Jim Small, baseball player, 1955-1958

Jim Small

Born: 3/8/1937 in Portland, OR, USA

MLB Debut: 1955-06-22 | Final Game: 1958-09-27

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 lbs

Full name: James Arthur Patrick Small

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Biography

Jim Small was a professional baseball player born in 1937, whose career spanned from 1955 to 1958. Primarily serving as a position player, Small made his mark in the Major Leagues during a time when the game was evolving, transitioning from the post-war era into a more competitive landscape. He played a total of 108 games, where he showcased his skills as a contact hitter, finishing his career with a batting average of .27. Over the course of his time on the field, he recorded 38 hits and accumulated 10 runs batted in (RBIs), although he did not hit any home runs or steal bases. Small's contributions to his teams were often overshadowed by the power hitters of his time, yet he remained a reliable presence in the lineup. His ability to get on base and maintain a respectable batting average reflected the style of play that emphasized contact and situational hitting, which was particularly significant as the game began to embrace the long ball in the years following his career. Despite the brevity of his time in the majors, Jim Small's journey through baseball remains a testament to the diverse skills and roles that players have contributed to the sport throughout its storied history.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
108 141 22 38 6 2 0 10 0 10 22 0.270 0.318 0.340 0.658 80.0

Career AVG .270 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .318 vs. league average .328 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .340 vs. league average .394 across their career seasons — 13.6% below league average.

Career OPS 0.658 vs. league average 0.722 across their career seasons — 8.8% 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
1955 DET AL 12 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1956 DET AL 58 91 13 29 4 2 0 10 0 6 10 0.319 .258 (+23%) .331 (+9%) .397 (+2%) .728 (+5%) 80.0
1957 DET AL 36 42 7 9 2 0 0 0 0 2 11 0.214 — — — — 0.0
1958 KC1 AL 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 45 27 66 1 3 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1955 DET OF 4 0 2 1 0 0
1956 DET OF 26 19 47 0 3 0
1957 DET OF 14 7 15 0 0 0
1958 KC1 OF 1 1 2 0 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 14
Center Field 13
Right Field 18