The last time I saw Jim Jordan was on Sunday afternoon, October 4th. He had tried to organize a Fall Ball game at New Scotland, but by gametime it was clear that we wouldn't have enough players. A few stragglers hung around the picnic tables, eyeing the parking lot hopefully, a little disappointed that on this fine day there would be no game.
I decided to leave. There was a lawn to be cut, children to be played with, a dozen small demands pressing for my attention. But Jim and a couple of other guys took the field anyway. Jim wore his customary catcher's mitt -- even at shortstop, he always first warmed up using that old catcher's glove, just one of the many things that helped define him as such a singular character.
As always, Jim wanted to take some grounders at short. Get in some throws. Stretch his arm out. Play a little ball so the afternoon wouldn't be a total waste.
And why not? The day was warm, the sky was clear, and the diamond it beckoned.
#3 was always a competitor, and played the game the right way. Always enjoyed a post-game cold one with JJ win or lose. Godspeed be with him to the Big Ball Orchard in the heavens, where he is probably already getting a game.
Too many good times with him for me to account, but his passion for the game defined him.
I spoke with Sue this afternoon, the coroner concluded that Jim had an arrythmia (?spell) and fluid in his lungs. That spells heart failure to me. More tests will be done, but an arrythmia is undetected, only a conclusion. Natural causes will be listed on the death certificate.
I am sitting in a hotel room in Greenville SC, here to attend the funeral of an employee who was 41 years old with three small children. Already with a heavy heart over that, I logged into the bulletin board to check on Sunday's scrimmage. This is unbelievable. I am Shocked and Saddened.
As someone that is new to the league in the last two years, there is no one who has made me feel more comfortable or part of the fellowship of players than Jim Jordan, whether it was during the regular season, Playoffs or Fall Ball, he always had time to say hello and to make me feel welcome.
Some of my best memories of Jim are when we were both in the stands watching playoff games for other teams, especially last year when he showed up at the "A" diamond with his Coleman grill, Hot Dogs and Rolls and treated anyone who was there to Hot Dogs while they watched the game.
I first met Jim as a teammate on Big Dom's at the Twi-light League, where I was a DH. Jim was the utility infielder, so we both had some time to kill. Jim, myself, and Mike Polley (a reliever) would hang out in the bull pen. I would leave Bleecker every night with sore cheek muscles(facial cheeks), because he would have me laughing the entire time. The funny stories and one liners seemed to have no end. Little did I know that he would keep doing that to me for the next 25 years. On and off we were either teammates or players on opposing teams. Never did anyone not enjoy a game that Jimmy played in. There were always plenty of smiles to go around. I will always carry with me the memories of all our good times on the ball field. Godspeed Jimmy! You will now always be "Safe at Home"!!!
I just logged in, and was shocked to see the news of Jim's passing.
It was through meeting Jim that I came into the league a few years back. I saw him and the Braves playing at Bethlehem, and talked to him about how to join. He graciously allowed me to hook up and play a few games with the Braves, and then introduced me to Mike Hart so that I could become a full time member of a team.
Last time I spoke to Jim was when the Peppers last played the Pirates. As Jim was once again standing on second base (he always seemed to be on base), I commented to him that I hated defending him - it did not matter where I positioned myself at 2nd base, he'd always put one through - if I shaded towards second, he hit it in the hole, if I played the hole, he'd bounce it up the middle. I can't count the number of times that as I broke to cover the bag as the base runner was stealing 2nd, Jim would line or bounce one through the spot that I just vacated.
Jim loved this league - you could see it in his face and hear it in his voice.
Jim always greeted me with "how ya doing Eddie" and extended his hand.
Jim will be missed. It's guys like him that make this league what it is.
I just saw Jimmy Wednesday evening at Dorato's. We were having a couple cold ones and discussing going to Porto Rico in Feb. if my shoulder heals by then. What a shame, he was way too young , he will be sorely missed as a Ballplayer and a friend.
it's a fitting testament to jim that one memory begets another and then another here.
i sense jim helped create our memories of him because the thin guy with a hook nose had such an unique slant on things, because he was almost always upbeat and because he could see others, and see when they needed a helping hand, a pat on the back.
case in point: the tongs.
about a month ago, on sunday, sept. 18, to be exact, i turned to several teams playing in the over-47 playoffs and said that the next day a dozen or so ball-playing friends of mine from texas would be coming to town and i was trying to set up a pickup game for them. anybody want to join us? it was a hard sell - monday, 5 p.m., at new scotland, a day after the guys had played a playoff game - and i knew i wouldn't get many takers.
but jim piped right up: "you need players, mike? i'll be there." then he said, "you having a picnic afterwards?" i said i was giving it a shot. "you need an extra grill?" he asked. "i got one. i can bring it." i said i thought i'd be fine. "tell you what," he said. "if you get more guys than you count on, i'll run home and get the grill. i live right around the corner."
turns out we got only six local players, but that didn't put jimmy off. he was upbeat, ready to play. "let's have a game of four-against-the world," he said, and volunteered to manage one of the three teams. he also pitched and kept up a rat-ta-tat commentary as he did so, joking about his pitches and our swings (many of them missing his curve ball, which was on that day.) the texans loved him.
as we were playing, one of the texan's wives walked up to me - she and another were preparing the food - and said everything was set - the meat was on the grill, the plates and condiments were out, the drinks were ready, the candles lit - but there was one problem. what i said? she couldn't find a spatula or a big fork to turn the meat. uh-oh, i knew i forgot something. well, jim overheard us and quickly said, "hey, mike, i have some big tongs in the back seat of my car. they should work."
now, how many guys go around with long, silver, aluminum tongs in the back seats of their cars? on this day, jim did.
and we all benefitted. they worked just fine. we partied - talked and ate and drank until nearly 11 p.m. - and jim was in the middle of it. as he should have been - he helped make it go, as he did with so many things - running fall ball, managing the braves, remembering to say, win or lose, you played a good game. as i say, the texans loved him.
Just left the calling hours for Jim. Saw many of you there.
Driving home I remembered that deep in my dusty boxes from my youth I had written down a poem that I once read, written by Ed Charles, who played for the 1969 Mets. After getting home, I somehow found it in just seconds (I thought I’d be digging through the boxes for hours)
Here it is, for Jim:
Author of My Talents by ~ Ed Charles (“The Glider”), Third Baseman, 1962-1969, Kansas City A’s and NY Mets
Author of my talents, only you I have praised To Thee only shall my hands be raised For when I am burdened with the weight of my team To my rescue you come, it always will seem. For outstanding is my play on any given day When you intervene and help lead the way Grateful to you I will always be For exploiting my talents for others to see For out there on the diamond, before all the fans We players perform, as best we can Perform we must, both day and night Seeking a place, with other sports greats In the Hall of Fame, where ability rates Where Ruth, Cobb, Robinson and the rest Stand proudly enshrined as baseball’s best For deep is my yearning for a place at the top And with you leading the way competition cannot stop The glory of fame which someday I will receive When I too pass on, and a proud record leave So guide me dear author, for the competition is keen And I too may fall, like others I have seen For many are performers and few reach the top But with you leading the way, I will never stop
It's hard to write anything that has not been said about Jim. All the previous posts are a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man. Jim cared. Jim worked hard to make things right.
When we played against each other, it was always a handshake, always a hello, always a "Great game" at the end. He made it enjoyable.
The best tribute to Jim would be to play the game with smiles.
One of the the many guys that played the game having fun. Used to tell me many of times relax, have fun, and you'll play better. He was right. On and off the field he would make players chuckle. That be the JJ
I met Jimmy 3 years ago when I joined the cdmsbl, and we played together in the fall and in florida @ Disney. He was alot of fun and a great competitor. From the whole Bonaparte family we send our thoughts to his family. He will be missed.
