Early Life
Bottomley was born on April 23, 1900, to Elizabeth (nee Carter) and John Bottomley in Oglesby, Illinois. Bottomley enrolled in Nokomis High School in Nokomis, Illinois, but dropped out when he was 16 years old in order to help support his family financially. He worked as a coal miner, truck driver, grocery clerk, and railroad clerk. His younger brother, Ralph, died in a mining accident in 1920.
Bottomley also played semi-professional baseball for several local teams to make additional money, earning $5 a game ($77 in current dollar terms). A police officer who knew Branch Rickey, the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, saw Bottomley play, and recommended Bottomley to Rickey.
Read more about this topic: Jim Bottomley
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