James William Colborn (born May 22, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-handed Colborn pitched for the Chicago Cubs (-), Milwaukee Brewers (-), Kansas City Royals (-) and Seattle Mariners (1978).
As a member of the Kansas City Royals, Colborn pitched the third no-hitter in franchise history on May 14, 1977 versus the Texas Rangers.
In 1967, the Chicago Cubs signed Colborn as an amateur free agent. He found himself in Leo Durocher's doghouse after struggling as a young relief pitcher for three years. Colborn was traded along with Brock Davis and Earl Stephenson to the Brewers for José Cardenal on December 3, 1971. Rappoport, Ken. "Trading Still Active on Baseball Exchange," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, December 4, 1971. Retrieved September 3, 2016
Colborn was the Brewers' first-ever 20-game winner in 1973, posting a 20–12 record with a 3.18 ERA. He also was named to the American League All-Star team, but did not pitch in the game.
Over the next three seasons, however, Colborn posted losing records (10-13 in 1974, 11–13 in and 9–15 in 1976) before being traded, along with Darrell Porter, to the Kansas City Royals. In 1977, Colborn won 18 games for a Royal team that won the second of three consecutive American League West titles (all three times, however, the Royals lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series; Colborn did not pitch in the 1977 ALCS). On May 14 of that year, Colborn no-hitter the Texas Rangers 6–0, the first no-hitter by a Royal at Royals Stadium and second overall in that park, after the first of Nolan Ryan's seven career no-hitters (1973). He was dealt from the Royals to the Mariners for Steve Braun on May 31, 1978. "Mariners, Royals in Trade," United Press International (UPI), Wednesday, May 31, 1978. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
For eight seasons, Colborn was on Jim Tracy's staff as a pitching coach: from to , when Tracy managed the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in and , when Tracy managed the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In , Colborn became the Texas Rangers bullpen coach.
In his career, Colborn won 83 games against 88 losses, with a 3.80 ERA and 688 strikeouts in 1597 innings pitched.
|
|