James Lamar "Dusty" Rhodes (May 13, 1927 – June 17, 2009)[1] was an American professional baseball player, an outfielder and pinch hitter whose otherwise unremarkable seven-year Major League Baseball career was dramatically highlighted by his starring role for the champion New York Giants during the 1954 season and that year's World Series.

Born in Mathews, Alabama, Rhodes served in the United States Navy during World War II[2] and began his professional career in 1946.

He stayed in as the left fielder and tripled again in the tenth to drive in the Giants' leading run; but the Cardinals came back to tie and then win the contest in 11 innings.

Irvin's two hits and two runs batted in helped seal a 7–4 victory for the Giants, and a four-game Series sweep, their first Fall Classic title since 1933.

Rhodes had gone to the plate seven times, collected four hits (including two homers) and a base on balls, scored two runs, and driven in seven.

Rhodes spent the full seasons of 1956 and 1957 with the Giants, their last two years in New York City, but he hit only .217 and .205 with 12 total home runs.

He returned to the MLB Giants in 1959, and appeared in 54 games, all as a pinch hitter; but he collected only nine hits (with no home runs) and batted only .188.

After his baseball career, Rhodes returned to New York City and worked for a friend on a tugboat for 25 years, a job which he said he loved.

In Jim Bouton’s Ball Four, Rhodes is mentioned as being a bus driver at the New York World’s Fair after his baseball career had ended.