Jim McDonald (baseball pitcher)

Jimmie Le Roy McDonald [Hot Rod] (born May 17, 1927 in Grants Pass, Oregon) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between 1950 and 1958. Listed at 5' 10", 185 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.

The fireballer McDonald did almost everything a pitcher is asked to do, working as an occasional starter and filling various roles coming out from the bullpen as a middle reliever and set-up man as well. During his career, he was well-known for being part of several transactions that included notable players. He entered the majors in 1950 with the Boston Red Sox, playing one year for them before joining the St. Louis Browns (1951), New York Yankees (1952-54), Baltimore Orioles (1955) and Chicago White Sox (1956-58).He went 3-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 26 appearances for the 1952 Yankees champions, including five starts, but did not pitch during the postseason. His most productive season in 1952, when he posted career-highs in wins (9), complete games (6) and innings pitched (129⅔). He also was the starter and winning pitcher in Game 5 of the 1953 World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO195310040.shtml] - 1953 World Series: Game 5 play by play] . In a nine-season career, McDonald posted a 24-27 record with a 4.37 ERA in 136 games, including 55 starts, 15 complete games, three shutouts, 30 games finished, one save, 158 strikeouts, and 468.0 innings of work.

Transactions

*Before the 1945 season was signed by the Boston Red Sox as a free agent.
*During the 1951 midseason was sent by Boston along with Matt Batts and Jim Suchecki to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for Les Moss.
*Before the 1952 season was traded by St. Louis to the New York Yankees for Clint Courtney, who was the first catcher to wear glasses in major league history.
*In a 17-player megatrade before the 1955 season, the Yankees sent McDonald, Harry Byrd, Don Leppert, Bill Miller, Willy Miranda, Kal Segrist, Hal Smith, Gus Triandos, Gene Woodling, and a minor leaguer [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ted_Del_Guercio] - [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ted_Del_Guercio Ted Del Guercio] played 12 years in the minor leagues and was the only member of the group not to make the majors] to the Baltimore Orioles, in exchange for Mike Blyzka, Jim Fridley, Billy Hunter, Darrell Johnson, Dick Kryhoski, Don Larsen and Bob Turley.
*In the 1955 midseason was returned by Baltimore to the Yankees for Ed Lopat but did not played for them.
*In 1956 was dealt by New York to the Orioles, then was purchased by the Chicago White Sox from Baltimore.

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcdonji04.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ted_Del_Guercio BR Bullpen]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmcdoj104.htm Retrosheet]