Jim Traber, baseball player, 1984-1989

Jim Traber

Born: 12/26/1961 in Columbus, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1984-09-21 | Final Game: 1989-10-01

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 194 lbs

Full name: James Joseph Traber

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Biography

Jim Traber, born in 1961, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989. Primarily serving as a position player, Traber appeared in 264 games over the course of his career. He recorded 186 hits, which included 27 home runs and 117 runs batted in, finishing with a batting average of .227. Known for his power-hitting capabilities, Traber contributed to his teams with not only his offensive skills but also a modest presence on the base paths, as evidenced by his five stolen bases. Traber played during a transformative time in baseball, navigating through the mid-1980s when the game was characterized by a mix of power hitters and emerging pitching talent. While he may not have reached the heights of some of his contemporaries, his contributions to the teams he played for, including the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Indians, demonstrated his resilience and dedication to the sport. After retiring from baseball, Traber transitioned into a successful career outside of playing, remaining connected to the game through sports media and commentary. His journey through baseball remains a testament to the spirit of competition and the ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
264 819 70 186 21 0 27 117 5 58 118 0.227 0.279 0.352 0.631 -1575.1

Career AVG .227 vs. league average .256 across their career seasons — 11.5% below league average.

Career OBP .279 vs. league average .322 across their career seasons — 13.1% below league average.

Career SLG .352 vs. league average .383 across their career seasons — 8.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.631 vs. league average 0.705 across their career seasons — 10.5% 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
1984 BAL AL 10 21 3 5 0 0 0 2 0 2 4 0.238 — — — — 0.0
1986 BAL AL 65 212 28 54 7 0 13 44 0 18 31 0.255 .257 (-1%) .325 (-2%) .395 (+19%) .720 (+10%) 325.1
1988 BAL AL 103 352 25 78 6 0 10 45 1 19 42 0.222 .254 (-13%) .317 (-18%) .377 (-14%) .695 (-16%) -1069.5
1989 BAL AL 86 234 14 49 8 0 4 26 4 19 41 0.209 .254 (-18%) .319 (-17%) .375 (-21%) .694 (-19%) -830.7

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 155 133 1197 133 9 138
OF 19 17 41 3 3 0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1986 BAL 1B 29 28 224 21 3 28
1986 BAL OF 8 8 19 2 2 0
1988 BAL 1B 57 51 459 58 5 51
1988 BAL OF 11 9 22 1 1 0
1989 BAL 1B 69 54 514 54 1 59

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 155
Left Field 9
Right Field 9
Designated Hitter 66

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1989 BAL AL $90,000
1988 BAL AL $80,000
1986 BAL AL $60,000
Total Career Earnings $230,000

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Oklahoma State University Stillwater OK 1980, 1981, 1982