James “Jay” Bugg Partridge was a highly regarded second baseman in the early days of Oglethorpe athletics.
Partridge was a member of Alpha Lamda Tau fraternity, Phi Kappa Delta honorary fraternity, the O Club, Glee Club, and the intramural football team. He was student body vice-president his junior and senior year, was voted “most modest” of Oglethorpe’s Who’s Who in 1925, and was secretary of his Sunday school.
Partridge bounced around the infield for his first two seasons, but eventually found his calling at second base. He was also an excellent hitter, setting a school record .441batting average. In 1923, Partridge won a $5 prize from Congressman W.D. Upshaw, who had offered the reward to the first Petrel to score in a game against Penn State. Partridge led off the first inning with a walk, advanced to third base on a bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Partridge was named an All-Southern second baseman in 1924.
The 1925 Yamacraw yearbook wrote of Partridge: “But for two things Slick would make a perfect hero for a "Work and Win" college series; he is real, and you wouldn't find out his achievements and good qualities from him. He is one of two men at Oglethorpe to be one of the best athletes in a varsity sport and make a Coat-of-Arms Sweater during the same period. J's Coat-of-Arms was incidental; he studied hard before and after he got it because has liked to study. He is always on the right side of the fence. He talks very little, but when the occasion arises can say what is needed to express his thoughts. You have to wait a long time to find out the things that he has done, but there is no delay in making up your mind that you like him.”
After Oglethorpe Partridge began his stint in the minor leagues at Nashville, then worked his way up to the majors. He was signed with the Brooklyn Robins (now the Dodgers) and played in the 1927 and 1928 seasons before being sent back to the minors in Nashville. During his two seasons in the majors Partridge recorded 90 runs, 52 RBIs, seven homeruns, 11 stolen bases, 370 putouts, and 72 double plays. In 1931 he went to the International League, then retired in 1933.
In retirement from baseball he sold life insurance then worked in the inspection department of Vultee Aircraft, which produced fighter planes during World War II. After the War, he operated J.B. Partridge Co., a food broker, and he ran the business until his death
Partridge was born in Mountville, GA on November 15, 1902. He and his wife Josephine had one daughter: Era Carolina. He passed away January 14th, 1974.
