Chris James
Born: 10/4/1962 in Rusk, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1986-04-23 | Final Game: 1995-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: Donald Chris James
Biography
Chris James was an accomplished position player whose career spanned from 1986 to 1995. Born in 1962, he made a significant impact in Major League Baseball during the late 20th century, a period characterized by offensive explosion and the emergence of power hitters. Over his nine-year career, James played in 946 games, accumulating 794 hits and belting 90 home runs, while driving in 386 runs. His batting average of .261 reflected his ability to contribute consistently to lineups, and he also showcased speed on the bases with 27 stolen bases.
Known for his versatility and solid offensive skills, James played for several teams, demonstrating adaptability across various playing environments. His tenure in the league coincided with an era that emphasized power hitting, and while he was not among the most prolific sluggers, his contributions were vital for the teams he played for. James's career encapsulated the evolving nature of baseball during the 1980s and early 1990s, as he navigated through a landscape that was beginning to embrace the long ball while still valuing traditional hitting techniques. His legacy includes not just his statistics, but also the influence he had on younger players who followed in his footsteps.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 946 | 3040 | 343 | 794 | 145 | 24 | 90 | 386 | 27 | 193 | 490 | 0.261 | 0.307 | 0.413 | 0.721 | -190.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | PHI | NL | 16 | 46 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0.283 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | PHI | NL | 115 | 358 | 48 | 105 | 20 | 6 | 17 | 54 | 3 | 27 | 67 | 0.293 | 1033.9 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | 150 | 566 | 57 | 137 | 24 | 1 | 19 | 66 | 7 | 31 | 73 | 0.242 | -552.4 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | 45 | 179 | 14 | 37 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 0.207 | -925.0 |
| 1989 | SDP | NL | 87 | 303 | 41 | 80 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 46 | 2 | 22 | 45 | 0.264 | -925.0 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | 140 | 528 | 62 | 158 | 32 | 4 | 12 | 70 | 4 | 31 | 71 | 0.299 | 974.4 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | 115 | 437 | 31 | 104 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 41 | 3 | 18 | 61 | 0.238 | -1420.5 |
| 1992 | SFG | NL | 111 | 248 | 25 | 60 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 2 | 14 | 45 | 0.242 | -358.8 |
| 1993 | HOU | NL | 65 | 129 | 19 | 33 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 34 | 0.256 | 239.2 |
| 1993 | TEX | AL | 8 | 31 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.355 | 239.2 |
| 1994 | TEX | AL | 52 | 133 | 28 | 34 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 20 | 38 | 0.256 | 402.3 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | 16 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1995 | KCR | AL | 26 | 58 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 0.310 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 15 | 13 | 95 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 3B | 48 | 42 | 35 | 65 | 10 | 7 |
| OF | 568 | 511 | 1059 | 29 | 14 | 8 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | PHI | OF | 11 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | PHI | OF | 108 | 90 | 198 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | PHI | 3B | 31 | 31 | 26 | 44 | 6 | 3 |
| 1988 | PHI | OF | 116 | 114 | 256 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| 1989 | PHI | 3B | 11 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989 | PHI | OF | 37 | 37 | 61 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | SDN | 3B | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1989 | SDN | OF | 79 | 74 | 145 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | CLE | OF | 14 | 12 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | CLE | 1B | 15 | 13 | 95 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| 1991 | CLE | OF | 39 | 37 | 78 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | SFN | OF | 62 | 57 | 112 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | HOU | OF | 34 | 32 | 65 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1993 | TEX | OF | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | TEX | OF | 48 | 33 | 63 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | BOS | OF | 8 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | KCA | OF | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 15 |
| Third Base | 48 |
| Left Field | 325 |
| Center Field | 51 |
| Right Field | 228 |
| Designated Hitter | 204 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | KCA | AL | $310,000 |
| 1994 | TEX | AL | $500,000 |
| 1993 | HOU | NL | $500,000 |
| 1992 | SFN | NL | $650,000 |
| 1991 | CLE | AL | $1,367,500 |
| 1990 | CLE | AL | $560,000 |
| 1989 | PHI | NL | $230,000 |
| 1988 | PHI | NL | $138,000 |
| 1987 | PHI | NL | $65,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,320,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blinn College | Brenham | TX | 1981 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 6th | 1.0 | 120 | 0 |