Jim "The Rookie" Morris

Jim Morris' Cinderella story is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. Originally a top prospect, Morris' dream of becoming a major league baseball player was derailed by serious arm injuries before he got out of the lower minors. Instead, he got married, raised a family of three, and earned his college degree before becoming a high school science teacher and baseball coach in West Texas. 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, Morris 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. Morris made his last place team the following bet; if they won the District championship, he would tryout for a major league team. The bet was born.

Inspired, Morris' team fulfilled their part of the bargain, which committed Morris 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! After just three months in the minors and with his family and students in attendance, Morris returned to Texas as a major league player and struck out all-star Royce Clayton with a 98-mph fastball in his first big league game.

Morris' Cinderella story is the subject of the Walt Disney film, The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. His biography, "The Rookie", is also available in bookstores. The real life "Rocky," Morris' story strikes a chord with all types of audiences. A schoolteacher by trade, Morris is a lovable storyteller whose miracle story captivates and inspires audiences to never give up on a dream.