Number Retired on October 10, 1978
Junior Gilliam played his entire 14 year Major League career (1953-66) in a Dodger uniform, both in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, contributing to four World Championship clubs (1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965) and seven pennant winners overall. He appeared in 1,976 games to rank fifth on the franchise's all-time games played list, seeing action at second base, third base, and in the outfield. In 1953, he was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year. Following his playing career, the two-time All-Star served as a Dodger coach until his untimely death at the age of 49 prior to the start of the 1978 World Series, at which time his number was retired and the Dodgers wore a commemorative patch on their sleeve in his honor.
1953 Brooklyn 1966
October 10, 1978
Junior Gilliam played his entire 14-year Major League career in a Dodger uniform, contributing to four World Championship clubs (1955, 1959, 1963, and 1965) and seven pennant winners overall. The 1953 NL Rookie of the Year appeared in 1,956 games to rank fifth on the franchise's all-time games played list.
- 1953 Rookie of the Year
James William "Junior" Gilliam (October 17, 1928 – October 8, 1978) was an American second baseman, third baseman, and coach in Negro league and Major League Baseball who spent his entire major league career with the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers.Jim Gilliam:
- Gilliam made his debut with the Dodgers in April 1953, with the formidable task of taking over second base from Jackie Robinson, who was shifted to the outfield and third base; he proved capable, batting .278 with a team-leading 125 runs for the National League Champions. [https://www.eatlife.net/dodger-stadium/jackie-robinson.php]
- He was named the 1953 National League Rookie of the Year.
- He was a key member of ten National League championship teams from 1953 to 1978.
- As the Dodgers' leadoff hitter for most of the 1950s, he scored over 100 runs in each of his first four seasons and led the National League in triples in 1953 and walks in 1959.
Jim GilliamUpon retirement, he became one of the first African-American coaches in the major leagues.
- Gilliam served as a player-coach beginning in 1964, and became a full-time coach in 1967. He continued as a coach with the Dodgers until his death in 1978, including three more Dodger pennant teams in 1974, 1977, and 1978; they lost the World Series in each year.
Gilliam suffered a massive brain hemorrhage at his home on September 15, 1978, and following surgery, lapsed into a coma from which he did not recover. He died in Inglewood, California, nine days before his 50th birthday, one day after the Dodgers clinched their tenth pennant during his tenure in the 1978 National League Championship Series. His uniform number 19 was retired by the Dodgers two days after his death, prior to Game 1 of the 1978 World Series. His number is the only one retired by the Dodgers of a player not in the Hall of Fame. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.
