James was an outfielder over all or parts of six Major League Baseball seasons (1960–65) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds, appearing in 510 games.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up in suburban Rock Hill and graduated from Webster Groves High School.

James platooned in right field with left-handed hitter Joe Cunningham in 1961, then was the Redbirds' most-used right-fielder in 1962, starting 95 games and hitting a career-best .276.

James spent the rest of the season as an occasional right fielder and frequent pinch hitter, and his batting average fell to .223.

With his degree in electrical engineering, he built a successful business career as the president of a Missouri-based manufacturing company, retiring in 1998.