He played in Major League Baseball for the New York Highlanders in 1908, primarily as a left fielder and shortstop.

[1] John O'Rourke, brother of Orator Jim, was also a major league player.

Jimmy O'Rourke attended Yale University, where he played shortstop on the varsity baseball team in 1901 as a freshman.

[2] He batted .303 for the Bridgeport Orators of the Connecticut State League in 1907; records for some of his seasons are incomplete.

[4][5] While O'Rourke is listed on various baseball references sites under the nickname "Queenie", research by the Society for American Baseball Research indicates that the nickname was "historically contrived", as it was not known to be used during O'Rourke's career and only appeared after his death.