Jim Donohue
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Donohue is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Detroit Tigers
, Los Angeles Angels
, and Minnesota Twins
from 1961 to 1962.
Class D Gainesville G-Men of the Florida State League
. In his first full professional season, Jim posted a 5-6 win-loss record with a 2.08 earned run average
in 95 innings pitched
. He received a late-season call to join the AAA Omaha club in October, but did not play.
For the 1957 season, Jim was promoted to the Winnipeg Goldeyes
of the Class C Northern League. He appeared in more games and pitched 141 innings to attain a 7-7 record, but his ERA more than doubled, ballooning to a 4.34 while having a very high mark for Walks plus hits per inning pitched
(WHIP) at 1.589.
The Cardinals invited Donohue to St. Petersburg, Florida
for spring training in February of 1958. He was later optioned to the Class A York White Roses
of the Eastern League. He got off to a very hot start in his 14 games with the team, putting up a perfect 7-0 record with a 1.48 ERA in 10 starts. The exceptional play earned him a mid-season advancement to the Class AA Texas League
Houston Buffaloes
. Jim started in prime fashion in his first game, throwing a complete game two-hit shutout against Dallas on June 26. He came across some bad luck a few weeks later, however, as he was out for a week after being hit on July 14 by a line drive on his ankle. Overall at Houston he compiled a 3-7 record with a 4.50 ERA and 89 strikeout
s in 82 innings of work. After his most successful season yet, Donohue was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals to participate in the Florida West Coast Winter Instructional League.
Jim started the 1959 season in Class AAA with the American Association
Omaha Cardinals
. He pulled double duty as a starter and reliever, starting 18 games and playing the relief role in 16. He put down a 2.43 ERA with 87 strikeouts and a 3-7 record in 132 innings. He also received some brief play around May with the Rochester Red Wings
, striking out 10 in 9 innings.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, and Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1961 to 1962.
Early Career
Donohue was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1956 season and assigned to the minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Class D Gainesville G-Men of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. In his first full professional season, Jim posted a 5-6 win-loss record with a 2.08 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 95 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He received a late-season call to join the AAA Omaha club in October, but did not play.
For the 1957 season, Jim was promoted to the Winnipeg Goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 1994 to 2010, the team was a member of the Northern League.The...
of the Class C Northern League. He appeared in more games and pitched 141 innings to attain a 7-7 record, but his ERA more than doubled, ballooning to a 4.34 while having a very high mark for Walks plus hits per inning pitched
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
(WHIP) at 1.589.
The Cardinals invited Donohue to St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
for spring training in February of 1958. He was later optioned to the Class A York White Roses
York White Roses
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.-Early years:...
of the Eastern League. He got off to a very hot start in his 14 games with the team, putting up a perfect 7-0 record with a 1.48 ERA in 10 starts. The exceptional play earned him a mid-season advancement to the Class AA Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
. Jim started in prime fashion in his first game, throwing a complete game two-hit shutout against Dallas on June 26. He came across some bad luck a few weeks later, however, as he was out for a week after being hit on July 14 by a line drive on his ankle. Overall at Houston he compiled a 3-7 record with a 4.50 ERA and 89 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 82 innings of work. After his most successful season yet, Donohue was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals to participate in the Florida West Coast Winter Instructional League.
Jim started the 1959 season in Class AAA with the American Association
American Association
American Association may refer to one of the following professional baseball leagues:* American Association , active from 1882 to 1891* American Association , active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997...
Omaha Cardinals
Omaha Cardinals
The Omaha Cardinals was the name of the minor league baseball club based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, from 1947 through 1959. It played in the Class A Western League through 1954 and in the AAA American Association from 1955-59 as an affiliate of its major league namesake, the St...
. He pulled double duty as a starter and reliever, starting 18 games and playing the relief role in 16. He put down a 2.43 ERA with 87 strikeouts and a 3-7 record in 132 innings. He also received some brief play around May with the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, striking out 10 in 9 innings.