2010 Male Player: Jim Rumple

Jim Rumple

If the next time you go to your favorite OTB facility and you see Jim Rumple on the race card, bet $20 on him to win. This is what his teammates did as they stopped traffic in Clinton, Iowa as his teammates matched him up against every other fast guy in the tournament. Those that bet on Jim were not disappointed, as he was the only undefeated barefoot sprinter in the tournament field.

Speed however, was not Jim's only prowess to fame, as he was a complete player playing flawless defense in the outfield, at shortstop, at second base and at pitcher positions during an abbreviated competitive 18-year career, which has seen him swat 350 career home runs. He achieved All-State honors twice and played on the 1976 USSSA Class B World Championship Forest Hills Lanes team.

Jim believes that the Forest Hills team chemistry was the best he had ever played with as he states, "It was a great group of guys to play with."

Jim's softball playing career began in 1971 when he began playing with the Rockford Rams, followed by Club 51, the State Champion RMA squad and highlighted with a stint with the professional Chicago Storm team in 1977. From 1980 to 1984, Jim participated with RMA/Rockford Stars, which did not finish out of the top 10 every year in world tournament play.

Jim says, "The slowpitch game was made for me. I never played it for any accolades, I just played because I loved the game."