Subject(s): Jim O’ Rourke Sport: Baseball Location: Bridgeport Bluefish, Harbor Yard Arena, Bridgeport, CT Unveiled: 27/8/2010 Sculptor: Susan Clinard Material: Bronze Status: In Situ Inscription(s): Inscribed on plinth, side 1: James Henry O'Rourke. September 1, 1850 - January 8, 1919. "Orator Jim" O'Rourke, son of Irish immigrants, was a professional baseball player, scholar, and civil rights activist. The Bridgeport native had the first base hit in National League history on April 22, 1876. He played for eight different major league teams during 23 seasons; while a player for the New York Giants, the team paid for Jim to attend Yale Law School, from which he recieved his law degree in 1887. Noted for his command of language, Jim used his eloquence to entertain teammates and confound opponents. In 1895, Jim helped to organise the Connecticut State League. He owned, managed and played catcher for several local teams, and hired Harry Herbert, Bridgeport's first African-American resident to play professional baseball. In 1898, Jim built a minor league stadium, Newfield Park, on his family's farmland in the city's East End; the site is still in use as a city park. At age 54, Jim caught a complete game for the New York Giants. He played in his final professional game in New Haven at age 62. His brother and son also played major league baseball. James H. O'Rourke was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. Inscribed on plinth, side 2: "Baseball is for all creeds and nationalities." Inscribed on plinth, side 3: "We have been given the best of support by the people of Bridgeport. They want baseball and I intend to give it to them." Inscribed on plinth, side 4: Dedicated on this 27th day of August, 2010 by Mayor Bill Finch. Sculptor: Susan Clinard, Clinard Sculpture Studio. Principal Donor: Steelpointe Harbor and the Christoph Family. Major Donors: O'Keefe Controls Company, Conan Family. Special Thanks to The First Hit, Inc. Bernard J. Crowley, Baseball Historian. Michael J. Bielawa, Baseball Historian Poet. Paul Conan Jr., great, great grandson of James. Statue foundation provided by G. Pic and Sons Construction. [An open bronze book near his feet also bears the previous quote attributed to O’Rourke, "Baseball is for all creeds and nationalities." The open book is supported by representations of a volume of Shakespearian poetry as well as Blackstone’s Commentaries (an authoritative exploration of English Common Law)]. Links: Sculptor Project