Although Jim is a native-born Virginian, Maine can rightfully claim him as one of his own because he learned the rudiments of the National Pastime on the fields of South Portland. He was an outstanding performer for Gene Davis’s Red Riot teams and for the Stewart P. Morrill Post. He was equally at home on the basketball court and, after his graduation from South Portland in 1972, he continued to star in both sports at Dartmouth College - developing into an excellent pitcher.
Jim was a 4th round draft selection of the New York Yankees in 1975 and decided to forego his senior hoop season to pursue his diamond career. After four minor league seasons in which he posted a 23-17 mound record and also experienced his first arm problems, Jim in 1978 won the James P. Dawson Award as the outstanding rookie in the Yankees spring training camp. In 1978, Jim shuffled between the Yankees and Triple-A Tacoma but played a vital role in the Yankees miracle comeback of that season. He was 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in the second half of the season; defeated the K.C. Royals in the opening game of the A.L. Championship Series; and turned in a complete game victory over the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series - the only Maine H. of Famer with a World Series mound win. In 1979 he achieved his first Major league shutout - a 4-hit win at Fenway Park against the Red Sox, but after a disappointing 3-6 season he was traded to the Seattle Mariners.
With the Mariners from 1980 to 1986, Jim turned in some impressive Stats, although never able to fully shake nagging tendonitis problems. At one time Jim was Seattle’s all-time leader in innings pitched and 2nd all-time in wins, strikeouts and shoutouts. In 1982 he set the club record for a starting pitcher with a 3.34 ERA. He had 140 strikeouts in 1982 (8th in the A.L.) In 1984 he tossed a career high 211 innings and fired 19 consecutive scoreless innings in 1982.
Jim finished his Major league career in 1986 with 52 wins and 87 losses, ranking him #2 of Maine’s major leaguers in wins behind Irving Young's 62 victories in the early 1900’s. Jim recorded 7 major league shutouts and 31 complete games. He struck out 636 while walking 447 and compiled a lifetime ERA of 4.10 - a very impressive record for one who was thought to be finished early in his career and a mode! of dogged determination.
Jim is presently the Seattle Mariners Director of Player Development for the Minor Leagues. He resides in Washington with his wife, Martha, and three youngsters, Sam, Beth and Nell.
Welcome home to a class guy - major league in every aspect.
