A convert to Judaism, Jim appeared in six games for the Kansas City Royals — three each in 1978 and 1979. Raised as a Catholic, he began the conversion process in 1976 and completed it in 1980 while playing for the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A team in Evansville.

A New Orleans native, he was first drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round in 1973, but did not sign. He decided to continue playing baseball at Tulane University, and was drafted again by the Royals in the sixth round in 1976.