Jim "The Rookie" Morris can be available to inspire your team with his motto
"Never Give Up On A Dream."
Jim Morris' Cinderella story is testimony to the power of dreams and their
ability to inspire and transform human life. His story is the subject of the
film from Walt Disney, "The Rookie," starring Dennis Quaid. This major motion
picture opened nationwide in March 2002 and was Disney's most significant
release that spring. The paperback, "The Rookie," formerly known as "The Oldest
Rookie," was published March 1, 2002, and autographed copies of Jim's
best-selling biography can be purchased on this website. His story is also
currently featured in the TNN documentary, "Fame for 15", which was produced by
Gaye Rosenthal Productions (VH-1's "Behind the Music") and is airing to rave
reviews. A school teacher by trade, Jim is a polished public speaker whose
miracle story captivates and inspires audiences to never give up on a dream.
Growing up as a navy brat, Jim's family moved constantly throughout his
childhood. Baseball became his way to make friends when he moved from place to
place. Originally drafted in the 1st round in 1984, Jim's dream was to become a
major league baseball player, but his career was derailed by a series of
debilitating arm injuries before he got out of the lower minors in 1988.
Instead, Jim got married, raised a family of three, and got his college degree
before becoming a high school science teacher and baseball coach in a
financially depressed area of West Texas (he also became an All-American punter
in college football at the age of 27). His baseball career was reduced to
playing in beer leagues and throwing batting practice to his high school
baseball team.
At the age of 35 and some 11 years after retiring from minor league baseball,
Jim was giving a speech to his high school team about the importance of dreams
and hard work when his high school players challenged him to pursue his dream
of pitching in the major leagues. Jim made the following bet with his high
school team: if they won the District Championship for their division, he would
tryout for the first major league team that came thru town.
Jim's team fulfilled their end of the bargain, which committed him to a big
league tryout, where he miraculously threw 12 consecutive pitches at a rate of
98 mph, almost 10 mph harder than he had some 15 years earlier! Inspired by his
family and students, Jim immediately signed a professional baseball contract.
After just 3 months in the minor leagues and with his family and students in
attendance, Jim returned to Texas as a major league player and struck out
all-star Royce Clayton with a 98 mile per hour fastball in his first big league
game. Jim Morris' ragtag rise from obscurity became the feel-good story of
1999. After pitching for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000, Jim signed with the
Los Angeles Dodgers and retired from baseball in 2001.
As a speaker, Jim inspires and motivates audiences to never give up on their
dreams. With a Walt Disney film and a major bestseller, Jim is part of the
landscape of American heroes.
*Exclusive with Pro Sports Management
