Jim McDonnell, baseball player, 1943-1945

Jim McDonnell

Born: 8/15/1922 in Gagetown, MI, USA

Died: 4/24/1993 in Detroit, MI, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-09-23 | Final Game: 1945-09-23

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

Full name: James William McDonnell

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Biography

Jim McDonnell, born in 1922, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the major leagues during the early 1940s. His career spanned from 1943 to 1945, a period marked by the challenges of World War II, which significantly impacted the sport and its player rosters. As a position player, McDonnell appeared in 50 games, where he compiled a batting average of .211, accumulating 20 hits, 12 RBIs, and no home runs. Despite the limited power numbers, he contributed to his teams in various ways, showcasing his versatility on the field during a transitional era in baseball. McDonnell's time in the major leagues, although brief, placed him in the midst of a unique historical context. The early 1940s saw many star players enlisted in military service, creating opportunities for lesser-known talents like McDonnell to step into the spotlight. His career, while not prolific in terms of statistics, reflects the resilience and determination of players of that era who navigated the complexities of life during wartime. After concluding his professional playing days in 1945, McDonnell's journey through baseball remained a testament to the sport's enduring spirit during one of its most challenging times.

Negro Leagues Career Statistics

Batting

PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
2.0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.500 .000 0.500

Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting

Season PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS
1942 2.0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0.500 .000 0.500

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
50 95 9 20 2 0 0 12 0 8 8 0.211 0.272 0.232 0.503 -273.6

Career AVG .211 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 18.9% below league average.

Career OBP .272 vs. league average .327 across their career seasons — 16.7% below league average.

Career SLG .232 vs. league average .353 across their career seasons — 34.4% below league average.

Career OPS 0.503 vs. league average 0.679 across their career seasons — 25.9% 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
1943 CLE AL 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1944 CLE AL 20 43 5 10 0 0 0 4 0 4 3 0.233 — — — — 0.0
1945 CLE AL 28 51 3 10 2 0 0 8 0 2 4 0.196 .260 (-25%) .328 (-31%) .354 (-34%) .683 (-32%) -273.6

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 37 0 126 17 7 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1943 CLE C 1 0 1 0 0 0
1944 CLE C 13 0 40 5 5 1
1945 CLE C 23 0 85 12 2 4

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 37