Jim Converse

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Jim Converse
Pitcher
Born: (1971-08-17) August 17, 1971
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 22, 1993, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
May 15, 1997, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record2–11
Earned run average7.21
Strikeouts66
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

James Daniel Converse (born August 17, 1971) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1993-1997 for the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals.

The Mariners selected Converse in the 16th round of the 1990 MLB draft. That summer with the Bellingham Mariners, he led the Northwest League with nine balks. He was named the most valuable player of the Peninsula Pilots in 1991, then the Southern League's most outstanding pitcher in 1992. He was in line to be the fifth pitcher in the Mariners starting rotation in 1993, but suffered an elbow injury in April, making his MLB debut in May, taking the loss against the Royals. He made one more start before being sent back down to the minors when Chris Bosio left the disabled list. Converse made four starts in his first MLB season, going 1–3.[1] He and other young starters did not impress manager Lou Piniella.[2]

Converse made a career-high eight MLB starts in 1994, going 0–5.[3] He was traded to the Royals for Vince Coleman on August 15, 1995.[4] Converse pitched in 12 MLB games for the Royals.[5] He missed the 1996 season with a shoulder injury.[6][7] He allowed Jorge Posada's first MLB home run on May 4, 1997.[8]

Converse pitched in 2000 for the Solano Steelheads in the independent Western Baseball League.[9][10] During a game that summer, former MLB All-Star Kevin Mitchell charged the mound at Converse, which led to Mitchell's expulsion from the league.[11][12]

Converse is married and has two children.[6]

References

  1. Seattle Mariners 1995 Media Guide. pp. 33–34.
  2. Newnham, Blaine (August 19, 1993). "Mariners' Toughest Calls Still Lie Ahead". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  3. "Jim Converse Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  4. "The 1995 Mariners: Where are they now?". The Seattle Times. July 3, 2005. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  5. Johns, Greg (July 18, 2013). "Mariners' all-time Top 5 in-season trades". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  6. Kansas City Royals 1997 Media Guide. pp. 50, 51.
  7. "Royals place Tucker, Norman on DL - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  8. "Voit begins rehab assignment at Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  9. Seven, Richard (August 20, 2000). "The Last Chance League". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  10. "Jim Converse Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  11. Nevius, C. W. (August 3, 2000). "Life Deals Mitchell Next Blow". SFGate. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  12. Nevius, C. W. (August 4, 2000). "League Expels Mitchell, Fines Solano Owner". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 18, 2026 – via SFGate.