Cleo James

Cleo Joel James

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 176 lb.
• School Riverside Community College
• High School Palm Springs High School
• Debut April 15, 1968
• Final Game September 26, 1973
• Born August 31, 1940 in Clarksdale, MS USA

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Biographical Information

Outfielder Cleo James played four years in the majors, mostly for the Chicago Cubs.

Signed originally by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961, he came up to the majors with the Dodgers in 1968 for ten games at age 27. He was taken by the Cubs before the 1970 season in the 1969 Rule V Draft and spent the rest of his major league career with them, hitting .287 in 1971. In 1970 and 1971 when he was with the Cubs, he was managed by Leo Durocher and the team finished over .500.

He also played 12 seasons in the minors. Never a power hitter, he stole a lot of bases with a peak of 64 in 1964 with the Salem Dodgers. His highest batting average was .368 in 71 games in 1971 with the Tacoma Cubs.

He and Cleo Carlyle are the only major leaguers (through 2008) with the first name Cleo, although Cleon Jones has a similar name. Matt Duff and Fred Valentine were also born in Clarksdale, MS.

Another played named Cleo James played in the minors in 1938.