James Harry Colliflower (March 11, 1869 – August 12, 1961),^[1] nicknamed "Collie", was a Major League Baseball player during the 1899 season. As a 30-year-old rookie southpaw pitcher for the Cleveland Spiders, Colliflower won his debut game on July 21 giving up only 3 runs on 6 hits in a 5–3 victory against his hometown Washington Senators in the first half of a double header.^[2] Colliflower then lost his next 11 decisions, compiling an 8.17 earned run average, and a .303 batting average as a substitute outfielder.^[1]

In 1905, he coached Georgetown University's baseball team before becoming a minor league umpire for a couple of seasons.^[2] He umpired in the American League during the 1910 season.^[3][4] Colliflower umpired in the Southern League in 1911, and the Departmental League in Washington D.C. in 1912.^[2] After retiring from umpiring Colliflower worked as a clerk for his nephew's fuel and oil company.^[2]

Family

Colliflower's nephew, James E. Colliflower, earned a bachelor's degree and three law degrees from Georgetown.^[5][6] He is enshrined in the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame as a coach^[7] of the varsity men's basketball squad from 1911 to 1914 and 1921–1922.^[5][6] James' brother George was also a college basketball coach, for George Washington University.^[8]