** Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977.**James Clifford "Jim" Pollard (July 9, 1922 – January 22, 1993) was an American professional basketball player.
In college, Pollard played for Stanford and was a key member of Stanford's 1942 national championship team (though due to illness, he did not play in the final game). In the NBA, Pollard was considered one of the best forwards in the 50s and was known for his leaping ability (Pollard would occasionally dunk from the free throw line during warmups) earning him the nickname "The Kangaroo Kid".
In 1952, players who had performed in the NBA since its inception (originally known as the BAA) selected Pollard as the best player of the period. Pollard teamed with George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen for the Minneapolis Lakers, forming one of the best frontcourts in basketball history. The Lakers won five NBA titles between 1949 and 1954.
Pollard ended his career after seven seasons in the NBA in 1955. He went on to coach La Salle University men's basketball for three seasons from 1955-1958, compiling a record of 48-28.
Pollard was considered an exceptional all-around athlete. During his NBA career, Pollard also played amateur baseball for Jordan, Minnesota's Town Team baseball club. He was reputed to be "a good pitcher and a powerful hitter." It was there that Pollard famously "hit a ball that didn't stop until it got to Chicago," because it landed in a gondola car in a freight train passing by the ballpark.