- Jim Umbricht
Infobox MLB retired
name=Jim Umbricht
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1930|9|17Chicago, Illinois
deathdate=death date and age|1964|4|8|1930|9|17Houston, Texas
debutdate=September 26
debutyear=by|1959
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
finaldate=September 29
finalyear=by|1963
finalteam=Houston Colt .45s
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=9-5
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.06
stat3label=Strikeout s
stat3value=133
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1959-by|1961)
* Houston Colt .45s / Astros (by|1962-by|1963)
highlights=
* Houston Astros #32 retiredJames Umbricht (
September 17 ,1930 —April 8 ,1964 ) was an Americanpitcher inMajor League Baseball . He was an effective righthandedrelief pitcher who appeared in 88 games for thePittsburgh Pirates (1959-61) and Houston Colt .45s (1962-63) but became known throughout baseball and the Houston area for his battle againstcancer . He was born inChicago, Illinois , and attended theUniversity of Georgia .Umbricht underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his leg in March by|1963 but was able to return to the Colt .45s to post a 4-3 won/loss record and a solid 2.61earned run average in 35 games that season. He would play his final game, September 29, 1963, the final day of the regular season, the same game Colt .45's outfielderJohn Paciorek would have a career day, going 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, 2 walks and 4 runs scored as Houston beat theNew York Mets , 13-4. This game would mark Paciorek's only major league appearance.Umbricht succumbed to
lymphoma on the eve of the by|1964 campaign in Houston at the age of 33. His uniform number (32) was immediately retired by the club (known since 1965 as theHouston Astros ) and the Astros' MVP award was named in his honor. He began his professional baseball career as aninfielder before converting to pitcher. Over his MLB career, Umbricht won 9 games and lost 5 with an ERA of 3.06.External links
*cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/022103/spo_20030221068.shtml |title=Big League ball was always Umbricht's goal |last=Smith |first=Loran |date=
February 20 ,2003 |accessdate=2007-04-23 |work=OnlineAthens |publisher=Athens Banner-Herald
*
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