Jim Umbricht

Jim Umbricht

James Umbricht (September 17, 1930 – April 8, 1964) was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed relief pitcher, he played Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1959 and 1963 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Colt .45s. He was best known for his year-long battle with malignant melanoma.

Nicknamed "Big Jim" owing to his height of 6-foot 4-inch, Umbricht was born in Chicago but grew up in Georgia. He started his professional career in 1953, making the majors in 1959. Over the next seasons, Umbricht alternated between teams, playing for the Pirates and that team's farm system. Umbricht was drafted by the Colt .45s in 1962, snd became one of the National League's top relievers.

Diagnosed with melanoma in his right leg before the 1963 season, his comeback to baseball following surgery made national headlines and encouraged research on the disease. He pitched the entire 1963 season as a reliever, sometimes in excruciating pain. Umbricht's health deteriorated soon afterwards and he died six months later in a Houston area hospital from complications from melanoma at the age of 33. His ashes were spread over the construction site of the Astrodome, the future home of the Colt .45s. The Colt .45s retired Umbricht's jersey number and wore black armbands for the 1964 season in his honor.