NEWS

Jim Bunning dead at 85

JULY 1986: Former baseball great Jim Bunning and his wife Mary, center, greet people at a church picnic in Bellevue, Ky.
JULY 1986: Former baseball great Jim Bunning and his wife Mary, center, greet people at a church picnic in Bellevue, Ky.
Enquirer File
Thursday November 10, 2011: Left to right Tommy Lasorda, former Dodger manager looks on as Jim Bunning, former U.S. Senator speaks after he donated Congressional papers and Baseball memorabilia to NKU's Library at NKU Thursday November 10, 2011 Highland Heights, Kentucky.
Thursday November 10, 2011: Left to right Tommy Lasorda, former Dodger manager looks on as Jim Bunning, former U.S. Senator speaks after he donated Congressional papers and Baseball memorabilia to NKU's Library at NKU Thursday November 10, 2011 Highland Heights, Kentucky.
Enquirer File
Jim Bunning, the former U.S. senator and a National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, died May 26, 2017.
Jim Bunning, the former U.S. senator and a National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, died May 26, 2017.
AP Photo
Jim Bunning won 224 games in 17 seasons with the Tigers, Phillies, Pirates and Dodgers. Bunning died May 26, 2017.
Jim Bunning won 224 games in 17 seasons with the Tigers, Phillies, Pirates and Dodgers. Bunning died May 26, 2017.
AP
Jeff Kidwell, left, newly elected Campbell County sheriff, is congratulated by former U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning before being sworn in by District Judge Karen Thomas.
Jeff Kidwell, left, newly elected Campbell County sheriff, is congratulated by former U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning before being sworn in by District Judge Karen Thomas.
Enquirer File
Southgate native Jim Bunning was a star at St. Xavier High School before he was an All-Star pitcher in the Major Leagues.
Southgate native Jim Bunning was a star at St. Xavier High School before he was an All-Star pitcher in the Major Leagues.
Enquirer File
MARCH 7, 1982: They say one picture is worth a thousand words. These faces express the various moods of members of the Northern Kentucky legislative delegation during their caucus Saturday, 3/6/82.
MARCH 7, 1982: They say one picture is worth a thousand words. These faces express the various moods of members of the Northern Kentucky legislative delegation during their caucus Saturday, 3/6/82.
Enquirer File
NOVEMBER 9, 1988: Jim Bunning, left, and Art Schmidt celebrate their win Tuesday night.
NOVEMBER 9, 1988: Jim Bunning, left, and Art Schmidt celebrate their win Tuesday night.
Enquirer File
JULY 1984: Jim Bunning, Newport, Ky.
JULY 1984: Jim Bunning, Newport, Ky.
Enquirer File
OCTOBER 24, 1979: Overshadowed: The silhouette of former President Gerald Ford is the background for former major league baseball pitcher James Bunning at a political fundraiser for the latter Wednesday, 10/24/79, in Cold Spring, Ky. Ford spoke in behalf of Bunning's candidacy for the Kentucky Senate. Story on Page B-5. The Enquirer/Alex Burrows
OCTOBER 24, 1979: Overshadowed: The silhouette of former President Gerald Ford is the background for former major league baseball pitcher James Bunning at a political fundraiser for the latter Wednesday, 10/24/79, in Cold Spring, Ky. Ford spoke in behalf of Bunning's candidacy for the Kentucky Senate. Story on Page B-5. The Enquirer/Alex Burrows
Alex Burrows
MARCH 1987: Congressman Jim Bunning in Washington.
MARCH 1987: Congressman Jim Bunning in Washington.
Enquirer File
UNDATED: Jim Bunning.
UNDATED: Jim Bunning.
Enquirer File
MARCH 1980: Sen. James Bunning, R-Fort Thomas, speaks on the Senate floor. From the Enquirer archives
MARCH 1980: Sen. James Bunning, R-Fort Thomas, speaks on the Senate floor. From the Enquirer archives
Enquirer File
NOVEMBER 1983: Jim Bunning after voting.
NOVEMBER 1983: Jim Bunning after voting.
Enquirer File
Different Kind Of Election; Jim Bunning Awaits Hall Of Fame Vote.
Different Kind Of Election; Jim Bunning Awaits Hall Of Fame Vote.
Enquirer File
NOVEMBER 1, 1983: Jim Bunning uses an escalator in the Capitol tunnel system. Using the time to collect his thoughts while heading to a meeting with Kentucky Farm Bureau members.
NOVEMBER 1, 1983: Jim Bunning uses an escalator in the Capitol tunnel system. Using the time to collect his thoughts while heading to a meeting with Kentucky Farm Bureau members.
Enquirer File
Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, a Hall of Fame pitcher, delivers a pitch prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals at the Ballpark in Arlington on July 11, 2003 in Arlington, Texas. The Royals won 13-3.
Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, a Hall of Fame pitcher, delivers a pitch prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals at the Ballpark in Arlington on July 11, 2003 in Arlington, Texas. The Royals won 13-3.
Ronald Martinez, Getty Images
WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 07: Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (C), speaks while flanked by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) (L), Sen. Michael Crapo (R-ID)(2ndL), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) (2ndR) and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 7, 2009 in Washington DC. Senator Bunning spoke about his amendment that would require that the legislative language and a final and complete cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office be made publicly available on the Finance Committee's website.
WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 07: Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (C), speaks while flanked by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) (L), Sen. Michael Crapo (R-ID)(2ndL), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) (2ndR) and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) during a news conference on Capitol Hill on October 7, 2009 in Washington DC. Senator Bunning spoke about his amendment that would require that the legislative language and a final and complete cost analysis by the Congressional Budget Office be made publicly available on the Finance Committee's website.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 02: Former Philadelphia Phillies pitchers and Baseball Hall of Famers Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Robin Roberts (left) greet each other prior to both throwing out the cermonial first pitch during Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on November 2, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 02: Former Philadelphia Phillies pitchers and Baseball Hall of Famers Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Robin Roberts (left) greet each other prior to both throwing out the cermonial first pitch during Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on November 2, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 21: (L-R) Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) get into an elevator after coming off the Senate floor after a procedural vote on health are reform on December 21, 2009 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 21: (L-R) Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) get into an elevator after coming off the Senate floor after a procedural vote on health are reform on December 21, 2009 in Washington, DC.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images