Jim Davis

From BR Bullpen

James Bennett Davis

Bats Both, Throws Left
Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

Debut April 18, 1954
Final Game July 7, 1957
Born September 15, 1924 in Red Bluff, CA USA
Died December 6, 1995 in San Mateo, CA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Lefthander Jim Davis was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1946 season and spent the year with the class B Lynn Red Sox. He posted a 9-7 record in 24 games with a 2.32 ERA his initial season in pro ball.

Davis would spend nine years in the minors before getting a look at major league hitters in 1954. During this trip he would be with the Lynn Red Sox, class A Scranton Red Sox, the class AA Birmingham Barons and the AAA Seattle Rainiers. On October 2, 1949 he was purchased by the PCL Seattle team from the Boston Red Sox and in turn he was sold by the Seattle club to the Chicago Cubs on April 15, 1954, for his major league debut.

Davis would be with the Chicago Cubs for three seasons, (1954-56) where he would win 23 and lose 25 with a 3.87 ERA and on December 11, 1956 the Cubs would trade him along with Sam Jones, Hobie Landrith and Eddie Miksis to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Poholsky, Jackie Collum, Ray Katt and Wally Lammers.

1957 would see Jim with the Cardinals, appearing in 10 outings, going 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA and on June 4, 1957 the Giants would pick him up on waivers and he would go 1-0 in 10 games with a 6.55 ERA. This would finish his four season run in the majors and he would have a career 24-26 record in 154 games with a 4.01 ERA.

Jim finished out 1957 with the Minneapolis Millers going 1-1 in 21 appearances with a 3.50 ERA. In 1958 he would be with the AAA Seattle Rainiers again, this time going 6-5 in 36 appearances with a 4.59 ERA. In 1959 at 34 years of age and 14 seasons under his belt, he finished up his pro baseball career with the Sacramento Solons, winning 4 and losing 4 in 43 appearances with a 3.70 ERA.

Davis had a fine minor league career. He made 361 appearances, winning 102 games and losing 73 while pitching 1,541 innings. He gave up 1,579 base hits and 539 base on balls for a 3.30 ERA. After baseball he owned a business repairing athletic equipment, primarily football helmets and shoulder pads.

Davis looked back fondly at his years in baseball in an interview shortly before his death on December 6, 1995 at age 71 in San Mateo, CA. "Marv Grissom is my uncle. He's my mother's brother. We roomed together in Seattle then Later with the Giants. When I was with the Cubs we pitched against each other on the game of the week on television. What a thrill it was for my grandmother to watch her son pitch against her grandson."