Joe McClain

Born: 5/5/1933 in Johnson City, TN, USA

MLB Debut: 1961-04-14 | Final Game: 1962-06-01

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 183 lbs

Full name: Joseph Fred McClain

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Biography

Joe McClain, born in 1933, was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1961 until 1962. He made his debut on April 14, 1961, and concluded his career on June 1, 1962. McClain was known for his tenacity on the mound, although his overall record reflected the challenges he faced during his time in the league, finishing with a record of 8-22. His earned run average (ERA) stood at 4.42, and he recorded a total of 82 strikeouts throughout his brief career, along with one save. McClain's playing era coincided with a transitional time in baseball, as the game evolved from the traditional strategies of the past to the more dynamic approaches that would characterize the following decades. While he may not have achieved the stardom of some of his contemporaries, McClain's contributions as a left-handed pitcher added depth to the rosters he played for, showcasing the grit and determination that defined many players of his generation. Despite the statistical challenges, McClain's presence in the league remains a testament to the competitive spirit of baseball during the early 1960s.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
8	22	43	33	7	2	1	236.0	254	116	30	59	82	4.42	0

Career ERA 4.42 vs. league average 3.99 across their career seasons — 10.9% worse than 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
1961	WS2	AL	8	18	33	29	7	2	1	212.0	221	91	48	76	3.86	4.03 (+4%)	467.2
1962	WS2	AL	0	4	10	4	0	0	0	24.0	33	25	11	6	9.38	3.96 (-137%)	-2484.4

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
43	75	4	15	4	0	0	4	0	1	16	0.200	0.208	0.253	0.461	-417.5

Career AVG .200 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — 22.5% below league average.

Career OBP .208 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — 36.5% below league average.

Career SLG .253 vs. league average .396 across their career seasons — 36.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.461 vs. league average 0.723 across their career seasons — 36.2% 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
1961	WS2	AL	33	68	4	14	4	0	0	4	0	1	16	0.206	.258 (-20%)	.328 (-35%)	.399 (-34%)	.727 (-34%)	-417.5
1962	WS2	AL	10	7	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.143	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
P	43	33	16	29	1	1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1961	WS2	P	33	29	15	24	1	0
1962	WS2	P	10	4	1	5	0	1

Career Games by Position

Position	Games
Pitcher	43

College History

School Name	City	State	Years Attended
University of Tennessee	Knoxville	TN	1952