James Joseph "Jim" O'Bryan Jr. (January 11, 1941 – February 19, 2024) was an American professional baseball player and coach. Primarily a right-handed pitcher, he played six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (1962–1965) and the Kansas City Athletics (1965–1966).
Early Life and Amateur Career Born in San Francisco, California, O'Bryan attended San Francisco's Washington High School. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent in 1959.
Professional Playing Career O'Bryan made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on September 2, 1962, at the age of 21. He spent parts of four seasons with the Indians, primarily as a starter and later as a reliever. In 1965, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics, where he finished his MLB playing career in 1966.
Over his MLB career, O'Bryan appeared in 107 games, starting 48 of them. He accumulated a win-loss record of 13–25 with a career earned run average (ERA) of 4.10 over 328.2 innings pitched. He recorded 196 strikeouts.
Post-Playing Career After his playing career concluded, O'Bryan remained involved in professional baseball for several decades. He transitioned into scouting and coaching roles, working for various MLB organizations. He served as a scout for teams such as the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics, helping to identify and develop new talent. O'Bryan also held positions as a minor league pitching coach, contributing to the development of numerous young pitchers through their professional journeys.
Death James O'Bryan Jr. passed away on February 19, 2024, in his hometown of San Francisco, California, at the age of 83.