Jim Deshaies

Jim Deshaies
Deshaies at Wrigley Field on July 6, 2013
Pitcher
Born: (1960-06-23) June 23, 1960 (age 56) Massena, New York
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 7, 1984, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
July 30, 1995, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–Loss record	84–95
Earned run average	4.14
Strikeouts	951
Teams
New York Yankees (1984) Houston Astros (1985–1991) San Diego Padres (1992) Minnesota Twins (1993) San Francisco Giants (1993) Minnesota Twins (1994) Philadelphia Phillies (1995)

James Joseph "Jim" Deshaies (born June 23, 1960, in Massena, New York), also known as "JD", is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball and currently a TV commentator with the Chicago Cubs.

Deshaies made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees on August 7, 1984. He set a milestone in his debut by being the 1,000th person to play an official game for the New York Yankees. He was the losing pitcher that day, after giving up four earned runs in four innings pitched in a 6–3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Six days later, he lasted three innings in a no decision start against the Cleveland Indians. Those would be the only two appearances for the New York Yankees, who traded him to the Houston Astros on September 15, 1985, for Joe Niekro.

His first full season was with the 1986 Houston Astros. Still considered a rookie, he posted 12 wins, good for the Astros' rookie record, later broken by Roy Oswalt in 2001.

On September 23, 1986, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Deshaies set a major-league record by striking out the first eight batters of the game. The following year, the Topps company inserted a trading card into its 1987 set honoring this accomplishment. This feat was equaled by Jacob deGrom on September 14, 2014.

Deshaies was a mainstay on the Astros' rotation from 1986 to 1991, pitching in 26 or more starts in those years. His best season was 1989, when he pitched a 15–10 record, with a 2.91 ERA and 153 strikeouts. On May 2 that year, Deshaies served Mike Schmidt's 548th and final home run.

He holds the major league record for most at-bats without an extra base hit, with 373.

In 1992, Deshaies and the Astros parted ways. He played for brief stints with the San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. He retired in 1995.