Jim Poole, a pitcher for the 1995 Cleveland World Series squad, passes away

Jim Poole's career's most memorable event occurred in 1995, when Cleveland won the AL pennant and played the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

Jim Poole, a pitcher for the 1995 Cleveland World Series squad, passes away

Jim Poole (via TSN and IMAGO)

After a successful 11-year career as a professional baseball player, Jim Poole unfortunately lost his life due to complications stemming from ALS. The defining moment of the 1995 World Series was the home run hit by Atlanta’s David Justice off him, forever etching his name in the memory of baseball fans. At the time, he was 57 years old. Jim Poole passed away on Friday in Atlanta, surrounded by his loved ones, according to Georgia Tech, the institution he attended.

He had been informed for the past two years that he has ALS, a disease that deteriorates the nervous system and is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The year 1990 marked the beginning of Poole’s tenure as a baseball player with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following that, the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and San Francisco Giants occupied most of his playing time.

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The pitcher, who was good at throwing with his left hand, finished his career in the year 2000. Throughout his career, he was part of the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Montreal Expos. He had an ERA of 4.31.

The most significant event of his career occurred in 1995 when Cleveland claimed the championship title, leading them to go head-to-head against the Braves in the World Series. During the Series, Poole participated in a couple of matches. The second game of the series occurred during Game 6, but there were no points scored. In order to have an opportunity in the final Game 7, the Indians had to emerge victorious in this particular game.

With two runners on base and two outs, Poole entered the game to replace Dennis Martinez in the fifth inning. Striking him out, he effectively neutralized the threat of Hall of Fame player Fred McGriff. Right at the start of the sixth inning, Justice smacked a home run over the right field fence, reaching an impressive height. Atlanta clinched the championship with the single run they tallied during the game. In a game they triumphed 1-0, Tom Glavine and Mark Wohlers collaborated to concede only a single hit.

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The Cleveland team released a statement following Jim Poole’s death

Cleveland had Poole participate in six matches following the regular season in 1998. The New York Yankees emerged victorious in the AL Championship Series, resulting in their defeat. In the span of 10 playoff games, Poole surrendered four hits and two runs within 7 1/3 innings. Additionally, he recorded a total of nine strikeouts.

Jim Poole [Image Credit- Baltimore Sun]
Jim Poole [Image Credit- Baltimore Sun]

The Cleveland team also known as Guardians team expressed their sorrow through social media upon learning about the passing of Jim Poole, who pitched for them in the 1995 World Series. Our thoughts are with the Poole family. Having originated from Rochester, New York, Poole joined Georgia Tech, contributing significantly to the team’s achievement of four consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championships.

Danny Hall, coach of the Georgia Tech baseball team, shared his sorrow upon hearing the news of Jim Poole’s death this morning through a statement. He was an excellent husband, father, and teammate. Our coaches and players benefitted from his unwavering commitment and strong affinity towards Georgia Tech as he dedicated considerable time and effort to assist them. He embodied the characteristics of an individual well-versed in technology.

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