Jim Owens
Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1955-1967)
Jim Owens was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1967 for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Houston Astros, a span of 13 seasons. Across 286 career appearances, he went 42-68 with a 4.31 ERA, 516 strikeouts, and 21 saves. He also batted .101 with 0 home runs. His career Pitcher PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of pitching impact — is 940.7.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 5'11" / 180 lb
- Died
- 9/8/2020 in Houston, TX, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1955-04-19
- Last Game
- 1967-06-20
Full name: James Philip Owens
Season-by-Season Pitching
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Lg ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | PHI | NL | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.2 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8.31 | — | 0.0 |
| 1956 | PHI | NL | 0 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29.2 | 35 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 7.28 | 3.96 (-84%) | -491.9 |
| 1958 | PHI | NL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2.57 | — | 0.0 |
| 1959 | PHI | NL | 12 | 12 | 31 | 30 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 221.1 | 203 | 79 | 73 | 135 | 3.21 | 3.90 (+18%) | 4145.2 |
| 1960 | PHI | NL | 4 | 14 | 31 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 150.0 | 182 | 84 | 64 | 83 | 5.04 | 3.82 (-32%) | -2711.9 |
| 1961 | PHI | NL | 5 | 10 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 106.2 | 119 | 53 | 32 | 38 | 4.47 | 4.03 (-11%) | 790.0 |
| 1962 | PHI | NL | 2 | 4 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 69.2 | 90 | 49 | 33 | 21 | 6.33 | 3.96 (-60%) | -2994.5 |
| 1963 | CIN | NL | 0 | 2 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 42.1 | 42 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 5.31 | 3.46 (-54%) | -1262.9 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 8 | 7 | 48 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 118.0 | 115 | 43 | 32 | 88 | 3.28 | 3.58 (+8%) | 2666.2 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 6 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 71.1 | 64 | 26 | 29 | 53 | 3.28 | 3.50 (+6%) | 939.1 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 4 | 7 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 50.0 | 53 | 26 | 17 | 32 | 4.68 | 3.52 (-33%) | -167.5 |
| 1967 | HOU | NL | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10.2 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 4.22 | 3.30 (-28%) | 28.9 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 42 | 68 | 286 | 103 | 21 | 1 | 21 | 885.1 | 932 | 424 | 340 | 516 | 4.31 | — | 941 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 287 | 218 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 102 | .101 | .159 | .119 | .278 | -651 |
Career AVG .101 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — 60.0% below league average.
Career OBP .159 vs. league average .319 across their career seasons — 50.2% below league average.
Career SLG .119 vs. league average .383 across their career seasons — 68.9% below league average.
Career OPS .278 vs. league average .702 across their career seasons — 60.4% below league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | PHI | NL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1956 | PHI | NL | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .167 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1958 | PHI | NL | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1959 | PHI | NL | 31 | 75 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 35 | .120 | .256 (-53%) | .323 (-43%) | .392 (-66%) | .715 (-56%) | -651.1 |
| 1960 | PHI | NL | 31 | 44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .068 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1961 | PHI | NL | 21 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 12 | .074 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1962 | PHI | NL | 23 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .143 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1963 | CIN | NL | 19 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .125 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 48 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .103 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 50 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .125 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1966 | HOU | NL | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1967 | HOU | NL | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| Career · 12 seasons | 287 | 218 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 102 | .101 | — | — | — | — | -651 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (573 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 144 | 103 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 8 | .136 |
| Away | 143 | 115 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | .070 |
Pitching — Home / Away
| Split | G | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 143 | 456.2 | 474 | 202 | 149 | 278 | 3.98 |
| Away | 143 | 428.2 | 459 | 222 | 191 | 237 | 4.66 |
Last 10 Games — Pitching
| Date | Tm | Opp | Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-06-20 | HOU | STL | — | 0.2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1967-06-16 | HOU | ATL | — | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967-06-10 | HOU | CIN | — | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967-06-08 | HOU | STL | — | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967-05-19 | HOU | SFG | — | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967-05-16 | HOU | LAD | — | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967-05-14 | HOU | SFG | L | 0.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967-05-12 | HOU | SFG | — | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967-04-25 | HOU | STL | — | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967-04-22 | HOU | CIN | — | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P | 286 | 103 | 33 | 132 | 8 | 10 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | PHI | P | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1956 | PHI | P | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 1958 | PHI | P | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | PHI | P | 31 | 30 | 8 | 33 | 1 | 4 |
| 1960 | PHI | P | 31 | 22 | 6 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | PHI | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | PHI | P | 20 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| 1962 | PHI | P | 23 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | CIN | P | 19 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | HOU | P | 48 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | P | 50 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | HOU | P | 40 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 | HOU | P | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 286 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Jim Owens (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Jim Owens: the record in brief
April 19, 1955 and June 20, 1967 bracket Jim Owens's time in the majors: the debut and the last game on record. By club, Owens's seasons break down as the Philadelphia Phillies (1955 through 1962), the Cincinnati Reds (1963), the Houston Colt .45's (1964), and the Houston Astros (1965 through 1967). Listed as a pitcher, Owens batted and threw right-handed. Height and weight on file: 5 feet, 11 inches and 180 pounds. The birth record reads January 16, 1934, in Gifford, PA, USA. Owens's death is recorded on September 8, 2020, in Houston, TX, USA. The given name on file is James Philip Owens.
Across 286 games (103 starts), Owens recorded 42 wins against 68 losses with a 4.31 ERA. Also on Owens's record: 516 strikeouts, 21 complete games, and 21 saves. The league ERA over Owens's seasons was 3.72, so the 4.31 figure ran 15.9% worse than average. 1959 brought Owens a season-high 12 wins. 1959 was Owens's sharpest full season, a 3.21 ERA against the league's 3.90.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jim Owens
- What years did Jim Owens play?
- Jim Owens played in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1967.
- Was Jim Owens a pitcher?
- Yes. Jim Owens pitched in the major leagues, recording 42 wins and 516 strikeouts.
- How many home runs did Jim Owens hit?
- Jim Owens hit 0 career home runs with 22 hits.
- What teams did Jim Owens play for?
- Jim Owens played for 3 teams: the Philadelphia Phillies (1955–1956, 1958–1962), the Cincinnati Reds (1963), and the Houston Astros (1964–1967).
- What were Jim Owens's career stats?
- In 286 games, Jim Owens went 42-68 with a 4.31 ERA, 516 strikeouts, 885.1 innings pitched, and 21 saves. At the plate he had 22 hits and 0 home runs.
- What position did Jim Owens play?
- Jim Owens played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Jim Owens and how much did he weigh?
- Jim Owens was listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 180 pounds.
- What was Jim Owens's career ERA?
- Jim Owens finished with a 4.31 career ERA, going 42-68 with 516 strikeouts.
- How many strikeouts did Jim Owens have?
- Jim Owens recorded 516 career strikeouts.
- Is Jim Owens in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Jim Owens has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.