Jim Christensen

James Louis Christensen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 155 lb.

• Born October 6, 1957 in Downey, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Jim Christensen is the brother of John Christensen. Undrafted, Jim once hit over .350 for a season and reached AAA for two full seasons but never made the majors.

Jim made his pro debut with the 1977 Elizabethton Twins, hitting .292/.343/.385, mostly playing DH. He did not appear in 1978 then returned to Elizabethton in 1979 and posting a batting line of .306/.369/.476. He led Appalachian League outfielders with a .988 fielding percentage and led the league with 17 doubles. He was 5th in average. He was left off the league All-Star outfield as Milt Thompson, Rob Teegarden and David Schuman were selected.

Christensen played for the Wisconsin Rapids Twins in 1980, now as a second baseman. He had good numbers - .280/.335/.437, 96 runs, 32 doubles, 17 home runs, 93 RBI and 24 steals in 29 tries. He led the Midwest League in total bases (248), game-winning RBI (16), games (140), at-bats (567) and sacrifice flies (9). Despite a new position, he led the MWL in fielding (.973), putouts (283), assists (333) and double plays (81) at 2B. He just missed the top 10 in average, was second in doubles (one behind Von Hayes), 4th in runs and 2nd in RBI (5 behind Greg Walker). He was named the All-Star second baseman, joining Walker (1B) and Hayes (3B) in covering the bases.

In 1981, Christensen remained on a tear. He hit .370/.445/.608 with 101 runs, 23 homers, 16 steals in 21 tries, 57 walks and only 43 strikeouts in 104 games for the Visalia Oaks. He also appeared in 19 games for the Toledo Mud Hens but struggled (9 for 48, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB). He was 4th in the California League in average, trailing Kent Hrbek, Tony Brewer and George Hinshaw. He was also 3rd in OBP (behind Scotti Madison and Hrbek), second in slugging (behind Hrbek), 4th in doubles (27) and 7th in runs. He was again named his league's All-Star 2B.

Christensen batted .268/.311/.432 with only 8 home runs for Toledo in 1982, a significant drop-off just as the guy ahead of him in the Minnesota system, John Castino, was also struggling. Moving to the Oakland Athletics chain in 1983, Jim had a good season as a utility infielder for the Tacoma Tigers, hitting .286/.361/.458 with 16 home runs and 70 runs. He was not called up, though, and his career came to an end.

Overall, Christensen hit .298 and slugged .471 with 323 runs and 310 RBI in 580 minor league games, hitting 123 doubles and 70 home runs.

Sources include 1978-1984 Baseball Guides