Jim Willis
From BR Bullpen
James Gladden Willis
- Note: This page links to Jim Willis, the 1950s major leaguer. For the Negro League pitcher of the 1920s and 30s, click here.
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 175 lb.
- School Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Debut April 22, 1953
- Final Game June 5, 1954
- Born March 20, 1927 in Doyline, LA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Right-hander Jim Willis had his greatest success on the mound in pro ball in his home state of Louisiana. He started out as a 22 year old pitcher with the Alexandria Aces of the class C Evangeline League in 1949, as an unattached free agent. Jim wound up his first year in the pros with a 14-5 record with a 3.16 ERA. Jim, still unattached, would pitch for three different clubs in 1950, the Greenville Majors, Monroe Sports and the AA Shreveport Sports winding up the year with a 10-9 record and a 4.30 ERA.
Willis would spend the 1951 and '52 seasons with with the Texas League Shreveport team again going 15-10 with a 3.65 ERA for a dead-last eighth place club in 1951. Jim would go 16-11 with a 2.72 ERA the following season, helping the 1952 team go from last place to the third spot and wind up winning the league playoffs. This undoubtedly finally got him attached as the Chicago Cubs would draft Jim from the Shreveport Sports on December 1, 1952 in the 1952 Rule V Draft.
Jim did a creditable job for the Cubs in 1953 going 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 13 games. But he was gone after losing his only decision in 14 appearances for the Cubs the following season. This finished up his two season major league run with a 2-2 record and a 3.39 ERA. Willis would drop back into the minors and finish out his run there with the Shreveport Texas League club in 1959. Jim's eight year minor league stat sheet showed 75 wins with 58 losses and a career 3.60 ERA.
A graduate of Northwestern Louisiana University now University of Louisiana at Monroe with a degree in education, he was an elemetary school teacher and later principal until his retirement in Boyce, LA.
