Following his breakout year with the Washington Senators he was sold to the Baltimore Orioles where he achieved stardom with a 27–15 record, pitched 40 complete games in 42 starts, and had an earned run average of 2.36. He was second in the league with 178 strikeouts, fourth in ERA and fourth in complete games. For many years that team would be considered one of the best ever. With James as star pitcher the team included such baseball legends as John McGraw, Willie Keeler, Hughie Jennings, Wild Bill Donovan and other stars of the baseball world.\n', '

The following season the owners of the Baltimore Orioles purchased a half interest in the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (dubbed the "Superbas" by the media) and took their best players with them. This included James, Jennings, Keeler, Jay Hughes and Joe Kelley. During the final game of 1899, his first season with the Superbas, James came within one out of throwing a no-hitter in his 4–0 victory over the Boston Beaneaters. The no-hitter was spoiled by future Hall of Famer Hugh Duffy with a ninth-inning single.\n', '

James went by his formal name of James McJames during his first season, then changed to "Doc McJames" for the remainder of his career. It is speculated that he did so to hide knowledge of his baseball career from his parents, as playing baseball was not reputable at the time. He had a clause in each of his major league contracts preventing teams from playing him on Sundays.\n', '

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