Profile of Jim Brewer on Famous Like Me

This article is about the baseball player. For the comedian, see Jim Breuer.

James Thomas (Jim) Brewer (November 17, 1937 - November 16, 1987) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1960 through 1976, Brewer played for the Chicago Cubs (1960-1963), Los Angeles Dodgers (1964-1975[start]) and California Angels (1975[end]-1976). He batted and threw left-handed.

Following the wise advice of legendary Warren Spahn, Brewer developed a nasty screwball to become one of the most successful relievers in the National League between the 1960s and 70s.

A native of Merced, California, Brewer compiled a 69-65 record with 810 strikeouts and a 3.07 ERA in a 17-year career that began with the Cubs and ended with the Angels. But he is most remembered for his 12 seasons with the Dodgers.

In his career, Brewer recorded 132 saves, 125 of them with the Dodgers, appearing in 474 games for the club. Only two Dodgers pitchers, Don Sutton and Don Drysdale, have more appearances –550 and 518, respectively.

As a Dodgers member, Brewer appeared in the 1973 All-Star Game and in three World Series (1965-66 and 1974). From 1968-73 he averaged 19.5 saves a season, with a career-high 24 in 1970, and in 1972, he posted an 1.26 ERA and averaged a significant 4.69 hits per nine innings.

Brewer died in Tyler, Texas, of injuries suffered in an automobile accident, just a day before his 50th birthday.

Sources

• Baseball Library
• Baseball Reference
• Jim Brewer Foundation

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