Jim Wohlford was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on February 28, 1951, in Visalia, California, and attended San Francisco State University. Wohlford was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 12th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.
Wohlford made his Major League debut with the Royals in 1972. He played for the Royals for three seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975. He played for the Brewers for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1977.
Wohlford played for the Giants for four seasons and was a key player on the team that won the National League West division in 1978. He had a career-high batting average of .304 that season and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Wohlford was also known for his speed on the basepaths, stealing 20 or more bases in four seasons.
In 1981, Wohlford was traded to the Montreal Expos. He played for the Expos for two seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1983. Wohlford played for the Pirates for two seasons before being released in 1985.
Wohlford signed with the Oakland Athletics in 1986 but only played in 11 games before being released. He retired from baseball after the 1986 season.
Overall, Wohlford played in 1,086 Major League games over 15 seasons. He had a career batting average of .260 with 1,014 hits, 36 home runs, and 271 stolen bases. Wohlford was known for his versatility, playing all three outfield positions during his career.
After retiring from baseball, Wohlford worked as a scout for the San Francisco Giants and as a coach for the San Jose Giants, the Giants' Class A affiliate. He also worked as a sales representative for a sporting goods company.
In 2016, Wohlford was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away on September 12, 2018, at the age of 67. Wohlford was remembered by his former teammates and colleagues as a hardworking and dedicated player who was always willing to help others.
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