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Traber was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]], but grew up in [[Columbia, Maryland]].<ref name="About">[http://jimtraber.com/about.htm About Jim] at jimtraber.com</ref> While attending [[Wilde Lake High School]] in Columbia, he was an All-American — playing [[American football|football]], baseball, and other sports. Traber attended [[Oklahoma State University]] in the early 1980s, where he played both baseball (appearing twice in the [[College World Series]])<ref name="About"/> and football.<ref name="Mexico"/>
Traber was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]], but grew up in [[Columbia, Maryland]].<ref name="About">[http://jimtraber.com/about.htm About Jim] at jimtraber.com</ref> While attending [[Wilde Lake High School]] in Columbia, he was an All-American — playing [[American football|football]], baseball, and other sports. Traber attended [[Oklahoma State University]] in the early 1980s, where he played both baseball (appearing twice in the [[College World Series]])<ref name="About"/> and football.<ref name="Mexico"/>


Traber was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 21st round (544th overall) of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="Reference">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trabeji01.shtml Jim Traber Stats] at [[Baseball-Reference.com]]</ref> and played parts of four seasons for the Orioles between 1984 and 1989,<ref name="Reference"/> where his nickname was "'''The Whammer'''".<ref name="Rosenthal">[http://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-19/sports/sp-2185_1_jim-traber?pg=1 "Jim Traber Finds Comfort a Long Way From Home"] by [[Ken Rosenthal]] at [[latimes.com]]. Retrieved August 3, 2009</ref> He soon found himself on a career-best hot streak that saw him crank out six [[Home run|homers]] and 17 [[runs batted in]] (RBI), while [[Batting average (baseball)|hitting]] .340, in his first 13 games, after being recalled in the summer of 1986.<ref name="Post">{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/08/02/dodd-traber-hit-home-runs-in-orioles-7-3-win/d0380c1c-78d2-43b6-af3a-92c7d398121f|title=Dodd, Traber Hit Home Runs in Orioles' 7-3 Win|date=August 2, 1986|last=Justice|first=Richard|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=March 8, 2020}}</ref> Traber's success with Baltimore was hindered by unfortunate timing — as veteran first baseman, [[Eddie Murray]], wasn't ready to retire and Traber was anxious to play in that position — and he had not received any instruction as an [[outfielder]] in [[Minor League Baseball]] (MiLB), as his [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Earl Weaver]] lamented.<ref name="Post"/> Thus, Traber's options were limited to being a [[Substitution (sport)|reserve]]-first baseman, [[Designated hitter|DH]], and [[pinch hitter]]. Jim Traber's career ended as quickly as it began with his baseball stats making him "the worst player in the American League in 1988".<ref name=":0" />
Traber was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 21st round (544th overall) of the [[1982 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="Reference">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trabeji01.shtml Jim Traber Stats] at [[Baseball-Reference.com]]</ref> and played parts of four seasons for the Orioles between 1984 and 1989,<ref name="Reference"/> where his nickname was "'''The Whammer'''".<ref name="Rosenthal">[http://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-19/sports/sp-2185_1_jim-traber?pg=1 "Jim Traber Finds Comfort a Long Way From Home"] by [[Ken Rosenthal]] at [[latimes.com]]. Retrieved August 3, 2009</ref> He soon found himself on a career-best hot streak that saw him crank out six [[Home run|homers]] and 17 [[runs batted in]] (RBI), while [[Batting average (baseball)|hitting]] .340, in his first 13 games, after being recalled in the summer of 1986.<ref name="Post">{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1986/08/02/dodd-traber-hit-home-runs-in-orioles-7-3-win/d0380c1c-78d2-43b6-af3a-92c7d398121f|title=Dodd, Traber Hit Home Runs in Orioles' 7-3 Win|date=August 2, 1986|last=Justice|first=Richard|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=March 8, 2020}}</ref> Traber's success with Baltimore was hindered by unfortunate timing — as veteran first baseman, [[Eddie Murray]], wasn't ready to retire and Traber was anxious to play in that position — and he had not received any instruction as an [[outfielder]] in [[Minor League Baseball]] (MiLB), as his [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Earl Weaver]] lamented.<ref name="Post"/> Thus, Traber's options were limited to being a [[Substitution (sport)|reserve]]-first baseman, [[Designated hitter|DH]], and [[pinch hitter]].


Traber sang the [[national anthem]] at [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]] the night of his MLB debut.<ref name=":0">1987 Topps baseball card # 484</ref>
Traber sang the [[national anthem]] at [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]] the night of his MLB debut.<ref name=":0">1987 Topps baseball card # 484</ref>
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After his MLB career, Traber played baseball in [[Japan]] for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1990 and 1991, and one season for [[Sultanes de Monterrey|Monterrey]] of the [[Mexican League (baseball)|Mexican League]] in 1993.<ref name="Mexico">{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/okst/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/08mediaguide-sectionA.pdf|title=Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame Bios|access-date=March 1, 2010|author=Oklahoma State University}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His time in Japan is perhaps most memorable for an incident in which Traber rushed the mound subsequent to being hit by a pitch, chasing the retreating [[Lotte Orions]] [[pitcher]] [[Kazumi Sonokawa]] into the outfield at the [[Sakigake Yabase Baseball Stadium|Akita Yabase Baseball Stadium]]. After charging the pitcher a second time, he was knocked off balance by the [[catcher]] while running and was kicked in the face on the way down by the [[Chiba Lotte Marines|Orions]]' manager, [[Masaichi Kaneda]]. Grainy footage of this incident is still widely distributed on the Internet.<ref name="Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSrRxHhfHKc Traber Charging Mound] at youtube.com</ref>
After his MLB career, Traber played baseball in [[Japan]] for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1990 and 1991, and one season for [[Sultanes de Monterrey|Monterrey]] of the [[Mexican League (baseball)|Mexican League]] in 1993.<ref name="Mexico">{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/okst/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/08mediaguide-sectionA.pdf|title=Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame Bios|access-date=March 1, 2010|author=Oklahoma State University}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His time in Japan is perhaps most memorable for an incident in which Traber rushed the mound subsequent to being hit by a pitch, chasing the retreating [[Lotte Orions]] [[pitcher]] [[Kazumi Sonokawa]] into the outfield at the [[Sakigake Yabase Baseball Stadium|Akita Yabase Baseball Stadium]]. After charging the pitcher a second time, he was knocked off balance by the [[catcher]] while running and was kicked in the face on the way down by the [[Chiba Lotte Marines|Orions]]' manager, [[Masaichi Kaneda]]. Grainy footage of this incident is still widely distributed on the Internet.<ref name="Video">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSrRxHhfHKc Traber Charging Mound] at youtube.com</ref>


Traber's involvement with sports talk radio began after his retirement from professional sports. He served as a television [[color analyst]] for [[Fox Sports (USA)|Fox Sports]]' regional coverage of the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] during the team's World Series victory season of 2001, for which he was awarded a [[Championship ring|World Series ring]]. Traber was also part-time color analyst for the [[2001 World Series]] radio broadcast. He can be heard cheering in celebration behind [[Greg Schulte]] during the famous play-by-play call of "A little blooper... Base hit! Diamondbacks Win!" for [[Luis Gonzalez (outfielder, born 1967)|Luis Gonzalez's]] game-winning hit. Traber continued announcing in 2002 and 2003.<ref name="About" /> Currently, Traber hosts "The Afternoon Sports Beat" and "Total Dominance Hour," shows on [[WWLS-FM]] radio station in [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]].<ref name="Schedule">[http://jimtraber.com/schedule.htm Radio Schedule], at jimtraber.com</ref> He sometimes refers to callers as Yardbirds.
Traber's involvement with sports talk radio began after his retirement from professional sports. He served as a television [[color analyst]] for [[Fox Sports (USA)|Fox Sports]]' regional coverage of the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] during the team's World Series victory season of 2001, for which he was awarded a [[Championship ring|World Series ring]]. Traber was also part-time color analyst for the [[2001 World Series]] radio broadcast. He can be heard cheering in celebration behind [[Greg Schulte]] during the famous play-by-play call of "A little blooper... Base hit! Diamondbacks Win!" for [[Luis Gonzalez (outfielder, born 1967)|Luis Gonzalez's]] game-winning hit. Traber continued announcing in 2002 and 2003.<ref name="About" /> Currently, Traber hosts "The Afternoon Sports Beat" and "Total Dominance Hour," shows on [[WWLS-FM]] radio station in [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]].<ref name="Schedule">[

Traber has 2 sons, Trabes and Beau, with his ex-wife, and three daughters, Chelsea, Courtney and Katelyn, with his second wife Julie, who were her children from a prior marriage and whom Traber ended up adopting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Jim Traber – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jim-traber/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> Traber is estranged from both his biological children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Berry |title=Collected wisdom: Jim Traber says 'when I explode on callers it's good radio' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/berry-tramel/2014/10/18/collected-wisdom-jim-traber-says-when-i-explode-on-callers-its-good-radio/60790868007/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> Traber credits his wife Julie with making him realize he needed to be a Christian.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Berry |title=Collected wisdom: Jim Traber says 'when I explode on callers it's good radio' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/berry-tramel/2014/10/18/collected-wisdom-jim-traber-says-when-i-explode-on-callers-its-good-radio/60790868007/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref> Traber has appeared in court 12 times in the last decade<ref>{{Cite web |title=OSCN Search Results |url=https://www.oscn.net/dockets/Results.aspx?db=all&number=&lname=Traber&fname=James&mname=&DoBMin=&DoBMax=&partytype=&apct=&dcct=&FiledDateL=&FiledDateH=&ClosedDateL=&ClosedDateH=&iLC=&iLCType=&iYear=&iNumber=&citation= |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=www.oscn.net}}</ref> for failure to wear a seatbelt<ref>{{Cite web |title=OSCN Case Details |url=https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=canadian&number=TR-2020-3855&cmid=437856 |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=www.oscn.net}}</ref> and speeding violations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OSCN Case Details |url=https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=canadian&number=TR-2011-546&cmid=265831 |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=www.oscn.net}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 23:30, 8 April 2024

Jim Traber
First baseman
Born: (1961-12-26) December 26, 1961 (age 62)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 21, 1984, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB: April 8, 1990, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Last appearance
MLB: October 1, 1989, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB: October 10, 1991, for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
MLB statistics
Batting average.227
Home runs27
Runs batted in117
NPB statistics
Batting average.287
Home runs53
Runs batted in184
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

James Joseph Traber (born December 26, 1961)[1] is an American former professional baseball first baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. After retiring from baseball, he pursued a career in broadcast media.

Traber was born in Columbus, Ohio, but grew up in Columbia, Maryland.[2] While attending Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, he was an All-American — playing football, baseball, and other sports. Traber attended Oklahoma State University in the early 1980s, where he played both baseball (appearing twice in the College World Series)[2] and football.[3]

Traber was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 21st round (544th overall) of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.[4] and played parts of four seasons for the Orioles between 1984 and 1989,[4] where his nickname was "The Whammer".[5] He soon found himself on a career-best hot streak that saw him crank out six homers and 17 runs batted in (RBI), while hitting .340, in his first 13 games, after being recalled in the summer of 1986.[6] Traber's success with Baltimore was hindered by unfortunate timing — as veteran first baseman, Eddie Murray, wasn't ready to retire and Traber was anxious to play in that position — and he had not received any instruction as an outfielder in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), as his manager Earl Weaver lamented.[6] Thus, Traber's options were limited to being a reserve-first baseman, DH, and pinch hitter.

Traber sang the national anthem at Memorial Stadium the night of his MLB debut.[7]

After his MLB career, Traber played baseball in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1990 and 1991, and one season for Monterrey of the Mexican League in 1993.[3] His time in Japan is perhaps most memorable for an incident in which Traber rushed the mound subsequent to being hit by a pitch, chasing the retreating Lotte Orions pitcher Kazumi Sonokawa into the outfield at the Akita Yabase Baseball Stadium. After charging the pitcher a second time, he was knocked off balance by the catcher while running and was kicked in the face on the way down by the Orions' manager, Masaichi Kaneda. Grainy footage of this incident is still widely distributed on the Internet.[8]

Traber's involvement with sports talk radio began after his retirement from professional sports. He served as a television color analyst for Fox Sports' regional coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the team's World Series victory season of 2001, for which he was awarded a World Series ring. Traber was also part-time color analyst for the 2001 World Series radio broadcast. He can be heard cheering in celebration behind Greg Schulte during the famous play-by-play call of "A little blooper... Base hit! Diamondbacks Win!" for Luis Gonzalez's game-winning hit. Traber continued announcing in 2002 and 2003.[2] Currently, Traber hosts "The Afternoon Sports Beat" and "Total Dominance Hour," shows on WWLS-FM radio station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.<ref name="Schedule">[

References

  1. ^ Jim Traber at thebaseballcube.com
  2. ^ a b c About Jim at jimtraber.com
  3. ^ a b Oklahoma State University. "Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame Bios" (PDF). Retrieved March 1, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ a b Jim Traber Stats at Baseball-Reference.com
  5. ^ "Jim Traber Finds Comfort a Long Way From Home" by Ken Rosenthal at latimes.com. Retrieved August 3, 2009
  6. ^ a b Justice, Richard (August 2, 1986). "Dodd, Traber Hit Home Runs in Orioles' 7-3 Win". Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  7. ^ 1987 Topps baseball card # 484
  8. ^ Traber Charging Mound at youtube.com
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