Jim Donohue

James Thomas Donohue (October 31, 1937 – September 9, 2017) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1962.[1]

Jim Donohue
Relief pitcher
Born: (1937-10-31)October 31, 1937
St. Louis, Missouri
Died: September 9, 2017(2017-09-09) (aged 79)
St. Louis, Missouri
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 1961, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
June 22, 1962, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Win–loss record6–8
Earned run average4.29
Strikeouts116
Teams

Donohue died September 9, 2017 in St. Louis, MO.[2]

Early career

Donohue was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1956 season and assigned to the minor league Class D Gainesville G-Men of the Florida State League. In his first full professional season, he posted a 5–6 win-loss record with a 2.08 earned run average in 95 innings pitched.[1] He received a late-season call to join the AAA Omaha club in October, but did not play.[3]

For the 1957 season, Donohue was promoted to the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Class C Northern League. He appeared in more games and pitched 141 innings to attain a 7–7 record, but his ERA more than doubled, ballooning to a 4.34 while having a very high mark for Walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) at 1.589.[1]

The Cardinals invited Donohue to St. Petersburg, Florida for spring training in February 1958.[4] He was later optioned to the Class A York White Roses of the Eastern League. He got off to a very hot start in his 14 games with the team, putting up a perfect 7–0 record with a 1.48 ERA in 10 starts.[1] The exceptional play earned him a mid-season advancement to the Class AA Texas League Houston Buffaloes. Donohue started in prime fashion in his first game, throwing a complete game two-hit shutout against Dallas on June 26.[5] He came across some bad luck a few weeks later, however, as he was out for a week after being hit on July 14 by a line drive on his ankle.[6] Overall at Houston he compiled a 3–7 record with a 4.50 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 82 innings of work.[1] After his most successful season yet, Donohue was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals to participate in the Florida West Coast Winter Instructional League.[7]

Donohue started the 1959 season in Class AAA with the American Association Omaha Cardinals. He pulled double duty as a starter and reliever, starting 18 games and playing the relief role in 16. He put down a 2.43 ERA with 87 strikeouts and a 3–7 record in 132 innings.[1] He also received some brief play around May with the Rochester Red Wings, striking out 10 in 9 innings.[1][8]

In 1962, while with the Tigers, he was traded to the Angels for Jerry Casale. [9]

References
  1. Pitching Splits and Daily Pitching Logs at Retrosheet.org and Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. James Donohue Obituary
  3. "Deals of the Week". The Sporting News. October 3, 1956. p. 32.
  4. Kachline, Clifford (February 12, 1958). "Nine Major Clubs Hope to Speed Kids by Advance Camps". The Sporting News. p. 21.
  5. "Donohue Flips 2-Hitter In Bow". The Sporting News. July 9, 1958. p. 56.
  6. "Cats Purring Along on Smooth Hurling". The Sporting News. July 23, 1958. p. 39.
  7. Lieb, Fred (October 22, 1958). "Gem by Cardinals Features Opening of Florida League". The Sporting News. p. 22.
  8. "International League". The Sporting News. May 20, 1959. p. 30.
  9. Sargent, Jim. The Tigers and Yankees in ’61: A Pennant Race for the Ages, the Babe’s Record Broken and Stormin’ Norman’s Greatest Season. McFarland, 2016, page 105
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