Jim Small (baseball)

James Arthur Patrick Small (born March 8, 1937) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in 108 games as an outfielder, pinch hitter and pinch runner in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1958 for the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics. Born in Portland, Oregon, he threw and batted left-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).

Jim Small
Outfielder
Born: (1937-03-08) March 8, 1937
Portland, Oregon
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 22, 1955, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1958, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average.270
Home runs0
Runs batted in10
Teams

Small was signed as a free agent bonus baby by the Tigers in 1955 after he graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California. As a bonus baby, the Tigers were required to keep Small on their major league roster for both 1955 and 1956.[1]

In the majors, Small appeared in 45 games as an outfielder, with the remainder of his MLB games played coming as a pinch hitter or runner. While he was playing in the minor leagues in 1960, the parent Athletics decided to convert Small into a pitcher. After getting shelled in 12 appearances, he was sent back to the outfield.[2] Small did however make one pitching appearance in 1962, his last year in professional baseball.

Small batted .270 in 141 career at bats in the majors; his 38 hits included six doubles and two triples. He was credited with ten runs batted in.

References
  1. Treder, Steve (November 1, 2004). "Cash in the Cradle: The Bonus Babies". The Hardball Times. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  2. "Hershberger Winter Loop Batting King". St. Petersburg Times. December 11, 1960.


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