Jim Owens – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jim Owens built a 12-year career in Major League Baseball, pitching from 1955 to 1967 for three teams during a time when the game was really changing. People called him “Bear,” and this right-handed pitcher from Pennsylvania made his biggest impact with the Philadelphia Phillies before moving on to the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros.

His journey through pro baseball showed both the tough breaks and unexpected chances that shaped mid-20th century baseball.

Owens retired from playing on June 20, 1967, finishing with a 42-68 record and a 4.31 ERA in 286 games. Just 18 days after his last outing, he jumped right into coaching as the Houston Astros’ pitching coach, working with guys like Larry Dierker and Don Wilson.

That quick switch from player to coach really showed how much he understood the game and how much the team valued him.

Jim Owens’ story goes way beyond his final stats. He had early promise in the minors, and he was part of some memorable moments on and off the field—including his ties to the infamous “Dalton Gang” of hard-living Phillies players.

Owens brought a colorful chapter to baseball history. His career gives us a glimpse into the lives of mid-tier players who really held Major League Baseball together during its golden age.

Early Life and Background

James Philip Owens was born on January 16, 1934, in Gifford, Pennsylvania. He grew up to become one of Bradford High School’s standout athletes.

His early baseball days at Bradford Area High School got the attention of major league scouts and set him up for his pro career.

Birthplace and Family

James Philip Owens came into the world in Gifford, Pennsylvania, a small town that shaped his early years. Born in 1934, he grew up during the Great Depression, a time when baseball was a big deal for a lot of Americans.

His family backed his sports ambitions from the start. The nickname “Bear” stuck with him all through his career, though nobody seems totally sure where it came from—just something from his Pennsylvania childhood.

Gifford gave Owens a rural backdrop to grow his athletic skills. The small-town life meant plenty of outdoor time and pickup baseball games that helped him sharpen his game.

Education and Early Baseball Experience

Owens went to Bradford Area High School in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and first made a name for himself as a pitcher there. His high school career stood out enough that pro scouts started showing up in the small town.

At Bradford High School, Owens worked on the right-handed pitching that would define his pro years. His time on the school team showed off his raw talent and that competitive fire, which caught the Philadelphia Phillies eye.

In 1951, right after graduating, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Owens as an amateur free agent. He became the first Bradford High School grad to make it to the majors, which was a huge deal for his hometown.

His high school success paved the way for his rise through the Phillies’ minor league system.

MLB Debut and Initial Years

Jim Owens broke into the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955 after some strong minor league seasons. The early years weren’t easy—he struggled at the top level, and military service interrupted his progress.

Joining the Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies picked up Jim Owens as an amateur free agent in 1951, right out of high school. He quickly showed what he could do in the minors.

Owens racked up some big win totals down there, winning 22 games twice and 17 games once between 1952 and 1954. He did this at different levels, from Class D up to Triple-A.

That minor league success got him onto the Phillies’ Opening Day roster in 1955. At 21, Owens was ready for his shot at major league hitters.

First Major League Appearances

Owens made his MLB debut on April 19, 1955, facing the Brooklyn Dodgers—the team that would win the World Series that year. He started the game, pitched well for five innings, and allowed just two runs.

But then a 36-minute rain delay in the sixth inning threw things off. After the break, Owens gave up home runs to Carl Furillo and Roy Campanella. The Phillies fell behind 5-0, and they took him out.

Five days later, he started against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but control issues meant he lasted just 1⅔ innings. The Phillies lost 6-1, and that was his second straight loss.

Those tough starts sent him back to Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he bounced back with 15 wins. He returned to the majors in September 1955.

Development as a Pitcher

The 1956 season didn’t get much easier for Owens. He took some hard knocks in early starts against the Pirates and Cincinnati Redlegs. That year, he pitched in ten games, splitting his time between starting and relief.

His first two seasons weren’t pretty—he went 0-6 with a 7.51 ERA. The jump from minor league success to MLB competition was rough.

Military service then took him away from baseball for all of 1957 and most of 1958. He pitched just one game in 1958—a seven-inning win against the Milwaukee Braves on September 23.

Oddly enough, this long break seemed to help him reset his career for the seasons that followed.

Career With the Cincinnati Reds

Owens landed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1963 after a tough 1962 season in Philadelphia. His time with the Reds was short but memorable, marked by a quirky MLB record and a shift to mostly relief pitching.

Trade to Cincinnati

The Phillies traded Jim Owens to the Reds after he struggled in 1962. Owens had a 2-4 record and a 6.33 ERA that year. In return, the Phillies got second baseman Cookie Rojas.

This trade gave Owens a new shot. The Reds wanted to use him differently than the Phillies had, seeing him more as a reliever.

He really needed a fresh start at that point. Cincinnati gave him the chance to prove he still belonged in the majors.

Performance and Key Moments

Owens appeared in 19 games for the 1963 Reds, almost always as a reliever. He started just three games during his time there. His ERA was 5.31, so he still had trouble finding consistency.

The most memorable moment with the Reds came on April 21, 1963. Owens set a National League record by balking three times in one inning. That odd record only lasted a month before Bob Shaw broke it with five balks in a game.

He kept struggling on the mound, and the Reds sent him to Triple-A San Diego for eight games. By the end of the season, Cincinnati had seen enough.

In December 1963, the Houston Colt .45s picked Owens in the Rule 5 draft, closing out his short time with the Reds.

Houston Astros and Final Playing Years

Jim Owens joined the Houston Colt .45s in December 1963 through the Rule V Draft, starting his last four seasons in the majors. He shifted from mostly starting to coming out of the bullpen, and played through the team’s big name change to the Houston Astros in 1965.

Joining Houston Colt .45s

The Colt .45s grabbed Owens in the 1963 Rule V Draft after his short Reds stint. That move gave the veteran pitcher a new beginning with a young franchise that had just joined the National League in 1962.

Owens started his Houston run in 1964, taking on a new role with the pitching staff. He started 11 games and also came out of the bullpen.

His experience mattered a lot to the team as they built their roster in those early years. The Colt .45s leaned on him for some veteran leadership.

Transition to the Houston Astros

In 1965, everything changed for both Owens and the team. The franchise officially became the Houston Astros and moved into the brand-new Astrodome.

Owens led the team in relief appearances that first Astros season, pitching in 50 games. That was his busiest year as a reliever in the big leagues.

The Astrodome was a weird place to pitch, and everyone had to adjust. Owens figured out how to handle the indoor stadium during this wild era in baseball.

Role and Impact in Later Seasons

From 1965 to 1967, Owens mostly worked out of the bullpen for Houston. He pitched in 148 games with the team, starting only 11 times in those four years.

His veteran presence brought stability to the Astros’ bullpen. The team counted on him in tight spots and high-pressure games.

Owens played his last MLB game on June 20, 1967, against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, gave up four hits, and allowed three earned runs. That was it for his 12-year playing career.

Right after retiring, Owens jumped into coaching. The Astros brought him on as pitching coach from 1967 to 1972, keeping him in the organization for six more seasons.

Career Highlights and Notable Achievements

Jim Owens earned the nickname “Bear” during his 12 years in pro baseball, a career full of ups, downs, and some pretty memorable moments. His best season came in 1959, and he made a mark on several teams as both a player and a coach.

Nicknames and Reputation

Fans and teammates called Jim Owens “Bear” throughout his career. The nickname fit his physical presence and how he handled himself on the mound.

Owens became known as part of the “Dalton Gang” when he played for the Phillies, alongside Turk Farrell, Jack Meyer, and Seth Morehead.

The Dalton Gang had a reputation for partying hard and not always getting along with Phillies management. Their off-field antics caused plenty of headaches for the team.

Even with that wild reputation, Owens eventually turned things around. He became a respected reliever and later moved into coaching.

Significant Games and Milestones

Owens made his MLB debut on April 19, 1955, against the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 21. He pitched well for five innings before rain delays and some home runs ended his outing.

His top season came in 1959—he went 12-12 with a 3.21 ERA for a Phillies team that finished last. He completed 11 games and struck out 135 batters over 221⅓ innings.

On April 21, 1963, Owens set a National League record by committing three balks in one inning with the Reds. That quirky record didn’t last long, but it’s still a story.

His last MLB appearance was June 20, 1967, against the Cardinals. Eighteen days later, he started his coaching career with the Astros.

Impact on Teams

Owens pitched in 286 major league games, starting 103 of them. He finished with a 42-68 record, a 4.31 ERA, and 516 strikeouts.

With the Astros, he became a key reliever from 1964 to 1967. In 1965, he led the team in relief appearances with 50 outings, anchoring the bullpen.

After hanging up his glove, Owens served as the Astros’ pitching coach from 1967 to 1972. He worked with talented pitchers like Mike Cuellar, Larry Dierker, and Don Wilson.

Moving from player to coach let him keep making an impact on the game, mentoring younger guys and sharing what he knew.

Jim Owens Baseball Stats and Legacy

Jim Owens racked up a career record of 42 wins and 68 losses with a 4.31 ERA over his 13-season MLB run. His stats, along with his days as part of the Phillies’ “Dalton Gang,” carved out a unique spot for him in baseball history.

Pitching Statistics Overview

Owens pitched in 286 major league games between 1955 and 1967. He started 103 times and finished 21 of those games, even tossing one shutout.

His best year? That was 1959. He went 12-12 with a 3.21 ERA for the struggling Philadelphia Phillies. That season, he struck out 135 batters in 221⅓ innings and managed 11 complete games.

Key Career Statistics:

• Win-Loss Record: 42-68
• Earned Run Average: 4.31
• Strikeouts: 516
• Innings Pitched: 885⅓
• Games Appeared: 286

Owens didn’t impress at the plate. He hit just .101 in 218 at-bats and struck out 102 times, managing only 22 hits over his career.

After he left Philadelphia, his pitching role changed a lot. He became mostly a relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros.

Comparisons With Contemporaries

Owens played in an era when teams expected starters to finish games. His 21 complete games matched the standards of the 1950s and 1960s.

His 4.31 ERA sat a bit above the National League average back then. Most top pitchers kept their ERAs under 4.00.

The “Dalton Gang” included teammates Turk Farrell, Jack Meyer, and Seth Morehead. People often remembered them more for their antics off the field than for anything they did during games.

On April 21, 1963, Owens set a National League record by balking three times in one inning. Bob Shaw broke that record less than a month later when he balked five times in a single game.

Owens struck out 516 batters in 885⅓ innings, which was pretty modest next to the power pitchers of his time. Plenty of his peers racked up even more strikeouts.

Influence on Future Players

After he retired as a player on June 20, 1967, Owens jumped into a new job as the Houston Astros’ pitching coach just 18 days later. He stayed in that role through the 1972 season.

As pitching coach, Owens worked with guys like Mike Cuellar, Larry Dierker, and Don Wilson. These pitchers really blossomed into strong starters while he was guiding them.

He brought a lot of insight to young pitchers, especially about switching between starting and relief roles. Owens knew firsthand how tough that transition could be.

The Phillies’ “Dalton Gang” became a warning for teams about player behavior and chemistry. Their reputation definitely shaped how clubs handled player conduct in later years.

Owens’ career made a case for adaptability in baseball. By switching from starter to reliever, he showed other players that changing roles could help them stick around longer.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Jim Owens played his last Major League Baseball game on June 20, 1967, for the Houston Astros at age 33. Just 18 days later, he stepped into coaching as the Astros’ pitching coach and stayed with the team in that role until 1972.

End of Playing Career in 1967

Owens wrapped up his 12-year MLB career in 1967 with the Houston Astros. His final appearance came on June 20 in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He spent his last four seasons mostly coming out of the bullpen for Houston. In 1965, he led the team with 50 relief appearances, which says a lot about his role.

He finished his career with a 42-68 record and a 4.31 ERA, pitching in 286 games and striking out 516 batters.

Arm trouble eventually caught up with him and affected his performance. Owens decided to retire from playing in early July 1967.

Post-Retirement Roles and Contributions

On July 8, 1967, just 18 days after his last game, Owens took over as the Houston Astros’ pitching coach. He replaced Gordon Jones, who the team had just let go.

Owens stayed as the Astros’ pitching coach through the 1972 season, working six years in that spot. While coaching, he worked with several notable pitchers like Mike Cuellar, Larry Dierker, and Don Wilson.

His experience as both a starter and reliever helped him coach effectively. Owens had pitched in 148 games for the Astros as a player, starting just 11 times and spending most of his time in relief.

Moving from player to coach let Owens stay close to the game he loved. His coaching role kept him involved with the Astros during the team’s early years.

Personal Life and Passing

After his coaching career ended in 1972, Owens decided to stay in Houston, Texas. He’d already put down roots in the city during his years with the Astros.

Owens mostly kept to himself once he left professional baseball. He still kept in touch with folks from the baseball world, but he didn’t look for the spotlight.

Jim Owens passed away on September 8, 2020, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 86. That day closed the chapter on a life that revolved around baseball, both as a player and a coach.

He was born James Philip Owens on January 16, 1934, in Gifford, Pennsylvania. People called him “Bear” back when he played. By the time he passed, he’d called Houston home for over 50 years.