2015 Male Player: Jim Walsh

Jim Walsh

Jim began playing softball in 1986. His first team was Kenneth Allen in 1986 and the next 29 years he played with One Hour Cleaners, Home Run Inn, Belcher Construction, The Kings, Tron Piping, Wombats, Screwballs, Ken Adams Softball and Ken’s Beverage. He cites The Kings/Screwballs squad as probably the best team he played for. He also thinks that Tom Piping and Ken’s Beverage were right there in talent. Jim was named All State in 1993 with HRI, in 1995 and 1996 with The Kings and with Tron Piping in 1996 and 1999. He earned All World/Offensive MVP in the 1997 Masteres World Tournament with Tron. He mostly played outfield with a lifetime batting average of over .640 and over 500 home runs.

In high school Jim played baseball for four years at Hinsdale Central. He continued playing baseball at Lewis University for the next three years and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round in 1980. The best players Jim considers playing with are Hall of Famers Jim Cushing, Art Rebolletti and Brian Schultz.He has had many good coaches through the years and thinks Mike Koch, who got him started playing softball, Ken Adams and Don Loid as the best. The USSSA has allowed him to meet and play with gifted athletes and players. It has provided every level of competition that a player could ever want.

Jim is still actively playing in the Senior program for the last four years. He has participated in Law Enforcement softball for the past 20 years. Softball runs in the family – Jim’s wife, Sue, played and helped coach for many years in the leagues and tournaments. Jim would like to be remembered as a great competitor and teammate. He will join many of these teammates tonight in the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame.