St. Boni Saints

In 1999, a high school science teacher in Big Lake, Texas made a bet with his baseball team. If they won district, he would try out for the major leagues. He was 35 years old. Jim Morris had been a first round pick once. The Milwaukee Brewers took him in 1983. Then his shoulder fell apart. Surgery after surgery. He never made it past A ball. By 1989, doctors had removed most of his deltoid muscle and told him he would never pitch again. So he went home to Texas and became a teacher. Physical science at Reagan County High School, in a town of fewer than 3,000 people. In 1999 he took over the baseball team. It had won three games in the previous three seasons. Combined. After a couple more losses, he made the deal. Win district, and he would go to a big league tryout. Reagan County won district. The first district title in school history. So Jim Morris kept his word. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays were holding an open tryout in Brownwood, Texas. A 35 year old science teacher walked up to the mound. The scout did not expect much. Then Morris threw 98 miles an hour. Then he did it again. Twelve pitches in a row at 98. The scouts double checked their radar guns. After a long talk with his family, he signed. Within a month, he was pitching in Double A. On September 18, 1999, in Arlington, Texas, he walked out of the bullpen in the eighth inning. The first batter was Royce Clayton. Four pitches. All fastballs. Strikeout. A science teacher from Big Lake just struck out a big league shortstop. He pitched parts of two seasons in the majors before his arm gave out for good. Then he became a motivational speaker and wrote two books about it. Disney made a movie about him. The Rookie, starring Dennis Quaid. It made nearly $81 million. Quaid said it simply. "The story was that good." A bad high school team. A teacher who made a promise he never thought he would have to keep. And a bunch of kids who held him to it. For more stories like this, follow us on any platform @thesportsontap