Jim Bunning

James Paul David Bunning (October 23, 1931 – May 26, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher and, later, a politician from Kentucky. He pitched in the Major Leagues from 1955 to 1971 for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time of his retirement, Bunning held the second-highest career strikeout total in Major League history; he currently ranks 22nd.

As a member of the Phillies, Bunning pitched the seventh perfect game in Major League Baseball history on June 21, 1964, in the first game of a Father's Day doubleheader at Shea Stadium against the New York Mets. It was the first perfect game in the National League since 1880.

After retiring from baseball, Bunning returned to his native northern Kentucky and entered politics. He served in both chambers of the United States Congress, sitting in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999 and in the United States Senate from 1999 to 2011. He remains the only Major League Baseball athlete elected to both the United States Senate and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bunning was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1996 following his election by the Hall's Veterans Committee.