Jim Deshaies
The lefty who struck out the first eight batters in a game and now calls Cubs games.
James Joseph Deshaies is an American former professional baseball left-handed starting pitcher born on June 23, 1960. He played in Major League Baseball for six teams over the course of 12 big league seasons. Currently, he serves as a color commentator for broadcasts of Chicago Cubs games. His playing career began with the New York Yankees before he became a mainstay for the Houston Astros from 1986 to 1991.
- Role
- Starting Pitcher
- Affiliation
- Houston Astros
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Deshaies made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees on August 7, 1984, becoming the 1,000th person to play an official game for the franchise. He was the losing pitcher that day after giving up four earned runs in four innings during a 6–3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. After two appearances, he was traded to the Houston Astros on September 15, 1985, for Joe Niekro. His first full season with Houston came in 1986, where he posted 12 wins, setting an Astros' rookie record that stood until Roy Oswalt broke it in 2001.
In Their Own Story
On September 23, 1986, Deshaies set a Major League record by striking out the first eight batters of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This feat was equaled decades later by Jacob deGrom and Germán Márquez before being broken by Pablo López in 2021. His best season as an Astro arrived in 1989, when he posted a 15–10 record with a 2.91 earned run average (ERA) and 153 strikeouts. During that year, on May 2, legendary slugger Mike Schmidt hit his 548th and final home run off Deshaies.
Reader's Guide
Deshaies remained a fixture in the Astros' rotation from 1986 to 1991, making at least 25 starts in each of those seasons. Beyond pitching, he holds the major league record for most at-bats without an extra base hit, totaling 373. After leaving Houston, he played for the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins (twice), San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring on July 31, 1995. In a humorous moment in 2001, he campaigned to receive one vote for the Hall of Fame, which was granted by Houston Chronicle writer John Lopez.
Did You Know?
- Deshaies was the 1,000th person to play an official game for the New York Yankees.
- He set a Major League record by striking out the first eight batters of a game on September 23, 1986.
- His 12 wins in 1986 set an Astros' rookie record that lasted until 2001.
- Mike Schmidt hit his final major league home run (number 548) off Deshaies on May 2, 1989.
- Deshaies holds the MLB record for most at-bats without an extra base hit with 373.
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