Jim Gilliam - Legacy

Legacy

Gilliam was respected for his personal qualities and sportsmanship, in addition to his playing ability, over his 28-year career with the Dodgers. Quotations about him include the following:

• "What a great team player he was. He'd hit behind Maury, take pitch after pitch after pitch. And when Maury got to second, he'd give himself up by hitting the ball to the right side, even with two strikes, which most hitters won't do." - teammate Jeff Torborg, describing Gilliam as the ideal #2 hitter.
• "He didn't hit with power, he had no arm, and he couldn't run. But he did the little things to win ballgames. He never griped or complained. He was one of the most unselfish ballplayers I know." - manager Walter Alston
• "Father, friend, and locker room inspiration that will never be forgotten." - Davey Lopes, Dodgers second baseman from 1972 to 1981

The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings (2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine. Gilliam is prominent in many of these stories.