Jim Fuller

James Hardy Fuller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.
• School San Diego Mesa College
• High School Point Loma High School
• Debut September 10, 1973
• Final Game September 25, 1977
• Born November 28, 1950 in Bethesda, MD USA

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Biographical Information

Jim Fuller slugged over .500 in the minor leagues and showed good power in the majors, but his batting style limited his ability to reach base and led to his striking out in over a third of his at-bats in Organized Baseball. He was known for his large biceps and thick sideburns.

He was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 26th round of the 1969 amateur draft but did not sign. He was then taken in the second round of the 1970 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles. He debuted with the 1970 Miami Marlins and hit .247/~.323/.405 for the Florida State League titlists. In 1971, Fuller returned and did even better to lead the team (now the Miami Orioles) to another pennant. Jim bashed 33 homers, hitting .326/~.441/.611 with 105 runs, 110 RBI and 90 walks. His 17 outfield assists tied for second in the FSL and he set franchise records for runs and RBI. He was third in average, four points behind leader Donnie Collins, led the league in OBP, slugging, total bases (298), runs, hits (159), doubles (28, a three-way tie for the lead), homers and RBI. He made the league All-Star team, won MVP honors and tied Ed Levy's 21-year-old league record for homers. Through 2011, no one had broken Fuller's home run record. He would make the Florida State League Hall of Fame in 2014; the other players inducted that year were Vernon Wells, Kerry Wood and Paul Gilliford.

Jim split 1972 between the Asheville Orioles (.271/~.356/.599, 23 HR, 103 K in 80 G) and Rochester Red Wings (.228/~.343/.462, 11 HR in 49 AB). The next season, 1973, was Jim's best, as he was an All-Star outfielder and MVP of the AAA International League while playing for Rochester. He led IL outfielders with 12 errors but batted .247/~.343/.542. He led the IL in total bases (279), homers (39), RBI (108). The home run total was the highest in the league since Rocky Nelson 15 years earlier and was unmatched in the next 20 years at least and the RBI total was the best between 1972 and 1983, when it was matched by Brian Dayett. On the other hand, Fuller struck out a whopping and league-leading 197 times, or 38.3% of the time. His Three True Outcomes percentage was almost 50%. As a September call-up, he only hit .115/.148/.346 with the 1973 Orioles.

Fuller hit .222/.265/.392 for the Orioles in 1974 for a 90 OPS+ as his power didn't make up for his poor OBP and high K rate (68 in 189 AB); a similar Oriole player of the era and teammate for several years was Andres Mora. In 1974, Jim also spent some time with Rochester and hit .278/~.350/.433 in 25 games there. Back with the Red Wings in 1975, the 24-year-old slugger batted .213/~.326/.401 with 17 homers and 133 strikeouts in 113 games. He led the league in strikeouts and times plunked (7) and was third in homers, only two behind league leader Bill Nahorodny. The 1976 season was like déjà vu - .227/~.340/.487 with 19 homers in 269 AB and 92 strikeouts. He broke his thumb in July and missed a month of action. Called up to take his place on the roster was Eddie Murray.

After the year ended, Fuller signed with the Houston Astros and spent most of 1977 with the Iowa Oaks, hitting .231/~.319/.506 with 11 homers and 53 strikeouts in 160 AB. He also somehow went to the Charleston Charlies for five games, going 3 for 12 with six total bases, no walks and five strikeouts. Seeing his final major league playing time, Fuller batted .160/.243/.280 in 34 games with the Astros, only homering twice.

Fuller was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Dave Augustine early in 1978. He hit only .167/~.250/.333 in 7 games for the Columbus Clippers and .197/~.269/.311 with the Omaha Royals to complete his professional baseball career at the age of just 27.

Fuller's brother Tom Fuller was a minor league catcher in the Chicago White Sox chain.

Sources: 1971-1979 Baseball Guides, Mendoza's Heroes by Al Pepper

Notable Achievements

• 1971 MVP Florida State League Miami Orioles
• 1973 MVP International League Rochester Red Wings

Related Sites

• Jim Fuller at the SABR Bio Project