Jim McDonald

Born: 5/17/1927 in Grants Pass, OR, USA

Died: 10/23/2004 in Kingman, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1950-07-27 | Final Game: 1958-04-26

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Jimmie LeRoy McDonald

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Biography

Jim McDonald, born in 1927, was a professional baseball pitcher who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1950 until 1958. He played during an era characterized by the transition from the deadball era to a more offensive-driven game, which influenced pitching strategies and player development. Over the course of his career, McDonald compiled a record of 24 wins and 27 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.27. His ability to strike out batters was notable, as he recorded a total of 158 strikeouts, demonstrating his skill in overpowering hitters. McDonald also contributed to his teams in high-pressure situations, finishing his career with one save. Although his win-loss record may not have placed him among the elite pitchers of his time, his versatility and determination on the mound allowed him to carve out a niche in the competitive landscape of 1950s baseball. His career spanned a transformative period in the sport, and his contributions to the game remain a testament to the dedication of players who played in the shadows of baseball's greats.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
24	27	136	55	15	3	1	468.0	489	222	24	231	158	4.27	0

Career ERA 4.27 vs. league average 3.98 across their career seasons — 7.4% 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
1950	BOS	AL	1	0	9	0	0	0	0	19.0	23	8	10	5	3.79	4.36 (+13%)	-57.2
1951	SLA	AL	4	7	16	11	5	0	1	84.0	84	38	46	28	4.07	4.04 (-1%)	-557.7
1952	NYY	AL	3	4	26	5	1	0	0	69.3	71	27	40	20	3.50	3.70 (+5%)	-
1953	NYY	AL	9	7	27	18	6	2	0	129.7	128	55	39	43	3.82	4.14 (+8%)	-
1954	NYY	AL	4	1	16	10	3	1	0	71.0	54	25	45	20	3.17	3.90 (+19%)	-
1955	BAL	AL	3	5	21	8	0	0	0	51.7	76	41	30	20	7.14	4.00 (-79%)	-777.6
1956	CHW	AL	0	2	8	3	0	0	0	18.7	29	18	7	10	8.68	3.96 (-119%)	-
1957	CHW	AL	0	1	10	0	0	0	0	22.3	18	5	10	12	2.01	3.83 (+47%)	-
1958	CHW	AL	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	2.3	6	5	4	0	19.29	—	-

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
139	128	14	23	5	1	0	10	0	18	48	0.180	0.281	0.234	0.515	0.0

Career AVG .180 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 30.8% below league average.

Career OBP .281 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — 15.5% below league average.

Career SLG .234 vs. league average .391 across their career seasons — 40.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.515 vs. league average 0.724 across their career seasons — 28.8% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS
1950	BOS	AL	9	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	1	0.333	—	—	—	—
1951	SLA	AL	17	29	1	6	1	1	3	1	7	0.207	—	—	—	—
1952	NYY	AL	26	19	3	6	3	0	3	3	6	0.316	—	—	—	—
1953	NYY	AL	29	41	2	4	0	0	4	2	18	0.098	—	—	—	—
1954	NYY	AL	16	19	6	4	1	0	0	5	9	0.211	—	—	—	—
1955	BAL	AL	21	11	1	2	0	0	0	3	3	0.182	—	—	—	—
1956	CHW	AL	8	5	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	0.000	—	—	—	—
1957	CHW	AL	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0.000	—	—	—	—
1958	CHW	AL	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	—	—	—	—