Johnny James
From BR Bullpen
John Phillip James
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
- School University of Southern California
- Debut September 6, 1958
- Final Game October 1, 1961
- Born July 23, 1933 in Bonners Ferry, ID USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Johnny James attended University of Southern California.
He played only one game in his debut season, 1958. Appearing in relief for Art Ditmar (who had given up seven earned runs in six innings of work) on September 6, James pitched three innings of scoreless baseball. He did walk four batters and strikeout only one. He also had one at-bat in that game-he struck out.
He didn't play any big league ball in 1959, but he did appear in 28 games in relief for the Yankees in 1960. He earned a spot on the team by being a part of a Spring Training no-hitter. In 43 innings of work, he posted a solid 5 and 1 record, allowing 21 earned runs and striking out 29 batters. He walked 26. He also saved two games.
1961 would end up being his final season in the Majors. He pitched in only one game for the Yankees that year before being shipped off to the Angels with Ryne Duren for Tex Clevenger and Bob Cerv on May 8. In 36 games with the Angels, he posted a 5.30 ERA. Overall that season, he walked 54 batters and struck out only 43. His record was 0 and 2. James gave up the 20th home run of Roger Maris' then record-setting 61 home run season.
His career ended on October 1 of that year. He had a 5 and 3 record in 66 career games, starting only 3 of them. In 119 innings of work, he walked 84 and struck out 73, finishing with a 4.76 ERA. Although he did not collect a single hit in 17 at-bats (he struck out 8 times), he did score three runs so one can assume he was used as a pinch runner a few times in his career. He was a perfect fielder, committing zero errors. Statistically, he is most similar to Darrell Sutherland.
He wore three numbers in his career: 27 in 1958, 53 in 1959 and 1960, and 22 in 1961.
At last check, he lived in Scottsdale, Arizona.
