A powerful right-handed pitcher, James was drafted five times by Major League teams. He played in the farm system of the Texas Rangers from 1985-’87. James played for Francis Howell High from 1979 -’82. In 2003, he was inducted into the Francis Howell Viking Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1982 and 1983, he pitched for the Cottleville & Harvester American Legion team. In 1983, his C&H team won the Missouri American Legion championship, advancing to the American Legion World Series. He received the American Legion Most Outstanding Player Award. From 1982 to 1984, he pitched for the C&H team in the Eastern Missouri Baseball Association. During that same time, James was a pitcher on Ric Lessmann's nationally-ranked Meramec Community College team. In 1984 and 1985, James pitched for the University of Missouri - Columbia. James was the starting pitcher in a game against the 1984 Gold Medal USA Olympic team at Busch Stadium. He was the first pitcher to ever face Mark McGwire at Busch Stadium. In 1989 and 1990, James was a pitcher for the Columbia Tigers in the Central Missouri Baseball Association. James has volunteered as coach, player development instructor, administrator, committee and board member for youth baseball teams. He has been a volunteer at the Cottleville & Harvester Athletic Association since 2003. He has been instrumental in the transformation and improvement of the C&H ballpark. He is a former board member of the C&H Athletic Association. He also served as treasurer and president. From 1996 to 2010, he was a volunteer pitching instructor with the Francis Howell baseball program. In 1929, he started an independent baseball team named the St. Louis Browns. He recently created a select youth baseball league at the C&H Athletic Association. He is presently a coach with the St. Louis Gamers amateur baseball team. In 2014, James was inducted into the St. Charles County Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.