Johnny James
Encyclopedia
John Phillip James is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who played for the New York Yankees
and Los Angeles Angels
between and . James was originally signed by the Yankees in . He batted left-handed but threw right-handed, and he was 5'10", 160 pounds. He attended the 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 5-1 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 0-2. 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 5-3 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.
He wore three numbers in his career: 27 in 1958, 53 in 1959 and 1960, and 22 in 1961.
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...
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...
who played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and 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...
between and . James was originally signed by the Yankees in . He batted left-handed but threw right-handed, and he was 5'10", 160 pounds. He attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
He played only one game in his debut season, 1958. Appearing in relief for Art Ditmar
Art Ditmar
Arthur John Ditmar is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Athletics and the New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed.A finesse control pitcher, Ditmar divided his career between the Athletics and Yankees...
(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
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
no-hitter. In 43 innings of work, he posted a solid 5-1 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
Ryne Duren
Rinold George "Ryne" Duren was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.He was known for the combination of his blazing fastball and his very poor vision. With his thick coke bottle glasses, few batters dared to dig in against Duren...
for Tex Clevenger
Tex Clevenger
Truman Eugene "Tex" Clevenger is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher/spot starter who played for the Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees from 1954-1962. He was 6'1" tall and 180 pounds, and threw and batted right-handed. He attended Fresno State...
and Bob Cerv
Bob Cerv
Robert Henry Cerv was an American baseball player. Prior to his professional career he was a standout baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska....
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 0-2. James gave up the 20th home run of Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
' then record-setting 61 home run season.
His career ended on October 1 of that year. He had a 5-3 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.
He wore three numbers in his career: 27 in 1958, 53 in 1959 and 1960, and 22 in 1961.