Jimmy Lavender

Born: 3/26/1884 in Barnesville, GA, USA

Died: 1/12/1960 in Cartersville, GA, USA

MLB Debut: 1912-04-23 | Final Game: 1917-10-03

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: James Sanford Lavender

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Biography

Jimmy Lavender was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1912 to 1917. Born in 1884, he made his mark during an era that witnessed the transition from the deadball era to the more offensive-minded approaches of the 1920s. Over the course of his career, Lavender compiled a record of 63 wins and 76 losses, with a respectable earned run average (ERA) of 3.09. His effectiveness on the mound was underscored by his ability to accumulate 547 strikeouts and secure 12 saves, showcasing his versatility as both a starter and a reliever. Lavender's playing style was characterized by a strong command of his pitches and a competitive spirit, which allowed him to navigate the challenges posed by the hitters of his time. Despite playing for teams that often struggled to provide offensive support, his contributions on the mound earned him recognition among his contemporaries. Lavender's career, though not as widely celebrated as some of his peers, is a testament to the resilience and skill required to succeed as a pitcher in the early 20th century baseball landscape. He retired from professional play on October 3, 1917, leaving behind a legacy as a determined competitor in the sport's rich history.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
63	76	224	142	65	10	12	1207.3	1097	414	38	447	547	3.09	0

Career ERA 3.09 vs. league average 2.94 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1912	CHC	NL	16	13	42	31	15	3	3	251.7	240	85	89	109	3.04	3.36 (+10%)	-
1913	CHC	NL	10	14	40	20	10	0	2	204.0	206	83	98	91	3.66	3.07 (-19%)	-
1914	CHC	NL	11	11	37	28	11	2	0	214.3	191	73	87	87	3.07	2.93 (-5%)	-
1915	CHC	NL	10	16	41	24	13	1	4	220.0	178	63	67	117	2.58	2.90 (+11%)	-
1916	CHC	NL	10	14	36	25	9	4	2	188.0	163	59	62	91	2.82	2.78 (-2%)	-
1917	PHI	NL	6	8	28	14	7	0	1	129.3	119	51	44	52	3.55	2.69 (-32%)	-1266.0

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
224	374	19	54	12	1	0	13	2	16	155	0.144	0.184	0.182	0.365	-2499.4

Career AVG .144 vs. league average .255 across their career seasons — 43.3% below league average.

Career OBP .184 vs. league average .321 across their career seasons — 42.8% below league average.

Career SLG .182 vs. league average .337 across their career seasons — 46.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.365 vs. league average 0.658 across their career seasons — 44.5% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1912	CHC	NL	42	87	6	13	3	0	5	0	5	34	0.149	.268 (-44%)	.335 (-42%)	.358 (-49%)	.694 (-45%)	-672.3
1913	CHC	NL	40	68	2	8	1	0	1	0	0	30	0.118	.259 (-55%)	.325 (-64%)	.345 (-62%)	.670 (-63%)	-698.0
1914	CHC	NL	37	63	8	11	3	1	5	2	6	25	0.175	.255 (-32%)	.322 (-17%)	.339 (-25%)	.661 (-21%)	-209.3
1915	CHC	NL	41	67	1	9	3	0	0	0	1	31	0.134	.250 (-46%)	.318 (-54%)	.332 (-46%)	.651 (-50%)	-546.3
1916	CHC	NL	36	53	1	8	1	0	0	0	2	21	0.151	.248 (-39%)	.314 (-42%)	.326 (-48%)	.640 (-45%)	-373.4
1917	PHI	NL	28	36	1	5	1	0	2	0	2	14	0.139	—	—	—	—	0.0