The name of James “Jimmy” Bates has long been synonymous with winning, first as as athlete, then as a coach.

A standout basketball and baseball player at Bristol High School, Class of 1954, he went on to play sports at Boston University before injuries curtailed a promising career.

He later starred in basketball in the Boys Club Senior League and starred as an All-State second baseman in semi-pro baseball.

He mentored some of Bristol’s best grammar school basketball and baseball squads at Greene-Hills School and went on to coach varsity boys basketball at Bristol Eastern High School; winning a number of titles.

He is best known for the 10 seasons he coached the Bristol American Legion baseball teams, starting in 1962.

During that span, Bates, who had been a player on successive state championship Legion teams between 1951-53, coached the Post 2 squad to Zone 1 titles in all but one year while capturing three Connecticut State Titles.

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