Jim Willoughby
Encyclopedia
James Arthur Willoughby (born January 31, 1949 in Salinas, California
) is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the San Francisco Giants
(1971-74), Boston Red Sox
(1975-77) and Chicago White Sox
(1978). He batted and threw right-handed.
in 238 games pitched
.
. The only other person to be drafted out of Gustine High School is Ben Griset by the Chicago White Sox
in 2010 in the 36th round (1,088 pick overall).
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
) is a former relief pitcher
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 San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1971-74), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1975-77) and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1978). He batted and threw right-handed.
Career
In an eight-season career, Willoughby posted a 26-36 record with a 3.79 ERAEarned 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 238 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
.
Early Life
Willoughby was raised in the San Joaquin valley town of Gustine, California, and grew up a Yankees fan because his mother came from Mickey Mantle's home state of Oklahoma. As a youth, Willow also particularly admired Jim Thorpe and Satchel Paige. Jim played both Little League and Colt baseball. While attending high school in Gustine, he played four years of varsity baseball and American Legion ball, two years of basketball, and one year of track. Football was Jim's second-best sport. He played split end for two years. The University of California at Berkeley recruited him for football, but Jim was drafted out of Gustine High by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the June 1967 draft right after "the Mad Hungarian," Al HraboskyAl Hrabosky
Alan Thomas "Al" Hrabosky is a former Major League Baseball player from - for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves and is currently the color commentator on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest...
. The only other person to be drafted out of Gustine High School is Ben Griset by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 2010 in the 36th round (1,088 pick overall).