University of Dayton Athletics

Although he played varsity football in 1952, Jim Donnelly was best known for his performance on the baseball diamond.  He played baseball for the Flyers from 1952 through 1954 and lead the team in hitting in both 52 and 54.  In 1952 the 5’11”, 157 pound junior age 21, received his first varsity letter and his team went 8-0.  1953 was different for Jim as he made the switch from third base to short stop; he also was named team captain.  In his final season with the flyers, 1954, Jim switched back to third base while serving as both the coach and captain of the Flyer baseball team. 

The 1952 UD yearbook had this to say about Jim Donnelly prior to his first season with the Flyers, “Two lads from the suburbs who were considered pretty hot professional prospects when playing baseball in high school and who may yet make it, were stellar batsmen who had a major role in the University of Dayton’s first perfect intercollegiate baseball season on record.”