Jim Kaat (2022)


Date of Birth: 11/7/1938
Birthplace: Zeeland, Michigan
College: Hope College

Jim Kaat played both baseball and basketball in high school. He was a pitcher on his college baseball team.

Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins

Kaat signed with the Washington Senators on June 17, 1957. He played in the minors from 1957 through most of 1959. He joined the Senators for 3 games in 1959, pitching just 5.0 innings. He played in 13 games in 1960, and he had 1 win and 5 losses, 25 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 5.58 ERA in 50.0 innings. He also pitched 146.0 innings in 30 games in the minors.

Kaat played better in 1961, when he pitched in 36 games and had a 3.90 ERA. He had 9 wins and 17 losses and 122 strikeouts to 82 walks in 200.2 innings.

Kaat led the AL in shutouts (5) in 1962. He had 18 wins and 14 losses, 173 strikeouts to 75 walks, and a 3.14 ERA in 269.0 innings in 39 games. An excellent fielder, he won his first of sixteen consecutive Gold Gloves in 1962. His ERA went up to 4.19 in 1963. That year, he had 10 wins and 10 losses in 178.1 innings in 31 games.

Kaat's ERA went down to 3.22 in 1964. He had a 17-11 win-loss record and 171 strikeouts to 60 walks in 243.0 innings in 36 games. The following season was even better with 18 wins and 11 losses, 154 strikeouts to 63 walks, and a 2.83 ERA in 264.1 innings in 45 games. He pitched in his first postseason in 1965, and he had a 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings in 3 games.

Kaat led the AL in wins, innings pitched, and complete games (19) in 1966. He had a career high 25 wins to 13 losses, 205 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 2.75 ERA in a career high 304.2 innings in 41 games. The next year, he had a career high in strikeouts with 211 (to 42 walks). He finished the 1967 season with 16 wins and 13 losses and a 3.04 ERA in 263.1 innings in 42 games.

In 1968, Kaat had a 2.94 ERA, 14 wins and 12 losses, and 130 strikeouts to 40 walks in 208.0 innings in 30 games. His ERA went up to 3.49 the following season. He finished the 1969 season with 14 wins and 13 losses in 242.1 innings in 40 games.

Kaat had a 3.56 ERA in 1970. He pitched 230.1 innings in 45 games and he had 14 wins and 10 losses. In the postseason, he gave up 6 hits and 2 earned runs in 2.0 innings in 1 game. His numbers were slightly better in 1971, when he had 13 wins and 14 losses and a 3.32 ERA in 260.1 innings in 39 games.

Kaat had a career low ERA of 2.06 in 1972. He pitched in just 15 games that year and he had a 10-2 win-loss record in 113.1 innings.

Chicago White Sox

Kaat was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on August 15, 1973. He finished the season with 15 wins and 13 losses and a 4.37 ERA in 29 games with the Twins and 7 games with the White Sox. He had a much better season in 1974, finishing with 21 wins and 13 losses and a 2.92 ERA in 277.1 innings in 42 games. He struck out 142 batters and walked 63.

Kaat had another strong season in 1975. He had a 3.11 ERA and 20 wins and 14 losses in 303.2 innings in 43 games. He again struck out 142 batters, this time walking 77.

Philadelphia Phillies

Kaat was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on December 10, 1975. He finished his first season with the Phillies with 12 wins and 14 losses and a 3.48 ERA in 227.2 innings in 38 games. In the 1976 postseason, he gave up 2 hits and 2 earned runs in 6.0 innings in 1 game.

Kaat struggled in 1977, when he had a 5.39 ERA. He finished the season with 6 wins and 11 losses in 160.1 innings in 35 games. Kaat pitched in just 26 games in 1978, and he had a 4.10 ERA in 140.1 innings.

New York Yankees

Kaat's contract was purchased by the New York Yankees on May 11, 1979. That season, he became primarily a relief pitcher and remained in that position for the rest of his career. He finished the season with a 3.92 ERA in 3 games with the Phillies and 40 games with the Yankees.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Kaat's contract on April 30,1980. That season, he pitched in 4 games with the Yankees and 49 games with the Cardinals, and he had a 3.94 ERA in 134.2 innings.

Kaat pitched 53.0 innings in 41 games in 1981, and he had a 3.40 ERA. The next season, he had a 4.08 ERA in 75.0 innings in 62 games. In the 1982 World Series, he pitched 2.1 innings in 4 games and he gave up 4 hits and 1 run.

The Cardinals released Kaat on July 6, 1983. He finished his major league career that season with a 3.89 ERA in 34.2 innings in 24 games.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Gold Glove - 16 times
  • Led AL in wins in 1966
  • Led AL in innings pitched in 1966
  • Led AL in complete games in 1966
  • Led AL in shutouts in 1962

Career Statistics

Career pitching statistics for Kaat include:

  • 898 games played
  • 4,530.1 innings pitched
  • 283-237 win-loss record
  • 2,461 strikeouts to 1,083 walks
  • 3.45 ERA

Career fielding statistics for Kaat include:

  • 898 games played
  • 744 assists
  • 262 putouts
  • 56 errors
  • .947 fielding percentage

Career postseason statistics for Kaat include:

  • 9 games played
  • 24.2 innings pitched
  • 1-3 win-loss record
  • 10 strikeouts to 8 walks
  • 4.01 ERA

Post Playing Career

Kaat was the pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds from 1983 through 1985.

Kaat switched from coaching to announcing in 1986, and he had a very long and successful new career. He started with a year announcing for the Yankees.

Kaat joined the Twins as their announcer in 1988 and stayed with them until 1993. From 1990 through 1993, he was also an analyst for CBS.

Kaat returned to the Yankees in 1995, and he remained their announcer through 2006. In 2009, he became a color commentator for MLB Network.

From 1983 through 2022, Kaat had assorted broadcasting assignments. During that time, he won seven Emmy awards for excellence in sports broadcasting. He retired from his successful second career on August 18, 2022.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jim Kaat
Baseball Reference - Jim Kaat

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