James Baldwin (baseball) facts for kids

James J. Baldwin, Jr. was born on July 15, 1971. He is an American former professional pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles. James Baldwin batted and threw with his right hand.

Playing Baseball

Starting His MLB Journey

James Baldwin was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round of the 1990 MLB draft. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on April 30, 1995, playing for the White Sox. During spring training that same year, Baldwin had a special moment. He was the very first pitcher to face Michael Jordan in an intrasquad game. This was when Michael Jordan, a famous basketball player, tried playing baseball.

Becoming an All-Star

In the year 2000, James Baldwin was selected to play in the All-Star Game. This is a big honor for a baseball player. He pitched in the third inning of that game. During his time on the mound, he gave up a home run to Chipper Jones. This home run helped the National League team start a comeback in the game. After his time in MLB, Baldwin signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in January 2006, but he was released a few months later in April.

Life After Playing

Coaching Baseball Teams

After his playing career, James Baldwin became a baseball coach. He worked as the pitching coach for the baseball team at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Later, he joined the Cincinnati Reds organization. From 2016 to 2019, he worked as a rehabilitation coach at their Arizona training complex. This means he helped players recover from injuries. In 2020, he was named the pitching coach for the Louisville Bats, which is a minor league team.

His Son's Baseball Career

James Baldwin's son, James Baldwin III, also plays baseball. He is a center fielder. He played for Pinecrest High School, just like his father coached there. In 2010, James Baldwin III was drafted in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and signed with them. This shows that baseball talent runs in the family!