Justin Louis "Joba" Chamberlain (/ˈdʒɒbə/ JOB-ə; né Heath; born September 23, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Cleveland Indians.

Chamberlain played college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers before the Yankees selected him in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft.

[5] As of 2014, he was one of only three active non-Hispanic Native American players in Major League Baseball, with the others being Kyle Lohse of the Milwaukee Brewers and Jacoby Ellsbury of the New York Yankees.

He did not jump straight to college; to help pay the bills, Joba briefly worked for the city of Lincoln's maintenance department.

[9] He played American Legion Baseball over the summer of 2004, going 4–4 with a 1.36 earned run average (ERA), 137 strikeouts, and 21 walks en route to all-state honors.

He recorded 21 strikeouts over 12 shutout innings in a matchup against future fellow Nebraska star Johnny Dorn's team, a 15-inning game won by Grand Island, 1–0.

[16][17] Chamberlain didn't pitch in the minors during the 2006 season, but made his professional debut in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league, posting a 2.63 ERA in nine games for the West Oahu CaneFires.

[29] On August 1, Chamberlain went back to Trenton to make a relief appearance, striking out two batters in a 1–2–3 eighth inning.

[13][45][46] Chamberlain was granted a leave of absence on April 13, when he received news that his father was in the hospital after collapsing at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska.

[50] On June 3, Chamberlain made his first MLB start against Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays lasting only 21⁄3 innings while allowing two runs, a hit and four walks.

[13][51] On June 25, Chamberlain earned his first career win as a starter, throwing 62⁄3 scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, en route to a 10–0 Yankees victory.

[53] On August 4, Chamberlain injured his shoulder in a game against the Texas Rangers and was placed on the 15-day disabled list with rotator cuff tendinitis.

[57] He noted that knowing about the team's plans for him changed his mental approach to prepare for the season, and makes things easier on him.

[59] During the All-Star break, Chamberlain went back home to Lincoln, Nebraska to get his mind off things by playing with his son so he could "be himself" and get more confidence on the mound.

[60] On July 19, he allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight in 6.2 innings against the Detroit Tigers to win his first game at Yankee Stadium.

[74] When the Yankees signed Rafael Soriano to be the set-up man to Mariano Rivera, it cast doubt on Chamberlain's future with the club.

[80] On March 22, 2012, Chamberlain injured his right leg while bouncing on a trampoline in a Tampa jump center;[81] he suffered an open dislocation of his ankle.

[82][83] Chamberlain, however, later discredited these accusations during a press conference, stating that he never suffered any life-threatening injury nor did he lose much blood.

[84] Chamberlain began the 2012 season on the 60-day disabled list due to the ankle injury, while also continuing to recover from Tommy John surgery.

[100] Named to the Tigers' playoff roster for the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles, he faced six batters and only managed to get one out, allowing four runs on three hits over two games.

[104] On July 1, Chamberlain allowed three home runs in one inning against Neil Walker, Starling Marte, and Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[115] Instead, Chamberlain was designated for assignment on October 27, 2015 in order to make room for Adalberto Mondesí on the team's World Series roster.

Despite playing in only a few games for the Royals in the regular season that year, Chamberlain received his second World Series ring.

[124] On January 20, 2017, Chamberlain signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers with an invite to spring training.

[129] The episode was filmed in Brooklyn and featured Chamberlain coaching host Adam Richman through an eating challenge.

On October 18, 2008, at 1:00 a.m. Chamberlain was arrested near Lincoln, Nebraska for the suspicion of driving under the influence, speeding, and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

[130][131] His arrest was captured on police video, which later aired on the "Drivers 13" episode of truTV Presents: World's Dumbest....[132] His arraignment was postponed four times: in December 2008, January 2009, and twice in March 2009, all by Chamberlain's request.

A substantial amount of abandoned property was sold at auction in August 2020, including baseball cards, bobbleheads, locker room nameplates, and hundreds of household and sporting goods items.

[142] Chamberlain kept certain "high-value items," according to a person who attended the auction, including his World Series ring from the 2009 Yankees.