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James Lloyd “Jimmy” Gates - Player Inducted in 2017 A four sport star at Washington High School, the fifteen year old Jimmy Gates was recruited to play for the Princess Anne Legionnaires of the Central Shore League. Despite his age, Jimmy became a regular at second base and the outfield for two years for one of the better teams in the circuit, playing alongside team mates who had played high minor league ball. Jimmy was often cited in newspaper accounts for his fielding and speed. Before his final year of school his family moved to southern Maryland. There he caught the attention of Detroit scout Fred Haney, and had a tryout with Washington in 1954. He was required to run a forty yard dash with another hopeful in which the speedy Bates was barely edged out. That fellow recruit was future National League star, Maury Wills. Jimmy then entered the Navy where he became Senior Enlisted Advisor to Admiral Zumwault of the United Submarine Service, the second highest ranking enlisted sailor in the Navy. He then served as Senior Master Chief instructor at Orlando Naval Training Base before he retired. Jimmy never let baseball stand in the way of his love for baseball. In posting from Rhode Island to Florida, he continued to coach youth teams. James Gates died December 25, 2014 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. |
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Hall of Fame
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