Bill James
Born: 3/12/1892 in Iowa Hill, CA, USA
Died: 3/10/1971 in Oroville, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1913-04-17 | Final Game: 1919-06-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 196 lbs
Full name: William Lawrence James
Biography
Bill James was a talented pitcher who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century. Born in 1892, he began his professional career in 1913 and played until June 4, 1919. Over the span of his brief but impactful career, James compiled a record of 37 wins and 21 losses, showcasing his ability to perform at a high level during a time when the game was characterized by low scoring and dominant pitching.
With an earned run average (ERA) of 2.28, James established himself as one of the more effective pitchers of his era, demonstrating a keen ability to control the game from the mound. He recorded a total of 253 strikeouts, reflecting his skill in overpowering hitters and his strategic approach to pitching. Additionally, he notched 2 saves, highlighting his versatility and capability in clutch situations. Bill James's contributions to the game helped shape the landscape of early 20th-century baseball, and his legacy as a reliable pitcher remains a noteworthy part of the sport's rich history.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 21 | 84 | 61 | 44 | 5 | 2 | 541.7 | 469 | 137 | 14 | 199 | 253 | 2.28 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | BSN | NL | 6 | 10 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 135.7 | 134 | 42 | 57 | 73 | 2.79 | -750.2 |
| 1914 | BSN | NL | 26 | 7 | 46 | 37 | 30 | 4 | 2 | 332.3 | 261 | 70 | 118 | 156 | 1.90 | -417.8 |
| 1915 | BSN | NL | 5 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 68.3 | 68 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 3.03 | -796.5 |
| 1919 | BSN | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3.38 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 199 | 18 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 0.231 | 0.243 | 0.256 | 0.499 | -401.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | BSN | NL | 24 | 47 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 0.255 | 0.0 |
| 1914 | BSN | NL | 49 | 129 | 9 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0.256 | -401.7 |
| 1915 | BSN | NL | 14 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.048 | 0.0 |
| 1919 | BSN | NL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | WS | BSN | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11.0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0.00 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | WS | BSN | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11.0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0.00 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 84 | 0 | 13 | 148 | 17 | 9 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | BSN | P | 24 | 0 | 7 | 35 | 7 | 2 |
| 1914 | BSN | P | 46 | 0 | 4 | 85 | 10 | 7 |
| 1915 | BSN | P | 13 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 1919 | BSN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 84 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | P3 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 33.0 | 64 | 0 |