Jim Olander

James Bentley Olander

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Sahuaro High School
• Debut September 20, 1991
• Final Game October 5, 1991
• Born February 21, 1963 in Tucson, AZ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Jim Olander played 14 seasons in the minors and came to the big leagues for 12 games in 1991. He was in the Philadelphia Phillies organization from 1981-89, but came to the majors with the 1991 Milwaukee Brewers. He was 28, while teammates Robin Yount and Paul Molitor were in their mid-thirties.

Jim was born in Tucson, AZ in 1963. Jack Howell and Ed Vosberg were born in the same town two years earlier, and Tom Pagnozzi was born in Tucson a year earlier. Jim attended Sahuaro High School and was drafted in 1981, a year before Sam Khalifa was drafted out of the same high school.

In the minors, Jim had moderate power and didn't steal bases well, but he hit over .300 in 1981, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1992, and 1993, along with hitting .296 in 1985. He had the highest OPS of the regular position players for the 1991 Denver Zephyrs, which got him his time in the majors late in the 1991 season.

Jim has been a major league scout for the Detroit Tigers since at least 2008 (as of 2013).

Notable Achievements

• 1991 MVP American Association Denver Zephyrs