HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Zeeland native and former major-league baseball pitcher Jim Kaat has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He turned 83 years old on Nov. 7.
Kaat started his pro career play for the Washington Senators in 1957, after playing while a Hope College student. He studied speech and journalism. Kaat’s career highlights include earning 16 career Gold Glove Awards.
His career statistics include 83 wins, a 3-point-45 earned-run average, 625 starts and 180 complete games. He earned a place on three All-Star teams. He led the 1965 Minnesota Twins to a World Series championship and pitched 5-3 for the 1983 St. Louis Cardinals’ World Series win. He retired from playing baseball after the 1983 season, but went on to coach and worked as a broadcaster.
The Kaat Fields used by Zeeland Little League are named for him. Jim Kaat has long been a supporter of sports in Zeeland, both Little League and the city’s recreational teams.
He’s joined by others elected for 2022 by the Golden Days Era Committee: Gil Hodges, Minnie Miñoso and Tony Oliva. The induction ceremony is set for July 24, 2022.
