Johnny James

Note: This page is for pitcher Johnny James who made his major league debut in 1958; for the umpire in the 1970s, click here.

John Phillip James

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• School University of Southern California
• High School Hollywood High School
• Debut September 6, 1958
• Final Game October 1, 1961
• Born July 23, 1933 in Bonners Ferry, ID USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Johnny James attended the University of Southern California then signed with the New York Yankees in 1953.

He played only one game in his debut season with the Yankees, 1958. Appearing in relief for Art Ditmar (who had given up 7 earned runs in 6 innings of work) on September 6th, James pitched 3 innings of scoreless baseball. He did walk 4 batters and strike out only 1. He also had one at-bat in that game: he struck out.

He didn't play any big league ball in 1959, spending the season with the Richmond Virginians of the International League, 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 and 1 record, allowing 21 earned runs and striking out 29 batters. He walked 26. He also saved 2 games. The Yankees made it to the World Series, but he did not appear in the postseason.

1961 ended 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 Los Angeles Angels with Ryne Duren for Tex Clevenger and Bob Cerv on May 8th. In 36 games with the Angels in what was their inaugural season, he posted a 5.30 ERA. Overall that season, he walked 54 batters and struck out only 43. His record was 0 and 2. James gave up the 20th home run of former teammate Roger Maris' then record-setting 61 home run season.

His big league career ended on October 1st 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 3 runs so one can assume he was used as a pinch runner a few times in his career. He was a perfect fielder, committing no errors. Statistically, he is most similar to Darrell Sutherland.

He played one more season in the minors in 1962 before calling it quits. At last check, he lived in Scottsdale, Arizona.