Bill James is an American baseball writer and statistician, best known for his work in the field of sabermetrics, which is the empirical analysis of baseball statistics. He gained prominence in the 1980s with his publication of the "Baseball Abstract," where he introduced innovative statistical methods to evaluate player performance and team strategy. His ideas have significantly influenced how baseball is analyzed and understood. James has also worked as a consultant for various Major League Baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox, where his insights contributed to their success in the 2004 World Series. His contributions have made him a key figure in modern baseball analytics, shaping the way teams approach player evaluation and game strategy.