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Delvin James

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Delvin James
Starting pitcher
Born: (1978-01-03) January 3, 1978 (age 46)
Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 2002, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 2002, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0-3
Earned run average6.55
Strikeouts17
Teams

Delvin DeWayne James (born January 3, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

James attended Nacogdoches High School in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he was a five-sport star.[1] He was the leading scorer on the school's basketball team, had a 1.43 earned run average, struck out 80 batters in 73 innings pitched and received a scholarship to play college football as a linebacker at Oklahoma State.[2] He was a high school football teammate of Kynan Forney.[3] He was drafted by the Devil Rays in the 14th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft. He was assigned to the Gulf Coast League to begin his professional career.[4]

In September 2000, James and a minor league teammate helped apprehend a bank robber near the Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg, Florida, and returned $7,600 to a SouthTrust bank.[3]

James was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on April 15, 2002, after pitcher Wilson Álvarez was placed on the disabled list and Travis Phelps and Jason Smith were demoted.[5] He made his Major League debut on April 16, 2002[6] against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. He started the game and pitched five innings, allowed two earned runs and picked up the loss.[7] On May 17, 2002, James was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.[8]

At about 3 a.m.[9] on September 2, 2002, James was shot three times in his non-pitching shoulder and elbow at a Waffle House in Raleigh, North Carolina.[10] James was pitching for the nearby Durham Bulls at the time.[9] The woman he was with was paralyzed after the shooting.[11] Only twelve days later, James was back on Tampa Bay's Major League roster and pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays at SkyDome.[10]

James pitched in what would be his final Major League game on September 29, 2002, against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched until 2005 in the farm systems of the Devil Rays and the Anaheim Angels.[4]

In April 2006, James told Oklahoma State football coaches that he was planning to try to walk on to the team.[12]

James is a cousin of basketball player Damion James.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Sullivan, Jerry (September 12, 2002). "James Knows Fortunes Are Fickle". The Buffalo News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Topkin, Marc; Putnam, Bob (June 6, 1996). "Rays draft capsules". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Hutton, Ted (March 7, 2004). "Pitching Is Least of Life's Travels". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Delvin James Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Devil Rays' Alvarez returns to DL". CBC.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 15, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Delvin James Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Detroit Tigers Box Score, April 16, 2002". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Friday's Around the Horn". ESPN.com. ESPN. May 17, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Devil Rays farmhand James shot in shoulder". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. September 2, 2002. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Devil Rays vs. Blue Jays - Game Recap - September 14, 2002". ESPN.com. ESPN. Associated Press. September 14, 2002. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Two Men Indicted For 2002 Waffle House Shooting". WRAL.com. WRAL-TV. September 22, 2003. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Professional baseball pitcher to walk on OSU football team". The O'Colly. April 14, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  13. ^ "Delvin James". Oklahoma State University Athletics. August 2, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
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