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Big Bill's nickname reflected his 6'4" frame and differentiated him from the contemporary Braves pitcher of the same name. James went 15-14, 2.85 for the Browns in 1914 and earned a spot on an AL all-star squad that barnstormed the country in a 32-game series against NL stars. He was sold to the White Sox in August 1919, just in time for the tainted World Series. He made his final ML appearence in the deciding game, relieving intentional loser Lefty Williams with only one out in the first inning and the White Sox already trailing 4-0. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 18, 1915: The Browns send pitchers Bill James and Grover Lowdermilk to the Tigers for 1B Babe Doll Jacobson. » July 13, 1916: Detroit's Bill James strikes out seven straight batters in the Tigers 3–1 win over Washington. » September 3, 1917: In a twinbill that will resonate for years, the White Sox sweep a pair—4 wins in the last two days— from the Tigers winning, 7–5 and 11–8, while the Yankees sweep a pair from the Red Sox. Chicago now leads the Red Sox by six 1/2 games. Detroit takes the lead in the morning game, driving Red Faber from the mound in the 5th, but Ray Schalk's triple in the 8th seals the win for Chicago. In the afternoon contest, Detroit again chases Faber and scores seven runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to take the lead, but Schalk's three-run homer in the 4th, off Bill James, puts Chicago in a lead they never relinquish. Ed Cicotte takes the p.m. game with six innings of relief, while Lefty Williams pitches three innings of hitless relief to win the a.m. game. The Sox run wild on the bases, stealing seven against Oscar Stanage in the opener and five against Archie Yelle in the 2nd game. The Tigers total 24 hits, just two less than the Sox, in losing Two weeks from now, while staying at the Ansonia Hotel in New York, the White Sox will collect $45 from each player as a gift for the Tigers, allegedly as a gift for beating the Red Sox. But suspicion will linger that some Tigers threw these two critical doubleheaders and Ty Cobb, though he had three hits, will be included in the accusations. » January 5, 1927: Judge Landis begins a 3-day public hearing on the charges that 4 games played between Chicago and Detroit on September 2 and 3, 1917, had been thrown to the White Sox. The White Sox, Swede Risberg contends, returned the favor for 2 games in 1919. Near the end of the 1917 season, some Chicago players contributed about $45 each to reward Detroit pitchers for winning the last series against Boston, helping Chicago clinch the pennant. No witnesses confirm any part of the story, although Tigers P Bill James denies ever receiving any money, and the others named deny all charges. A week after the hearing opens, Judge Landis clears all the accused, ruling lack of evidence of anything except the practice of players paying another team for winning.