Article: Jim Colborn, the Brewers' First 20 Game Winner

[reillymcshane]

In 1973, the Milwaukee Brewers had their first 20 game winner. Can you name him? Not many people can as the club struggled to win a lot of games in the early years of the franchise. The answer - in case you are wondering - is right hander Jim Colborn.

 

 

James William Colborn was born in California in 1946. An excellent student, Known as Jim Colborn, he attended Whittier College as well as Edinburgh University in Scotland (he would strike out 21 batters in a college all-star game in Europe in 1966). He planned on being a professor, but baseball came calling and he was signed by the Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1967. He quickly moved up the Cubs minor league system, reaching the big leagues just two years later. But Colborn would struggle for a couple of seasons, moving between the starting and relieving, as well as AAA and Chicago. His big break came in 1972 when he was dealt to the Brewers (along with Brock Davis and Earl Stephenson) for OF Jose Cardenal. 

Colborn quickly worked his way into the Brewer rotation, becoming a mainstay from 1972 through 1976. The highlight for Colborn would be the 1973 season, when he would win 20 games - the first time that had been accomplished in franchise history. He threw 314 innings that year (still a franchise record), had a 3.18 ERA and tossed 22 complete games (2nd most in team history behind Mike Caldwell). He was named to the all-star team (but did not play) and finished 6th in the Cy Young voting.

Colborn never reached the heights of 1973 again. He proved to be a reliable workhorse in the rotation, tossing more than 200 innings for four straight years. After the 1976 season, the Brewers dealt Colborn to Kansas City (along with catcher Darrell Porter) for Jamie Quirk and Jim Wohlford and Bob McClure (yikes, who approved that deal!). He had an excellent 1977 campaign, winning 18 games and throwing a no-hitter, then fell off a cliff the next year (1978), which would be his final in the big leagues.

After retiring from baseball, Colborn spent 30 years as a pitching coach and a scout, not just in the U.S., but in Japan and Australia. As a scout, he signed all-star Shin-Soo Choo. Another fun note: Colborn appeared in the 1999 movie "For the Love of the Game" as the Tigers third base coach. 

For his 5-year Brewer career, Colborn won 57 games (losing 60), tossed 1118 innings (9th most in team history), threw 51 complete games (4th most) and had 7 shutouts. His ERA was a respectable 3.65. His 20 win season is only one of three produced by a Brewer (the others are by Mike Caldwell and Teddy Higuera). 

Unfortunately for Colborn he was forced to play in the early phase of the Brewer franchise, thus being part of a lot of bad teams (none of which had a winning record). This has made him somewhat of a forgotten man in Brewer history, despite his achievements.  

Jim Colborn wasn't a great pitcher, but he was a solid arm who provided reliability in a very chaotic time in Brewer history. His 1973 campaign is still one of the best in the team's history.  

Please share your memories of former Brewer pitcher Jim Colborn.

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[BlightyBrew]

One of the best early Brewers.  I only saw him at the end of his career with KC and then Seattle.  

[BlightyBrew]

One of the best early Brewers.  I only saw him at the end of his career with KC and then Seattle.