May 19, 2004|website=The New York Times|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

Bunning is remembered for his role in the pennant race of 1964, in which the Phillies held a commanding lead in the National League for most of the season, eventually losing the title to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. Manager [[Gene Mauch]] used Bunning and fellow hurler [[Chris Short]] heavily down the stretch, and the two became visibly fatigued as September wore on. With a {{frac|6|1|2}}-game lead as late as September 21, they lost 10 straight games to finish tied for second place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sabr.org/research/beyond-bunning-and-short-rest-analysis-managerial-decisions-led-phillies-epic-collapse-1964|title=Beyond Bunning and Short Rest: An Analysis of Managerial Decisions That Led to the Phillies' Epic Collapse of 1964 – Society for American Baseball Research|website=sabr.org|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

{{MLBBioRet
| Align  = left
| Image  = PhilsBunning.PNG
| Name   = Jim Bunning
| Number = 14
| Team   = Philadelphia Phillies
| Year   = 2001
}}
Bunning pitched for Philadelphia through 1967, when the Phillies began to rebuild. The Phillies traded him to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] before the 1968 season for four players, including [[Woodie Fryman]] and [[Don Money]].<ref name=sabr /> He pitched for Pittsburgh into the 1969 season, and finished the 1969 season with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. Bunning then returned to the Phillies in 1970 and retired in 1971.<ref name=sabr/>

Bunning's 2,855 career strikeouts put him in second place on the [[Top 100 Major League Baseball strikeout pitchers|all-time list]] at the time of his retirement, behind only [[Walter Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_progress.shtml |title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Strikeouts |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> His mark was later surpassed by other pitchers, and he is currently 21st all-time. Despite year in and year out putting up excellent numbers, Bunning rarely led the league in any pitching categories. He never led the league in ERA; the only year he led the league in wins (20, in 1957, with the Detroit Tigers) was the only year he ever won 20 or more games; he did, however, lead the league in strikeouts three times (with 201 in 1959 and 1960, and 253 in 1967). He never won a [[Cy Young Award]]; the closest he would come was in 1967, his best year, when at age 35, he came in second behind [[Mike McCormick (pitcher)|Mike McCormick]]. He finished with a middling 17–15 record, but posted a career-best ERA (2.29), and led the league in shutouts (6), games started and innings pitched (40/302.1), and strikeouts (253). It was the only year in his career he earned any Cy Young Award votes. He did, however, win the [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|NL Player of the Month Award]] in June 1964, the month of his perfect game (3–0, 2.20 ERA, 42 SO).

In 1984, Bunning was elected to the [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Salisbury |first=Jim |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/philadelphia-phillies/phillies-hall-fame-pitcher-jim-bunning-recovering-stroke |title=Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning recovering from stroke |publisher=Csnphilly.com |date=October 23, 2016 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> In 1996 he was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] via the [[Veterans Committee]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ed |last=Hornick |work=[[CNN]] |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/02/jim.bunning.profile/ |title=Bunning's abrasive behavior spans careers |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> In 2001, his [[uniform number]], #14, was retired by the Phillies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2001/04/07/loc_bunnings_number.html |title=Bunning's number retired in Philly |publisher=Enquirer.com |date=April 7, 2001 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

After retiring as a player, Bunning began [[manager (baseball)|managing]] in the minor leagues for the Phillies organization. He managed the [[Reading Phillies]], [[Eugene Emeralds]], [[Toledo Mud Hens]], and [[Oklahoma City 89ers]] from 1972 through 1976.<ref name=sabr/>

==Players union involvement==
From the mid-1960s until his retirement from baseball, Bunning was active in the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]] (MLBPA), and played a major role in transforming the organization into one of the country's most successful labor unions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dreier |first=Peter |date=May 31, 2017 |title=The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union Stimulated by the Death of Jim Bunning |url=http://www.alternet.org/culture/media-ignore-jim-bunnings-militant-union-days |work=AlterNet |location=Berkeley, CA |ref={{sfnRef|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}} |access-date=June 4, 2017 |archive-date=June 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605073427/http://www.alternet.org/culture/media-ignore-jim-bunnings-militant-union-days |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Though the MLBPA had been formed in the early 1950s as an attempt to improve pay, benefits, and working conditions for players, team owners were still largely able to impose their will on the players by acting in concert to limit salaries and refrain from offering first rate [[employee benefits]] and working conditions, such as suitable stadium locker rooms and a [[per diem]] allowance to pay for meals while traveling for [[Road (sports)|away games]].{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  At the time, the starting salary was about $47,000 in current dollars ($6,000 in 1965), and the average salary was about $112,000 ($14,000 in 1965).{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  As a result, many players had to work in the off season.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  The owners also offered a substandard pension plan which provided low payments to retirees, and for which most players were ineligible.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  Many spring training playing fields were unsafe, and lodging and dining facilities were often racially segregated.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}

Bunning became active with the MLBPA early in his career, including serving as the pension representative for the American League players and a member of the union's executive board.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  In 1965, Bunning joined with [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]], a founder of the MLBPA, to hire a full-time executive director.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}} They agreed on [[Marvin Miller]], then an economist with the [[United Steelworkers]].{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  They convinced the players union to hire Miller, and he remained in the position until 1983.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  Under Miller's direction, in 1968 the MLBPA negotiated its first [[collective bargaining]] agreement with the owners, which put the players on the path to improved salaries, benefits, and working conditions.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  By the time Bunning retired, the minimum salary and average salary for major league players had nearly doubled.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  By 2015, the minimum salary was over $500,000 and the average salary was over $4 million.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  Over time, the MLBPA also succeeded at eliminating the [[reserve clause]] and Major League Baseball's exemption from [[United States antitrust law|antitrust laws]].{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}  As a result, players were able to negotiate for the right to veto trades, as well as the right to declare [[free agent|free agency]] and offer their services to the highest bidder.{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}

After retiring, Bunning represented players individually as a [[sports agent|player agent]]. He eventually represented as many as 30 players at one time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Frank |title=Hall of Fame Phillies pitcher, former U.S. Senator Jim Bunning dies at 85 |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/phillies/Phillies-Hall-of-Fame-Jim-Bunning-pitcher-Senator-Kentucky-dies.html |access-date=January 28, 2021 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=May 27, 2017}}</ref>

At the time of Bunning's death, [[Tony Clark]], then serving as MLBPA's executive director, praised Bunning's union activities: "Recognizing the need to ensure that all players receive fair representation in their dealings with major league club owners, Jim, along with a number of his peers, helped pave the way for generations of players."{{sfn|"The Fascinating Story of Major League Baseball's Players Union"}}

==Political career==
Bunning was raised in a household supportive of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. While attending Xavier University, he joined the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Jock Caucus |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/02/23/the-jock-caucus-the-bloc-of-ex-athletes-on-capitol-hill-is-growing-heres-a-look-at-two-new-additions-to-the-lineup-jim-bunning-r-ky |access-date=December 8, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 23, 1987 |quote=Bunning is a staunch supporter of the President, and, in fact, the careers of Ronald Reagan and Bunning have several parallels. Both had Democratic upbringings, both made big names for themselves outside politics, both were strong members of their professional unions, and both entered politics at the urging of influential friends. The product of a Democratic household, Bunning registered as a Republican in college and was at one time a conservative ideologue. "Everything was black and white to me, but as time goes on, things are getting a little grayer," he says. "I think I understand the other side more. I'm more willing to compromise. Still, I guess you can say I come down right of center."}}</ref>

===Local and state positions===
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C15747 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Bunning greeting President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1983]]

First elected to office in 1977, Bunning served two years on the non-partisan city council of [[Fort Thomas, Kentucky]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Bunning, Hall of Fame pitcher and ex-U.S. senator, dies |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/27/jim-bunning-hall-fame-pitcher-and-ex-u-s-senator-dies/351535001/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> before running for and winning a seat in the [[Kentucky Senate]] as a Republican.<ref>{{cite web|last=Collier |first=Mark |url=http://www.fortthomasmatters.com/2017/05/jim-bunning-former-us-senator-and.html |title=Jim Bunning, Former US Senator and Baseball Hall of Famer, Passes Away |publisher=Fort Thomas Matters |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> He was elected minority leader by his Republican colleagues, a rare feat for a freshman legislator.<ref>{{cite web|author=TEGNA |url=http://www.whas11.com/news/local/jim-bunning-hall-of-fame-pitcher-and-ex-us-senator-from-kentucky-dead-at-85/443542218 |title=Jim Bunning, Hall of Fame pitcher and ex-U.S. senator from Kentucky, dead at 85 |publisher=WHAS11.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

Bunning was the Republican candidate for [[Governor of Kentucky]] in 1983. He and his running mate [[Eugene P. Stuart]] lost in the general election to Democrat [[Martha Layne Collins]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Peterson |first=Bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/11/09/martha-collins-elected-kentucky-governor/8e131149-6407-45a1-9473-ecc1f9fd09a7/ |title=Martha Collins Elected Kentucky Governor |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 9, 1983 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

===House of Representatives===
In 1986, Bunning won the Republican nomination in [[Kentucky's 4th congressional district]], based in Kentucky's share of the [[Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area|Cincinnati metro area]], after 10-term incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Gene Snyder]] retired. He won easily in November and was reelected five more times without serious opposition in what was considered the most Republican district in Kentucky. After the Republicans gained control of the House in 1995, Bunning served as chairman of the [[U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means|House Ways and Means]] Subcommittee on Social Security until 1999.<ref>{{cite web|author=Courier-Journal Report |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/05/27/jim-bunning-hall-fame-pitcher-and-ex-u-s-senator-kentucky-dead/351448001/ |title=Jim Bunning, Hall of Fame pitcher and ex-US senator from Kentucky, dead |publisher=Usatoday.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

===First Senate term===
In 1998, [[Senate Minority Whip]] [[Wendell Ford]] decided to retire after 24 years in the Senate—at the time, the longest term in Kentucky history (a record later surpassed by Mitch McConnell). Bunning won the Republican nomination for the seat, and faced fellow Congressman [[Scotty Baesler]], a Democrat from the [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]-based 6th District, in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/09/29/kentucky.senate/ |title=A neck-and-neck Senate race in Kentucky – September 29, 1998 |publisher=Cnn.com |date=September 29, 1998 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Bunning defeated Baesler by just over half a percentage point. The race was very close; Bunning only won by swamping Baesler in the 4th by a margin that Baesler couldn't make up in the rest of the state (Baesler barely won the 6th).<ref>{{cite news|author=PHILIP SHENON|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/us/1998-elections-states-kentucky-democrat-loser-senate-race-forgoes-recount.html |title=THE 1998 ELECTIONS: THE STATES – KENTUCKY; Democrat, Loser in Senate Race, Forgoes Recount – The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 5, 1998 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

Bunning was one of the Senate's most conservative members, gaining high marks from several conservative interest groups. He was ranked by ''[[National Journal]]'' as the second-most conservative United States Senator in their March 2007 conservative/liberal rankings, after Sen. [[Jim DeMint]] (R-SC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalarithmetik.blogspot.com/2007/03/national-journal-2006.html |title=Political Arithmetik: National Journal 2006 Liberal/Conservative Scores |publisher=Politicalarithmetik.blogspot.com |date=March 5, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

Among the bills that Bunning sponsored is the [[Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004|Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39084033 |title=The Exit Interviews: Sen. Jim Bunning – politics – The Exit Interviews |publisher=NBC News |date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

===2004 Senate race===

{{main|2004 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

Bunning was heavily favored for a second term in 2004 after his expected Democratic opponent, Governor [[Paul E. Patton|Paul Patton]], saw his career implode in a scandal over an extramarital affair. The Democrats chose [[Daniel Mongiardo]], a relatively unknown physician and state senator from [[Hazard, Kentucky|Hazard]]. Bunning had an estimated $4 million campaign war chest, while Mongiardo had only $600,000. However, due to a number of controversial incidents involving Bunning, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] began increasing financial support to Mongiardo. Therein when it became apparent that Bunning's bizarre behavior was costing him votes, the Democrats purchased additional television airtime on Mongiardo's behalf.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49689-2004Oct20.html |title=Incumbent's Gaffes Narrow Ky. Senate Race |work=washingtonpost.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

During his reelection bid, controversy erupted when Bunning described Mongiardo as looking "like one of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s sons."<ref name="thedailyshow.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-2-2004/indecision-2004---senate-race-results |title=Indecision 2004 – Senate Race Results – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – 11/02/2004 – Video Clip &#124; Comedy Central |publisher=Thedailyshow.com |date=November 2, 2004 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> Public pressure compelled him to apologize. Bunning was also criticized for his use of a [[teleprompter]] during a televised [[debate]] with Mongiardo where Bunning participated via satellite link, refusing to appear in person.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2004/10/12/bunning_kentucky/ |title=Weirdness in Kentucky; The increasingly strange behavior of Republican Sen. Jim Bunning has led to speculation that he is suffering from some kind of dementia – and tightened a race he once had in his pocket |author=Mary Jacoby |date=October 12, 2004 |work=Salon Magazine}}</ref> Bunning was further criticized for making an unsubstantiated claim that his wife had been attacked by Mongiardo's supporters,<ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Collins |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-bunning-pitches-into-trouble/ |title=Jim Bunning Pitches Into Trouble |publisher=CBS News |date=October 26, 2004 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604175411/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/26/politics/main651425.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> and for calling Mongiardo "limp wristed".<ref name="thedailyshow.com" /> Bunning's mental health was also questioned during the campaign.<ref name="thedailyshow.com" />

In October 2004 Bunning told reporters "Let me explain something: I don't watch the national news, and I don't read the paper. I haven't done that for the last six weeks. I watch [[Fox News]] to get my information."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/10/23/loc_kysenaterace23real.html |title=Mongiardo, Bunning camps trade barbs |publisher=Enquirer.com |date=October 23, 2004 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

Bunning won by just over one percentage point after the western portion of the state broke heavily for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-02-ky-ussenate_x.htm |title=USATODAY.com – Bunning wins Senate race after close, bitter race |publisher=Usatoday30.usatoday.com |date=November 3, 2004 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Mongiardo retained a narrow lead with as much as 80 percent of the vote counted. However, he could not overcome Bunning's lead in the western portion of the state (which is in the Central Time Zone) as well as [[George W. Bush]] easily carrying the state.

===Second Senate term===

As was expected in light of Bunning's previous career as a baseball player, he was very interested in Congress's investigation of steroid use in baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101723.html |title=Bunning, McCain to Reintroduce Steroids Bill |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2009/07/21/baseball-great-jim-bunning-steroid-users-have-no-place-in-hall-of-fame|title=Baseball Great Jim Bunning: Steroid Users Have No Place in Hall of Fame: Genuine baseball stars feel cheated by enhanced stats. Besides, the kids are watching|work=US News|first=Jim|last=Bunning|date=July 21, 2009|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Bunning was also outspoken on the issue of [[illegal immigration]], taking the position that all illegal immigrants should be deported.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2008/01/18/sen-bunning-amnesty-backers-smoking-something-illegal|title=Sen. Bunning: Amnesty backers 'smoking something illegal'|website=OneNewsNow.com|access-date=May 28, 2017}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Bunning was also the only member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs]] to have opposed [[Ben Bernanke]] for Chief of the [[Federal Reserve]]. He said it was because he had doubts that Bernanke would be any different from [[Alan Greenspan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/10/25/news/newsmakers/fed_bernanke_bunning/ |title=Greenspan critic Bunning also opposes Bernanke – Oct. 25, 2005 |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=October 25, 2005 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

In April 2006, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine called him one of America's Five Worst Senators.<ref name="underperformer">{{cite web|first1=Massimo |last1=Calabresi | first2=Perry Jr. | last2=Bacon |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183986,00.html |title=Jim Bunning: The Underperformer |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=April 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107011708/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183986,00.html|archive-date=January 7, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The magazine dubbed him 'The Underperformer' for his "lackluster performance", saying he "shows little interest in policy unless it involves baseball", and criticized his hostility towards staff and fellow senators and his "bizarre behavior" during his 2004 campaign.<ref name="underperformer"/>

On December 6, 2006, only Bunning and [[Rick Santorum]] voted against the confirmation of [[Robert Gates]] as [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]], with Bunning saying that "Mr. Gates has repeatedly criticized our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan without providing any viable solutions to the problems our troops currently face. We need a secretary of defense to think forward with solutions and not backward on history we cannot change."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120700210.html |title=Gates Confirmed As Secretary of Defense |work=Washingtonpost.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

Bunning reportedly blocked the move to restore public access to the records of past United States Presidents which had been removed under [[Executive Order 13233]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20071001/index.htm |title=Court Rules Delay in Release of Presidential Papers is Illegal; Fails to Address Authority of Former Vice Presidents to Hold Up Disclosure of Papers |publisher=National Security Archive |date=October 1, 2007}}</ref>

In January 2009, Bunning missed more than a week of the start of Congress. Bunning said by phone that he was fulfilling "a family commitment six months ago to do certain things, and I'm doing them." Asked whether he would say where he was, Bunning replied: "No, I'd rather not."<ref>{{cite news |title=Bunning absent from Senate, says family more important; Says his absences are inconsequential |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090116/NEWS01/301160012 |first=James R. |last=Carroll |newspaper=Louisville Courier-Journal |date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>

In February 2009, at the [[Hardin County, Kentucky|Hardin County]] Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner, while discussing conservative judges, Bunning predicted that [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court Justice]] [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] would likely be dead from [[pancreatic cancer]] within nine months.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kraushaar |first=Josh |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0209/Bunning_Ginsburg_will_be_dead_in_nine_months.html |title=Bunning: Ginsburg will be dead in nine months |publisher=Politico.Com |date=February 22, 2009 |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Bunning later apologized if he had offended Ginsburg with his remarks and offered his [[thoughts and prayers]] to Ginsburg.<ref name="Carroll">{{cite news |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090223/NEWS01/90223035/-1/NLETTER05 |title=Bunning apologizes for Ginsburg comments |last=Carroll |first=James R. |date=February 23, 2009 |newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]] |access-date=February 23, 2009}}</ref> In an NPR interview in July 2019, Ginsburg noted that he was dead, and she was "very much alive".<ref>{{cite news |title=Justice Ginsburg: 'I Am Very Much Alive' |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24/744633713/justice-ginsburg-i-am-very-much-alive |newspaper=NPR.org}}</ref>  Ginsburg died only 14 months later.

Bunning was the only senator to miss the Senate's historic Christmas Eve 2009 vote on the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|health care reform bill]]; he cited family commitments as his reason for missing the vote. The bill passed without any Republican votes, 60–39.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/73547-sen-barrasso-bunning-left-dc-before-healthcare-votes?page=2#comments |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |title=Sen. Barrasso: Bunning left D.C. before healthcare votes |date=December 24, 2009 |access-date=March 4, 2010 |archive-date=February 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227195444/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/73547-sen-barrasso-bunning-left-dc-before-healthcare-votes?page=2#comments |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1209/Bunning_misses_vote_for_family_commitments.html |title=Bunning misses vote for 'family commitments' |date=December 24, 2009 |access-date=March 5, 2010 |newspaper=[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]] |first=Meredith |last=Shiner}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/12/26/bunning-missed-health-vote-for-family-commitments/ |title=Bunning: Missed Health Vote for 'Family Commitments' |date=December 26, 2009 |access-date=March 5, 2010 |newspaper=The Jacksonville Observer |archive-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228133333/http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/12/26/bunning-missed-health-vote-for-family-commitments/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 25, 2010, Bunning objected to a proposal of [[unanimous consent]] for an extension of [[unemployment insurance]], [[Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985|COBRA]], and other federal programs, citing that this extension was not [[PAYGO|pay-as-you-go]]. He proposed an amendment which sought to find the funds to pay for the bill from the [[Stimulus Bill of 2009]], and declared that he supported the unemployed, but that a bill such as this only adds to the growing deficit and that it should be paid for immediately.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsCenter.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=21648539-d0e8-4c3b-6078-362af45228d7 |title=Bunning Floor Statement On Pay-For Agreement |first=Jim |last=Bunning |date=February 26, 2010 |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=March 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307104134/http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsCenter.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=21648539-d0e8-4c3b-6078-362af45228d7 |archive-date=March 7, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/-43594-1.html |title=Bunning Filibusters Benefits Extension; Durbin Fights Back |publisher=Roll Call |date=February 25, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I have offered to do the same thing for the same amount of time. The only difference that I have. ... is that I believe we should pay for it. ... There are going to be other bills brought to this floor that are not going to be paid for, and I'm going to object every time they do it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsCenter.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=0bb28da1-dbbc-c1a1-52ec-5a441b0041e4&Region_id=&Issue_id= |title=Bunning Senate Floor Quotes On Pay For |date=February 26, 2010 |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=March 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304030703/http://bunning.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsCenter.NewsReleases&ContentRecord_id=0bb28da1-dbbc-c1a1-52ec-5a441b0041e4&Region_id=&Issue_id= |archive-date=March 4, 2010 }}</ref>}}

Senator [[Bob Corker]] joined Bunning, while other senators worked to cease his objections until 11:48&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]. When Senator [[Jeff Merkley]] urged him to drop his objections to vote on a 30-day extension of benefits, Bunning responded "tough shit."<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Politico |title=Jim Bunning repeatedly block unemployment extension, February 25, 2010 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33566.html}}</ref> On March 2, Bunning finally agreed to end his objection to the bill in exchange for a vote on his amendment to pay for the package. It failed 53–43 on a procedural vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00031 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> The extension of unemployment benefits then passed by a vote of 78–19.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wfpl.org/2010/03/02/bunning-drops-objection-to-senate-bill/ |title=89.3 WFPL &#124; Bunning Drops Objection To Senate Bill |publisher=Wfpl.org |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308125519/http://www.wfpl.org/2010/03/02/bunning-drops-objection-to-senate-bill/ |archive-date=March 8, 2010 }}</ref>

===Aborted 2010 re-election campaign===
{{Main|2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}
[[File:Rand Paul & Jim Bunning by Gage Skidmore.jpg|right|thumb|Bunning with his eventual successor, [[Rand Paul]]]]

In January 2009, when asked whether Bunning was the best candidate to run or whether there were better GOP candidates for Bunning's Senate seat, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman [[John Cornyn]] said: "I don't know. I think it's really up to Senator Bunning."  Bunning replied: "Anybody can run for anything they choose. I am gearing up, and I look forward to the challenge of taking on whoever comes out of the Democrat primary in May of 2010."<ref name="Politico-22Jan09">{{cite news |title=GOP pressures Bunning to quit |first1=Josh |last1=Kraushaar |first2=Manu |last2=Raju |date=January 22, 2009 |newspaper=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17785.html}}</ref> [[Kentucky State Senate]] President [[David L. Williams (politician)|David L. Williams]] was reportedly considering running against Bunning in the primary.<ref>{{cite news |author=Al Cross |title=As Conway announces, Senate race sharpens |date=April 12, 2009 |url= http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090412/COLUMNISTS12/904120352 |work=Louisville Courier-Journal}}</ref> Bunning responded by threatening to sue the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] if they recruited a candidate to run against him in the primary. He also attacked NRSC Chairman John Cornyn:

{{blockquote|The NRSC never helped me last time and they're probably not going to help me this time&nbsp;... [David Williams] owes me $30,000 and he said he'll repay me. I was short in my FEC money and he asked me if I would help save two state senate seats&nbsp;... I told him if I did it I would have to have it replaced at the first of the year. So far he has not.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bunning: "I would have a suit" if Republicans recruit an opponent |url=http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/02/24/bunning-i-would-have-a-suit-if-republicans-recruit-an-opponent/ |publisher=bluegrasspolitics |date=February 24, 2009 |author=John Stamper |access-date=February 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430234139/http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/02/24/bunning-i-would-have-a-suit-if-republicans-recruit-an-opponent/ |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}}

As of the end of September 2008, Bunning had $175,000 in his campaign account. By comparison, all other Republican senators facing competitive 2010 races had at least $850,000 at that point.<ref name="Politico-22Jan09" /> In the last quarter of 2008, the senator's campaign committee Citizens for Bunning had raised $27,000 from 26 separate contributions, ending the year with $150,000 in cash.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bunning's weak '08 fundraising raises more questions about 2010 run; Doubts continue growing despite vow to run in 2010 |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090124/NEWS01/901240456 |author=James R. Carroll |work=Louisville Courier-Journal |date=January 24, 2009 }}</ref>  In mid-April, KYWORDSMITH.com reported that of the $263,000 that Bunning collected during the first quarter of 2009, over 77% ($203,383) was received from out of state, while over 10% ($28,100) was actually untouchable for another 13 months as it was contributed exclusively for use in a general election.<ref>[http://kywordsmith.com/#/exclusive-3/4533522960] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016134135/http://kywordsmith.com/#/exclusive-3/4533522960|date=October 16, 2015}}</ref>  Bunning had two fund raisers scheduled in the first half of April.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsandtribune.com/archive/x518756716/Bunning-says-fund-raising-picking-up-after-lousy-start |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909125800/http://newsandtribune.com/archive/x518756716/Bunning-says-fund-raising-picking-up-after-lousy-start |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |date=March 31, 2009 |title=Bunning says fund raising picking up after "lousy" start; has two upcoming Kentucky fund raising events |author=Ronnie Ellis |work=New Albany Tribune and Jeffersonville Evening News }}</ref>

In an April 2009 poll, Bunning's approval rating was just 28%, and he trailed the four most likely Democratic candidates in hypothetical contests. 54% of voters in the state disapproved of Bunning's performance.<ref>Debnam, Dean (April 8, 2009). "Bunning in big trouble". Public Policy Polling, April 8, 2009. Retrieved on April 8, 2009 from [http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_KY_408.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815144010/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_KY_408.pdf|date=August 15, 2009}}</ref>  [[Kentucky Secretary of State]] [[Trey Grayson]] announced on April 30, 2009, that he would form an exploratory committee to run for Bunning's seat. It was speculated that this was a precursor to Bunning's retirement.  "He (Bunning) told Trey to do this", one senior congressional official said of Bunning. "Why else would he tell his main rival to prepare for a run?" <ref name="l158">{{Cite web |last1=Kraushaar |first1=Josh |last2=Raju |first2=Manu |date=2009-04-30 |title=Bunning poised to retire |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/04/bunning-poised-to-retire-021956 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=POLITICO}}</ref> However, Bunning said at a Lincoln Day dinner in Kentucky on May 9 that he still planned to run: "The battle is going to be long, but I am prepared to fight for my values."<ref>[http://kywordsmith.com/#/gopdinner/4533687284] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016134135/http://kywordsmith.com/#/gopdinner/4533687284|date=October 16, 2015}}</ref>

In a press conference on May 19, Bunning called fellow Kentuckian [[Senate Minority Leader]] [[Mitch McConnell]] a "[[control freak]]": "If Mitch McConnell doesn't endorse me, it could be the best thing that ever happened to me in Kentucky."<ref>{{cite news |title=Bunning calls McConnell a control freak |author=Politico|date= May 19, 2009 |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0509/Bunning_calls_McConnell_a_control_freak.html}}</ref>

On July 27, 2009, Bunning announced he would not run for re-election in 2010, blaming fellow Republicans for doing "everything in their power to dry up my fundraising."<ref>{{cite news |title=Bunning Will Not Seek Third Term; GOP Leaders Urged Senator to Retire |author= Ben Pershing and Chris Cillizza |date= July 28, 2009 |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/27/AR2009072703026.html?hpid=politics |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>  On April 14, 2010, in a further show of disdain for GOP leadership and insiders, Bunning announced his support for outsider candidate [[Rand Paul]] over establishment favorite Trey Grayson.<ref>{{cite news |title= Senator Jim Bunning Endorses Rand Paul |work= Business Wire |date= April 14, 2010 |url= http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100414007028&newsLang=en}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs]]'''
**[[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions|Subcommittee on Financial Institutions]]
**[[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment|Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment]] (Ranking Member)
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]'''
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]]'''
**[[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Energy|Subcommittee on Energy]]
**[[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks|Subcommittee on National Parks]]
**[[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power|Subcommittee on Water and Power]]
*'''[[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Committee on Finance]]'''
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care|Subcommittee on Health Care]]
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure]] (Ranking Member)
**[[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness|Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness]]

==Jim Bunning Foundation==
On December 18, 2008, the ''Lexington Herald Leader'' reported  that Sen. Bunning's non-profit foundation, the Jim Bunning Foundation, has given less than 25 percent of its proceeds to charity. The charity has taken in $504,000 since 1996, according to Senate and tax records; during that period, Senator Bunning was paid $180,000 in salary by the foundation while working a reported one hour per week. Bunning Foundation board members include his wife Mary, and Cincinnati tire dealer Bob Sumerel. In 2008, records indicate that Bunning attended 10 baseball shows around the country and signed autographs, generating $61,631 in income for the charity.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2008/12/18/630621/non-profit-profits-us-sen-jim.html |date=December 18, 2008 |title=Non-profit profits U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky |author=John Cheves |work=Lexington Herald Leader |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904024313/http://www.kentucky.com/2008/12/18/630621/non-profit-profits-us-sen-jim.html |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Death and burial==
Bunning died at St. Elizabeth Hospice in [[Edgewood, Kentucky]] on May 26, 2017, aged 85, following a stroke he suffered in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/campbell-county/southgate/jim-bunning-former-us-senator-dies-at-85 |title=Jim Bunning, former U.S. senator, dies at 85 |publisher=[[WCPO]]|date= May 27, 2017|access-date=May 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nky/name/jim-bunning-obituary?id=14275460|title = Jim Bunning Obituary|website = [[Legacy.com]]|date = May 30, 2017|accessdate = July 6, 2022}}</ref> Following a funeral service at [[Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (Covington, Kentucky)|Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption]] in [[Covington, Kentucky]], Bunning was interred at St. Stephen Cemetery in [[Campbell County, Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite news |last=WPCO staff |date=June 4, 2017 |title=Former U.S. senator, Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning laid to rest |url=http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/kenton-county/covington/funeral-service-for-jim-bunning-this-morning |work=WCPO-TV |location=Cincinnati, OH}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Kentucky|4|}}: Results 1986–1996<ref name = "clerkresults" />
! Year
!
! Democrat
! Votes
! Pct
!
! Republican
! Votes
! Pct
!
|-
|[[1986 U.S. House election|1986]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Terry L. Mann]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |53,906
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |67,626
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56%
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[1988 U.S. House election|1988]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Richard V. Beliles}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |50,575
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |26%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |145,609
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |74%
|
|-
|[[1990 U.S. House election|1990]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Galen Martin
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |44,979
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |31%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |101,680
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |69%
|
|-
|[[1992 U.S. House election|1992]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Floyd G. Poore}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |86,890
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |139,634
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |62%
|
|-
|[[1994 U.S. House election|1994]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|Sally Harris Skaggs}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |33,717
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |26%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |96,695
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |74%
|
|-
|[[1996 U.S. House election|1996]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Denny Bowman
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |68,939
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |32%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |149,135
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |68%
|
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>In 1986, Walter T. Marksberry received 735 votes, W. Ed Parker received 485 votes, and other write-ins received 11 votes.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ [[List of United States senators from Kentucky|Kentucky Senator (Class III)]] results: 1998–2004<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=August 8, 2007 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730201058/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 30, 2008 }}</ref>
!|Year
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[1998 U.S. Senate election|1998]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Scotty Baesler]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |563,051
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49.2%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |569,817
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |49.7%
|
|{{Party shading/ReformUSA}} |Charles R. Arbegust
|{{Party shading/ReformUSA}} |[[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform]]
|{{Party shading/ReformUSA}} align="right" |12,546
|{{Party shading/ReformUSA}} align="right" |1.1%
|
|-
|[[2004 U.S. Senate election|2004]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Daniel Mongiardo]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |850,855
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |49%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Jim Bunning'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |873,507
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |51%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

==Awards==
In 2005, Bunning received the United States Sports Academy's highest honor, the Eagle Award, which is given in recognition of an individual's significant contributions to international sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scribeus.com/news_pr_051216.html |title=Scribe Strategies & Advisors :: News & Resources :: Press Release |publisher=Scribeus.com |date=December 16, 2005 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902033655/http://scribeus.com/news_pr_051216.html |archive-date=September 2, 2007 }}</ref>

The [[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], held in Philadelphia, was dedicated to Bunning and fellow Phillies legends [[Richie Ashburn]], [[Steve Carlton]], [[Robin Roberts (baseball)|Robin Roberts]] and [[Mike Schmidt]], all of whom threw out the [[ceremonial first pitch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_asgrecaps_story_headline.jsp?story_page=recap_1996 |title=All-Star Game Recaps &#124; MLB.com |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Jim Bunning's perfect game]]
* [[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career shutout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball perfect games]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball retired numbers]]
* [[Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Jim Bunning}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=b001066 | votesmart=26874 | fec=S8KY00118 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/300014 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300014_jim_bunning Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00003437 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/13/Sen_James_Paul_David_Bunning.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Jim_Bunning.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1457 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/b/jim_bunning/index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
*-->
*{{C-SPAN|1457}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=111691|espn=19703|br=b/bunniji01|fangraphs=1001653|brm=bunnin001jam|retro=B/Pbunnj101}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|bunning-jim}}
*{{Sabrbio|bcacaa59}}
*{{Find a Grave|179741959}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunning, Jim}}
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