#220 Jim Perry

Hard work and perseverance rewarded by the Cy Young Award two years prior….extensive up and down career but owner of 240 wins…brother of Gaylord Perry....one of the greatest brother duos in the history of baseball, 529 win, 10 short of the Niekros....Jim, two years the elder, started 1959 Cleveland....quickly established himself in his second season by being tied for the AL top spots in Wins...1961 was not kind however as Perry had a 10-17 record and led the AL in earned runs surrendered....Jim spends one more full campaign in Cleveland with a 12-12 result....traded to the Twins early 1963....spends the next several season in a cornucopia of pitching roles....starter, spot starter, situational reliever, with limited results skippered by managers absent of the knowledge of how to fully utilize his talent....situation was so marginal that he was put on waivers with no takers in 1964...later on he was also turned down when left available for the 1968 expansion draft (not alone, Jim Palmer wasn’t taken either).....career salvation came in the form of Billy Martin....Returned Perry to a prime starter only....Perry paid out big time with 20 win season....Perry continues to roll without Martin in 1970 taking 24 contests.....Gaylord tallied 23 in the NL, the highest brother total....1971 was a fall, Perry goes .500 with 17-17 record....surrenders the most home runs and runs for that year....turned in a losing record in 1972 but was able to control the gopher ball and lower ERA....1973 traded to Detroit and then the following year united with his brother in Cleveland....together won 38 games, Jim tallying 17 ....1975 both brothers tail off and are traded midseason to different teams.....Jim finishes up season and career in Oakland....most interesting game in his career is a tie between winning two games in one day (vs Seattle 1969, closing 2 inning an unfinished contest and then a complete game) or going up against his brother in 1973....Son is a professional golfer....215 career wins.