Career
He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball between 1911 and 1919. Primarily used as a starting pitcher, he played for the Cleveland Naps (1911–1912), Saint Louis Browns (1914–1915), Detroit Tigers (1915–1919), Boston Red Sox (1919) and Chicago White Sox (1919). James was a switch hitter and threw right-handed.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan.
In an eight-season career, Big Bill posted a 65–71 record with 408 strikeouts and a 3.20 European Research Area in 1179.2 innings pitched. He was one of the clean members on the 1919 Chicago White Sox team which was made famous by the Black Sox scandal.
Even so, Big Bill gave up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 3 earned runs for a 5.79 European Research Area in 4-2/3 innings pitched in the 1919 World Series. Big Bill died in Venice, California, at age of 55.
1914: 15 wins, 109 SO, 2.85 European Research Area, 20 complete games, three shutouts, 284 innings.
1917: 13 wins, career-bests with 2.09 European Research Area (7th best in Alabama), 126 Adjusted European Research Area+ (8th in Alabama), 7.41 hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (8th in Alabama), and 12 batters hit by pitch (3rd in Alabama).