Former major leaguer, Iowa native Collum dies

By John Naughton Desmoines Register September 3, 2009

John “Jackie” Collum, who shared a dugout with Hall of Famers during nine seasons of Major League Baseball, has died at age 82.

Collum, who was born in Victor and lived in Grinnell for much of his life, pitched in the 1950s and 1960s.

He died Saturday at Mayflower Health Care Center in Grinnell. Memorial services were held Thursday.

Collum served in the U.S. Army in World War II in the Philippines. He returned home to pursue his major-league dreams.

As a minor leaguer in St. Joseph, Mo., in 1948, he had a 24-2 record.

Collum reached the majors in 1951 and compiled a 32-28 record and a 4.15 ERA with six teams: St. Louis, Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota, Cleveland and the Chicago Cubs.

Collum played alongside Hall of Famers such as Stan Musial, Sandy Koufax and Ernie Banks.

He pitched until 1958, then had stints with the Twins and Indians in 1962. He was known as a good hitter, too, with a .246 career batting average.

He won a career-best nine games in 1955 with the Reds.

Collum was born in Victor on June 21, 1927. He is survived by his wife, Betty Collum of Grinnell, three sons and three daughters, and their families.

He grew up in Newburg and is a member of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame as a player.