James was the Brewers' Rookie of the Year in 1984, when he won the center field job and batted .295. In 1987, James was traded to the Braves for Brad Komminsk. With the Braves, the slap-hitter switched from a straight-up stance to an open crouch, giving him new power; he hit .312 with 37 doubles and 10 homers in 1987. James was a major disappointment in Atlanta's dismal 1988 season and was criticized for erratic fielding. He was traded to the Indians in mid-1989 for Oddibe McDowell, the Rangers' number-one pick in 1984. James lasted less than two seasons with the Indians, but found a part-time job with the Yankees in 1992, hitting .332 as the club's everyday left fielder in 1993. James left for Japan after the season; when he returned to the club in '95, he found little playing time in the Yankees outfield (by that time well-stocked with burgeoning talent) but did see post-season action for the first time in his career.[1]
James was involved in an unusual occurrence while playing for the Atlanta Braves. During the third inning of the April 12, 1987 game against the defending World Series champion New York Mets at Shea Stadium, James hit a flyball to center field off Mets starting pitcher Bob Ojeda. As centerfielder Kevin McReynolds positioned himself to catch the ball, it hit off of and killed a dove in mid-air. McReynolds was unable to catch the ball. James went to second on the play and was credited with a double. He would score later in the inning on a Dale Murphy home run in a game the Braves would win 12–4. James became the first of only two players to kill a bird during play in a regular-season Major League Baseball game.[2][3]
