Jim Derrington

Charles James Derrington (November 29, 1939 – March 12, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he spent parts of the 1956 and 1957 seasons as a member of the Chicago White Sox. Derrington first appeared in semi-professional baseball at age 13 and was a high school star at age 16 as a hitter and a pitcher, winning a local player of the year award. Graduating at an early age, he signed with the White Sox for one of the largest bonuses of his time in 1956. Under the bonus rule of the time, he joined the White Sox immediately and went on to start their final game of the 1956 season, becoming the youngest pitcher to do so in the 20th century, and stayed with the team throughout the 1957 campaign. Sent back to the minor leagues in 1958, Derrington suffered an elbow injury which ultimately ended his professional career before age 22.

Family and early life Derrington was born on November 29, 1939, in Compton, California. His father, Charles, played Minor League Baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization. An uncle, Herman Reich, had a 17-year professional career which included one year in the major leagues.

When Derrington was 13, he pitched alongside his father in semi-pro baseball. Derrington entered high school early, a result of having skipped two grades during his elementary school years, but nevertheless had a successful amateur career. As a 16-year-old senior in 1956, he was named the Los Angeles City player of the year during a season where he recorded an earned run average (ERA) of 0.23 and also had a batting average of .452.

Derrington's success drew the attention of many scouts, as well as Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick, who ruled that Derrington needed to pitch in American Legion Baseball before signing a professional contract. He spent the summer playing on a team at first base, as his father would not allow him to pitch. At season's end, Derrington was approached by White Sox owner Chuck Comiskey, at the recommendation of scout Hollis Thurston and signed him on September 10.

Major league career Because of the size of his bonus, rules of the time required Derrington to stay on the major league roster for the next two calendar years. He was not used by the White Sox until the season finale on September 30, when he was given a start against the Kansas City Athletics. In the process, he became the youngest pitcher in major league history to start a game since the start of the 20th century at an age of 16 years and 306 days, a distinction he still holds, with only Willie McGill in 1890 starting a game a younger age in a recognized major league. Starting against George Brunet, Derrington allowed three runs in the first two innings, but kept the game tied through the next three. In the fourth inning, Derrington recorded his first career hit, a single off reliever Bill Harrington, He had a successful spring training with the White Sox that year, Over the course of the season, Derrington appeared in 20 games, starting five of them, recording a 4.86 ERA. He was credited with one decision, a loss against the Detroit Tigers on September 25. In his two longest outings for the year, Over a month later, on August 10, he was given a starting assignment against the Detroit Tigers where he pitched seven innings and allowed two runs, leaving with a three to two lead before Billy Pierce allowed four runs in the ninth.

Though he did not record a regular season victory, he did get credited with the win in the exhibition Hall of Fame Game that year.

The 1959 season saw Derrington play with a new Single-A affiliate, the Charleston ChaSox of the South Atlantic League. Again, he won 10 games; this time with an ERA of 3.68. He also made an appearance that year with the Triple-A Sacramento Solons.

Derrington died on March 12, 2020.