James Harold Umbarger is a former American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher

Pitcher

In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

 at Grant High School in Van Nuys, California, Umbarger was the 33rd pick in the 1971 Major League draft by the Cleveland Indians, but opted to attend Arizona State University

Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...

. In 1974, The Sporting news named Umbarger as honorable mention on the All-America team. Umbarger was selected in the 16th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft

1974 Major League Baseball draft

-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...

 by the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers (baseball)

The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...

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Umbarger made his major league debut in April, , with the Rangers, and had a successful rookie season for the team, going 8-7 in 56 games (12 of them starts), with a 4.12 ERA

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...

. The following season, Umbarger started 30 games for the Rangers, going 10-12 with a 3.15 ERA.

Prior to the season, Umbarger was traded to the Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

, along with Rodney Scott

Rodney Scott (baseball)

Rodney Darrell Scott was a infielder in Major League Baseball. Primarily used as a second baseman and shortstop, Scott also played third base, designated hitter and outfield during his eight-year career....

, for outfielder Claudell Washington

Claudell Washington

Claudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...

. After struggling for most of the season for Oakland, Umbarger was sold back to the Rangers in August, 1977. Umbarger finished the 1977 season with the Rangers and returned for the 1978 campaign, appearing in 32 games and posting a 4.88 ERA. The season would be Umbarger's last in the major leagues. While in the minor leagues in , he pitched 10 scoreless innings in relief in the longest professional baseball game

Longest professional baseball game

The Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings, two teams from the Triple-A International League, played the longest game in professional baseball history. It lasted for 33 innings over eight hours and 25 minutes...

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Sources