1976 Topps #324 - Jim Bibby

• Jim Bibby was signed by the New York Mets in 1965. He pitched in the Mets organization through the 1971 season and then was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in a multi-player deal. He started the 1972 season with AAA Tulsa and was called up in September 1972. Jim was 1-3 with a 3.35 ERA in six starts for the Cardinals in '72.

• Bibby started the 1973 season with the Cardinals but wasn't very effective (0-2 with a 9.56 ERA in six games). On June 6 Jim was traded to the Texas Rangers. Bibby put up pretty good stats for the awful 1973 Rangers -- he was 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 26 games (23 starts). On July 30, 1973 Jim pitched a no-hitter against the Oakland A's. In 1974 Jim started 41 games (which didn't even lead the league) and was 19-19 with a 4.74 ERA.

• Bibby started the 1975 season with the Rangers. He was 2-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in part of the deal that brought Gaylord Perry to the Rangers. Jim was 5-9 with a 3.20 ERA for Cleveland in 24 games (12 starts).

• Jim had a swingman role in 1976. He pitched in 34 games (21 starts) and was 13-7 with a 3.20 ERA. Bibby was 12-13 with a 3.57 ERA in 37 games (30 starts) in 1977. On March 6, 1978 Jim was granted free agency and a week later he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• In 1978 Bibby was a 5th starter / middle reliever type of pitcher for the Pirates. He was 8-7 with one save and a 3.53 ERA in 34 games (14 starts). Jim had the same role in 1979 and was 12-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 34 games (17 starts). Bibby started game 2 of the NLCS and allowed 1 run in 7 innings (the Pirates won the game in the 10th inning). Jim started games 4 and 7 of the 1979 World Series and had a 2.61 ERA in the two games but wasn't involved in either decision.
• Bibby was on the NL All Star team in 1980 (he pitched a scoreless 8th inning) and finished 3rd in Cy Young Award voting. Jim was 19-6 with a 3.32 ERA in 34 starts. In 1981 Bibby was 6-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 14 starts. On May 19, 1981 Jim allowed a hit to leadoff batter Terry Harper of the Braves. He then retired the next 27 batters in a row to end up with a 1-hit shutout. Bibby missed a lot of time due to an August rotator cuff injury (and because of the strike).
• Bibby missed the entire 1982 season. In 1983 he struggled, going 5-12 with an ERA of 6.69 in 24 games (12 starts). Jim became a free agent after the season and signed with the Rangers. In 1984 Bibby pitched in eight games for the Rangers and had an ERA of 4.41. He was released on June 1 and he signed with the Cardinals on June 9. Bibby spent a month with the Cards' AAA Louisville club but was released on July 1 and that was it for his career.
• Jim is the oldest brother of former NBA player Henry Bibby and the uncle of NBA player Mike Bibby. Here is a March 2, 1981 Sports Illustrated article about Jim and Henry.
  
• Liked to face: Glenn Hubbard (.048 in 21 AB); Jeff Burroughs (.083 in 24 AB); Ken Henderson (.107 in 28 AB)

• Hated to face: Ted Simmons (.667 in 15 AB); Claudell Washington (.436 in 39 AB); Gene Tenace (.410 with 5 HR in 39 AB)