James Ruffus Gentry (May 18, 1918 – July 3, 1997) was an American professional baseball player, a Major League pitcher who played in all or parts of five seasons for the Detroit Tigers.

He pitched an 11-inning no-hitter for the Bisons on Easter Sunday[1] and finished the season with 20 wins and a 2.65 earned run average.

In 1944, Gentry won a spot in the Tigers' starting rotation, along with Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, with the Tigers ahead 3–0, Lou Boudreau hit an infield single that deflected off Gentry.

[1] Detroit News sportswriter H. G. Salsinger wrote that in the last 6 weeks of the season Gentry "looked to be a certain winner.

According to a Detroit News article dated August 8, 1945, Gentry had "demanded the same salary the club was paying Harold Newhouser, who won 29 and lost 9 games last year.

Gentry missed the opportunity to pitch for a team that won the American League pennant and the 1945 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.

"[3] In 1946, Gentry signed with the Tigers but pitched in only 3 innings, giving up 7 walks and accumulating a 15.00 earned run average.

After retiring from baseball, Gentry returned to North Carolina and worked as a brick mason and stonemason.

His younger brother, Harvey Gentry, also made it to the Major Leagues for a brief stint with the New York Giants in 1954.