The Rookie

by Lou Parrotta

Jim Morris was allowed to fulfill the dream that thousands of young men have every day - he made it to the Major Leagues. Now, this may not seem like a wildly extraordinary feat as many young men do get a taste of the big leagues, but what makes Morris' story most impressive is that it occurred when he was 35 years old.

Jim Morris lived a nomadic life as his father was a career military man. Traveling from New Hampshire to Virginia to Florida and finally settling in Texas, Morris developed a love for the great game of baseball. He turned out to be a very good left handed hurler, but after signing a professional contract he hurt his arm and decided to forgo his dream for a science teaching career at Reagan County High School in little Big Lake, Texas.

Big Lake did not have a baseball team Morris pushed to develop a program in what is widely regarded as football country. Despite three straight losing seasons, winning a grand total of three games, he started the 1998 season with two straight losses. He laid out a challenge to his players that he would try out once again for a professional team had they won the District title. To his and the town's amazement, the team won 17 straight games and secured the District title for the Big Lake Owls. The town gave the team a reception usually given to the football team!

Never one to go back on his word, Morris went to a tryout being held by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays being held at Dallas Baptist University in Dallas. Realizing he was twice the age of the dozens of kids there, he thought he would make the complimentary trip to the mound that all pitchers trying out receive and then return home to his wife and three children. As a matter of fact, he went to the tryout with his three children in tow - obviously not a sight many professional scouts see all too often.

When finally called upon to throw, Morris wowed he scouts by throwing 98 miles per hour - faster than he ever threw in his life. Impressed, they called on him again a couple of days later, saw his fastball was no fluke, and signed him to a contract immediately. After stints with the Orlando Devil Rays and the Durham Bulls (made famous in the movie Bull Durham starring Kevin Costner), Morris was called up to the big team. Ironically, Morris made his major league debut in Arlington, Texas against the Texas Rangers. In front of nearly the whole town of Big Lake, Morris made his debut on June 18, 1999. He struck out Texas shortstop Royce Clayton and received a hero's welcome from dozens of family and friends.

If you are interested in learning more about Morris' amazing journey, he has published an autobiography and a new movie has been made starring Dennis Quaid on Morris' life. The movie is a terrific story that moves the viewer through Morris' life with wonderful ease. The viewer becomes enthralled with how the dream of this unassuming, down-home, regular guy is realized. The movie is a wonderful depiction of how you are able to realize dreams once you are willing to work hard and not give up.