James Arthur Willoughby (born January 31, 1949) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1971 through 1978 for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. Listed at 6' 2" , 185 lb. , he batted and threw right handed. In his entire career from the rotation to the bullpen, Willoughby was a ground ball pitcher who relied on a sinker ball and a slider, which he consistently threw from a three-quarters arm slot with a high leg lift. Eventually, he used a slow curveball, low and just off the outside of the plate. Early life `Willow`, as he was often called, was the only son of three children born to James Roger Willoughby and Marlene Dickinson Willoughby. He had Pottawatomi heritage in addition to his British ancestry, as his great-aunt Mamie Echo Hawk served as the tribe’s chief lobbyist in Washington DC office for many years. Born in Salinas, California, Willoughby was raised and attended high school in the town of Gustine in San Joaquin Valley. While attending Gustine High School, he played four years of varsity baseball as well as basketball and football, eventually participating in track events. He then was selected by the Giants in the 11th round of the 1967 MLB Draft, being assigned immediately to the rookie class Salt Lake City Giants. Willoughby later pitched for other teams in the Giants minor league system, as well as pursuing a degree in electrical engineering as part of his scholarship plan signed with San Francisco. As a result, he spent the 1967–1968 offseason at UC Berkeley and also attended Fresno State, Phoenix College, and the College of San Mateo. Career San Francisco Giants Willoughby debuted with the Giants in their 1971 season during a game against the Houston Astros on September 9. He started the game and lasted only three innings, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts, being credited with the loss. He finished the year with one inning of relief. Back to the minors in 1972, Willoughby was recalled on August 3 to replace injured starter Sam McDowell. Three days later, Willoughby avenged on the Astros for the loss in his debut the year before by earning his first career win against them with a 6–2, complete game victory at Candlestick Park. He finished the season with a 6-4 record and a 2.36