Cleo James

Born: 8/31/1940 in Clarksdale, MS, USA

MLB Debut: 1968-04-15 | Final Game: 1973-09-26

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 176 lbs

Full name: Cleo Joel James

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Biography

Cleo James was a professional baseball player born in 1940, who played as a position player in Major League Baseball from 1968 until his retirement in 1973. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 208 games, showcasing his talents primarily as an outfielder. James was known for his speed on the bases, accumulating 16 stolen bases, which highlighted his ability to be a disruptive force when he reached first base. His offensive contributions included 87 hits, 5 home runs, and 27 RBIs, culminating in a career batting average of .228. Playing during an era marked by significant changes in baseball, including the integration of players and the transition into a more dynamic offensive game, James navigated a competitive landscape. While he may not have achieved the statistical milestones of some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the teams he played for were valuable, particularly in a role that often required versatility and adaptability. James's career spanned the late 1960s to the early 1970s, a time when baseball was evolving, and he was part of that vibrant tapestry of players who shaped the game during this transformative period.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
208	381	69	87	15	2	5	27	16	28	52	0.228	0.299	0.318	0.617	-189.1

Career AVG .228 vs. league average .250 across their career seasons — 8.6% below league average.

Career OBP .299 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — 5.7% below league average.

Career SLG .318 vs. league average .369 across their career seasons — 13.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.617 vs. league average 0.686 across their career seasons — 10.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1968	LAD	NL	10	10	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0.200	—	—	—	—	0.0
1970	CHC	NL	100	176	33	37	7	2	3	14	5	17	24	0.210	.253 (-17%)	.325 (-9%)	.385 (-16%)	.711 (-13%)	-391.3
1971	CHC	NL	54	150	25	43	7	0	2	13	6	10	16	0.287	.249 (+15%)	.316 (+12%)	.365 (+2%)	.682 (+7%)	202.2
1973	CHC	NL	44	45	9	5	0	0	0	0	5	1	6	0.111	—	—	—	—	0.0