Jim Morris is a former professional baseball player who became famous for his remarkable comeback story. Morris was a pitcher who made his Major League Baseball debut at the age of 35, after spending years as a high school teacher and coach. His inspiring story was adapted into a movie called The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. But how much did Jim Morris make in his baseball career? And what is his net worth today? In this blog post, we will explore some of the answers to these questions, and how Jim Morris achieved his dream of playing in the big leagues.
Jim Morris’s Early Life and Baseball Career
Jim Morris was born in Brownwood, Texas, on January 19, 1964. He grew up in a family of athletes and showed promise as a baseball player from an early age. However, he suffered a shoulder injury during college that prevented him from pursuing a career in baseball. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1982 and by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983, but he did not sign with either team. He played in the minor leagues for a few years, but he never made it to the majors.
Morris decided to retire from baseball and became a high school science teacher and baseball coach in Big Lake, Texas. He continued to play baseball in recreational leagues, and he discovered that he still had a powerful fastball. In 1999, he made a bet with his high school team that if they won the district championship, he would try out for a major league team. The team won the title, and Morris kept his promise.
He attended a tryout camp for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and impressed the scouts with his fastball that reached 98 miles per hour. He was offered a contract and assigned to the minor leagues. He quickly rose through the ranks and made his major league debut on September 18, 1999, at the age of 35. He pitched in 21 games for the Devil Rays in 1999 and 2000, recording a 4.80 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.
Jim Morris’s Movie Deal and Net Worth
Jim Morris’s remarkable story caught the attention of Hollywood, and he sold the rights to his life story to Disney for $2 million. The movie, titled The Rookie, was released in 2002 and starred Dennis Quaid as Jim Morris. The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $80 million worldwide. Jim Morris also received royalties from the movie’s DVD sales and merchandise.
Jim Morris’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. Although he only had a short-lived baseball career, he made a considerable amount of money through his movie deal, endorsements, speaking engagements, and acting gigs. He also wrote a book about his life, titled The Oldest Rookie, which was published in 2001.
Jim Morris retired from baseball in 2000 and became a motivational speaker, sharing his story with audiences around the world. He also appeared in several TV shows and movies, such as The Rookie: The Incredible True Story of Jim Morris, Angels in the Infield, and Ring of Honor Wrestling. He currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife and children.
Conclusion
Jim Morris is a former professional baseball player who became famous for his remarkable comeback story. He made his major league debut at the age of 35, after spending years as a high school teacher and coach. His inspiring story was adapted into a movie called The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid.
Jim Morris’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. He made most of his money from his movie deal with Disney, as well as from endorsements, speaking engagements, and acting gigs. He also wrote a book about his life, titled The Oldest Rookie.
Jim Morris’s story is a testament to the power of determination and belief in oneself. Despite facing numerous challenges, he was able to achieve his dream of playing in the major leagues and became an inspiration to many.
