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Bill James

William Henry James (Big Bill)

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Both, Throws: Right
Height: 6' 4", Weight: 195 lb.

Born: January 20, 1887 in Detroit, MI (All Transactions)
Debut: June 12, 1911
Teams (by GP): Tigers/Browns/RedSox/Naps/WhiteSox 1911-1919

Final Game: September 17, 1919
Died: May 25, 1942 in Venice, CA
Buried: Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA
    About biographical information

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Standard Pitching

Year Age Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB Awards
1911 24 CLE AL 2 4 .333 4.88 8 6 0 4 0 0 51.2 58 37 28 1 32 21 2 1 2 238 70 1.742 10.1 0.2 5.6 3.7 0.66
1912 25 CLE AL 0 0 4.61 3 0 1 0 0 0 13.2 15 11 7 0 9 5 0 0 0 61 77 1.756 9.9 0.0 5.9 3.3 0.56
1914 27 SLB AL 15 14 .517 2.85 44 35 7 20 3 1 284.0 269 121 90 4 109 109 6 0 10 1162 95 1.331 8.5 0.1 3.5 3.5 1.00
1915 28 TOT AL 13 13 .500 3.26 45 31 6 11 1 1 237.1 212 115 86 3 125 82 7 0 6 976 90 1.420 8.0 0.1 4.7 3.1 0.66
1915 28 SLB AL 6 10 .375 3.59 34 22 5 8 0 1 170.1 155 89 68 2 92 58 7 0 5 708 80 1.450 8.2 0.1 4.9 3.1 0.63
1915 28 DET AL 7 3 .700 2.42 11 9 1 3 1 0 67.0 57 26 18 1 33 24 0 0 1 268 126 1.343 7.7 0.1 4.4 3.2 0.73
1916 29 DET AL 8 12 .400 3.68 30 20 4 8 0 1 151.2 141 76 62 1 79 61 11 1 6 642 78 1.451 8.4 0.1 4.7 3.6 0.77
1917 30 DET AL 13 10 .565 2.09 34 23 5 10 2 1 198.0 163 71 46 2 96 62 12 0 2 821 126 1.308 7.4 0.1 4.4 2.8 0.65
1918 31 DET AL 6 11 .353 3.76 19 18 1 8 1 0 122.0 127 68 51 3 68 42 5 0 2 546 70 1.598 9.4 0.2 5.0 3.1 0.62
1919 32 TOT AL 7 7 .500 3.71 20 13 4 7 2 0 121.1 125 60 50 2 60 26 5 0 3 505 84 1.525 9.3 0.1 4.5 1.9 0.43
1919 32 DET AL 1 0 1.000 5.79 2 1 0 0 0 0 9.1 12 6 6 0 7 3 0 0 1 44 58 2.036 11.6 0.0 6.8 2.9 0.43
1919 32 BOS AL 3 5 .375 4.09 13 7 4 4 0 0 72.2 74 42 33 2 39 12 3 0 2 306 75 1.555 9.2 0.2 4.8 1.5 0.31
1919 32 CHW AL 3 2 .600 2.52 5 5 0 3 2 0 39.1 39 12 11 0 14 11 2 0 0 155 128 1.347 8.9 0.0 3.2 2.5 0.79
8 Yrs 64 71 .474 3.20 203 146 28 68 9 4 1179.2 1110 559 420 16 578 408 48 2 31 4951 89 1.431 8.5 0.1 4.4 3.1 0.71
162 Game Avg. 12 14 .474 3.20 40 28 5 13 2 1 230 216 109 82 3 113 79 9 0 6 965 89 1.431 8.5 0.1 4.4 3.1 0.71
DET (5 yrs) 35 36 .493 3.01 96 71 11 29 4 2 548.0 500 247 183 7 283 192 28 1 12 2321 92 1.429 8.2 0.1 4.6 3.2 0.68
CLE (2 yrs) 2 4 .333 4.82 11 6 1 4 0 0 65.1 73 48 35 1 41 26 2 1 2 299 72 1.745 10.1 0.1 5.6 3.6 0.63
SLB (2 yrs) 21 24 .467 3.13 78 57 12 28 3 2 454.1 424 210 158 6 201 167 13 0 15 1870 89 1.376 8.4 0.1 4.0 3.3 0.83
BOS (1 yr) 3 5 .375 4.09 13 7 4 4 0 0 72.2 74 42 33 2 39 12 3 0 2 306 75 1.555 9.2 0.2 4.8 1.5 0.31
CHW (1 yr) 3 2 .600 2.52 5 5 0 3 2 0 39.1 39 12 11 0 14 11 2 0 0 155 128 1.347 8.9 0.0 3.2 2.5 0.79

Player Value--Pitchers

WAR Explained (v2.1): 8+ MVP, 5+ A-S, 2+ Starter, 0-2 Sub, < 0 Repl
Year Age Tm Lg IP G GS R RA9 RA9opp RA9def RA9role PPFp RA9avg RAA WAA gmLI WAAadj WAR RAR waaWL% 162WL% Salary Awards
1911 24 CLE AL 51.2 8 6 37 6.45 4.63 0.06 0.00 102.0 4.66 -10 -0.9 1.0 -0.0 -0.5 -4 .382 .494 $
1912 25 CLE AL 13.2 3 0 11 7.24 4.45 -0.02 0.00 103.0 4.60 -4 -0.4 1.0 -0.0 -0.3 -2 .379 .498 $
1914 27 SLB AL 284.0 44 35 121 3.83 3.71 -0.11 0.00 99.0 3.78 1 0.1 1.0 -0.2 2.5 24 .503 .501 $
1915 28 SLB AL 170.1 34 22 89 4.70 4.06 0.01 0.00 98.0 3.98 -13 -1.4 1.0 -0.2 0.0 3 .458 .491 $
1915 28 DET AL 67.0 11 9 26 3.49 3.82 0.06 0.00 103.0 3.87 3 0.4 1.0 -0.1 0.9 9 .533 .502 $
1916 29 DET AL 151.2 30 20 76 4.51 3.59 -0.03 0.00 101.0 3.66 -14 -1.6 1.0 -0.1 -0.4 -1 .446 .490 $
1917 30 DET AL 198.0 34 23 71 3.23 3.58 -0.01 0.00 99.0 3.55 7 0.8 1.0 -0.1 2.5 25 .524 .505 $
1918 31 DET AL 122.0 19 18 68 5.02 3.62 -0.45 0.00 97.8 3.98 -15 -1.6 1.0 -0.1 -0.7 -5 .414 .490 $
1919 32 DET AL 9.1 2 1 6 5.79 4.39 -0.22 0.00 106.0 4.89 -1 -0.1 1.0 -0.0 0.0 -0 .446 .499 $
1919 32 BOS AL 70.2 13 7 42 5.35 3.93 0.12 0.00 97.1 3.70 -14 -1.4 1.0 -0.1 -0.8 -7 .394 .492 $
1919 32 CHW AL 39.1 5 5 12 2.75 4.00 0.08 0.00 99.8 3.91 5 0.6 -0.0 0.9 9 .613 .504 $
8 Seasons 1177.2 203 146 559 4.27 3.80 -0.06 0.00 99.4 3.83 -55 -5.6 1.0 -1.0 4.1 50 .472 .497 $
DET (5 yrs) 548.0 96 71 247 4.06 3.63 -0.11 0.00 99.9 3.74 -20 -2.2 1.0 -0.4 2.3 28 .477 .497 $
CLE (2 yrs) 65.1 11 6 48 6.61 4.59 0.05 0.00 102.2 4.65 -14 -1.3 1.0 -0.1 -0.8 -7 .381 .496 $
SLB (2 yrs) 454.1 78 57 210 4.16 3.84 -0.07 0.00 98.6 3.85 -12 -1.3 1.0 -0.4 2.5 27 .483 .496 $
BOS (1 yr) 70.2 13 7 42 5.35 3.93 0.12 0.00 97.1 3.70 -14 -1.4 1.0 -0.1 -0.8 -7 .394 .492 $
CHW (1 yr) 39.1 5 5 12 2.75 4.00 0.08 0.00 99.8 3.91 5 0.6 -0.0 0.9 9 .613 .504 $

Postseason Pitching

Postseason Gamelog
Year Age Tm Lg Series Rslt Opp W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
1919 32 CHW AL WS L CIN 0 0 5.79 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.2 8 4 3 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 23 2.357 15.4 0.0 5.8 3.9 0.67
1 WS 0 0 5.79 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.2 8 4 3 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 23 2.357 15.4 0.0 5.8 3.9 0.67

Ratio Pitching*

Year Age Tm Lg PA Ptn% HR% SO% BB% XBH% X/H% GB/FB GO/AO IP% LD% HR/FB IF/FB DPopp DPs DP%
1918 31 DET AL 555 0.5% 7.6% 12.3% 2.9% 13% 74%
1919 32 TOT AL 518 0.4% 5.0% 11.6% 1.5% 6% 80%
1919 32 DET AL 46 0.0% 6.5% 15.2% 74%
1919 32 BOS AL 314 0.6% 3.8% 12.4% 1.9% 8% 80%
1919 32 CHW AL 158 0.0% 7.0% 8.9% 1.3% 5% 81%
2 Yrs 1073 0.5% 6.3% 11.9% 2.2% 10% 77%
MLB Averages 0.4% 8.0% 7.3% 2.7% 12% 81%

Cumulative Pitching

Year Age W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB ERA+
1911 24 2 4 .333 4.88 8 6 0 4 0 0 51.2 58 37 28 1 32 21 2 1 2 238 70 1.742 10.1 0.2 5.6 3.7 0.66 70
1912 25 2 4 .333 4.82 11 6 1 4 0 0 65.1 73 48 35 1 41 26 2 1 2 299 72 1.745 10.1 0.1 5.6 3.6 0.63 72
1913 26 2 4 .333 4.82 11 6 1 4 0 0 65.1 73 48 35 1 41 26 2 1 2 299 72 1.745 10.1 0.1 5.6 3.6 0.63 72
1914 27 17 18 .486 3.22 55 41 8 24 3 1 349.1 342 169 125 5 150 135 8 1 12 1461 89 1.408 8.8 0.1 3.9 3.5 0.90 89
1915 28 30 31 .492 3.24 100 72 14 35 4 2 586.2 554 284 211 8 275 217 15 1 18 2437 89 1.413 8.5 0.1 4.2 3.3 0.79 89
1916 29 38 43 .469 3.33 130 92 18 43 4 3 738.1 695 360 273 9 354 278 26 2 24 3079 86 1.421 8.5 0.1 4.3 3.4 0.79 86
1917 30 51 53 .490 3.07 164 115 23 53 6 4 936.1 858 431 319 11 450 340 38 2 26 3900 92 1.397 8.2 0.1 4.3 3.3 0.76 92
1918 31 57 64 .471 3.15 183 133 24 61 7 4 1058.1 985 499 370 14 518 382 43 2 28 4446 89 1.420 8.4 0.1 4.4 3.2 0.74 89
1919 32 64 71 .474 3.20 203 146 28 68 9 4 1179.2 1110 559 420 16 578 408 48 2 31 4951 89 1.431 8.5 0.1 4.4 3.1 0.71 89

Neutralized Pitching

Change to: Default / 750 Runs / 1968 Dodgers / 2000 Rockies or

All seasons are converted to 162-game seasons &
average team scoring of 716 total runs (4.42 R/G) How this works
Year Age W L W-L% ERA IP H R ER HR BB SO HBP WHIP H/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB HR/9 Gact
1911 24 2 3 .400 4.67 52.0 59 30 27 1 33 21 2 1.769 10.2 5.7 3.6 0.64 0.2 8
1912 25 0 1 .000 4.85 13.0 15 8 7 0 9 5 0 1.846 10.4 6.2 3.5 0.56 0.0 3
1914 27 14 14 .500 4.00 252.0 304 124 112 5 123 97 7 1.694 10.9 4.4 3.5 0.79 0.2 44
1915 28 11 12 .478 4.27 213.0 234 112 101 3 138 74 8 1.746 9.9 5.8 3.1 0.54 0.1 45
1916 29 6 9 .400 5.13 135.0 160 86 77 1 90 54 12 1.852 10.7 6.0 3.6 0.60 0.1 30
1917 30 13 7 .650 2.95 180.0 188 66 59 2 111 56 14 1.661 9.4 5.6 2.8 0.50 0.1 34
1918 31 5 10 .333 5.49 136.0 183 92 83 4 98 47 7 2.066 12.1 6.5 3.1 0.48 0.3 19
1919 32 5 7 .417 5.00 117.0 154 72 65 2 74 25 6 1.949 11.8 5.7 1.9 0.34 0.2 20
8 Yrs 56 63 .471 4.35 1098.0 1297 590 531 18 676 379 56 1.797 10.6 3.1 0.56 0.1 203

Appearances on Leader Boards, Awards, and Honors

Stats are Year-Value-Rank · Glossary

Earned Run Average s c a p y
1917 AL  2.09 (8th)
Career  3.20 (247th)

Hits per 9 IP s c a p y
1917 AL  7.409 (8th)

Games Played s c a p y
1914 AL  44 (8th)
1915 AL  45 (8th)

Innings Pitched s c a p y
1914 AL  284.0 (6th)

Games Started s c a p y
1914 AL  35 (4th)

Complete Games s c a p y
1914 AL  20 (5th)

Home Runs s c a p y
1914 AL  4 (8th)
1918 AL  3 (7th)

Bases on Balls s c a p y
1914 AL  109 (4th)
1915 AL  125 (3rd)
1917 AL  96 (6th)

Hits s c a p y
1914 AL  269 (3rd)

Home Runs per 9 IP s c a p y
Career  0.122 (61st)

Earned Runs s c a p y
1914 AL  90 (3rd)
1915 AL  86 (6th)

Wild Pitches s c a p y
1914 AL  10 (4th)
1915 AL  6 (9th)

Hit By Pitch s c a p y
1916 AL  11 (3rd)
1917 AL  12 (4th)

Batters Faced s c a p y
1914 AL  1,162 (6th)

Adjusted ERA+ s c a p y
1917 AL  126 (8th)

             

Hall Of Fame Statistics

Player rank in (·)

Gray InkPitching - 14 (1286), Average HOFer ≈ 185
Hall of Fame MonitorPitching - 5 (1306), Likely HOFer ≈ 100
Hall of Fame StandardsPitching - 8 (1020), Average HOFer ≈ 50

Similarity Scores

Explanation of Similarity Scores
Similar Pitchers 
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 Compare Stats to Similars
  1. Johnny Niggeling (977)
  2. Doc Scanlan (970)
  3. Bert Gallia (965)
  4. Jimmy Lavender (962)
  5. Elmer Knetzer (961)
  6. Ed Daily (950)
  7. Fred Beebe (949)
  8. Johnny Rigney (949)
  9. Leon Cadore (948)
  10. Orval Grove (948)
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  1. Kirby White (986)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  2. Dick Woodson (976)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  3. Ed Lafitte (972)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  4. Charley Hall (953)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  5. Togie Pittinger (960)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C
  6. Johnny Rigney (949)  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C

Other Resources & Links

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Viewed 7,111 times through May 31, 2012.
Name and misspellings: Big William Will William Henry billy Bill James jimmie jimmy jim

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