His father, Jim Sr., was also a major league pitcher who played with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh between 1912 and 1923.

[1] A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Bagby played with the Red Sox (twice), Indians and Pirates in a span of ten years.

He posted a 97–96 record with 431 strikeouts and a 3.96 ERA in 16661⁄3 innings pitched, including 84 complete games and 13 shutouts.

He was the Indians pitcher in the July 17, 1941 game that ended Joe DiMaggio's famous 56-game hitting streak.

[2] Bagby reached his career high of 17 wins in each of his All-Star seasons, in 1942 and 1943, and led the American League in starts both years with 35 and 33, respectively.