Jim Slaton was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher for several teams during his career. He was born on June 19, 1950, in Long Beach, California, and attended California State University, Long Beach. Slaton was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the third round of the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.
Slaton made his Major League debut on September 11, 1971, for the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for the Brewers for nine seasons, from 1971 to 1977 and again from 1979 to 1983. During his time with the Brewers, Slaton was known for his versatility, as he was used both as a starter and a reliever. He had a career record of 117 wins and 121 losses, with an ERA of 4.03.
In 1977, Slaton was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the California Angels in 1980 before returning to the Brewers in 1981. Slaton was traded to the Detroit Tigers again in 1984, where he played for two more seasons before retiring in 1986.
Slaton was known for his durability and consistency throughout his career. He pitched over 200 innings in a season five times and had a career-high of 18 wins in 1977. He also had a reputation for being a good hitter, with a career batting average of .194 and 10 home runs.
After retiring from baseball, Slaton worked as a pitching coach for several minor league teams. He also worked as a scout for the Milwaukee Brewers and was inducted into the team's Wall of Honor in 2019.
Overall, Jim Slaton had a successful career as a professional baseball player, playing for several teams and earning a reputation for his versatility and consistency on the mound.
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