SMSBL Hall of Fame

Jim was born and raised in the Land Park area of South Sacramento. Growing up there, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He began his junior year at Christian Brother's High school but was in a serious car accident which ended his high school sports ambitions. After high school, Jim took up bowling and is proud to mention that he has a high 3 game series of 794 as well as 6 perfect games (300) to his credit.

Jim started coaching when his kids started playing competitively in the early 90's. His son Jimmy Jr was in baseball and basketball and daughter Amanda played basketball. Coaching his kids led Jim to the ranks of high school and travel baseball coach, respectively. He has coached at Rio Americano High, El Camino High, The Sacramento Wolverines travel baseball club, and in the East Sac Babe Ruth league.

Jim has been playing SMSBL since 1996, when his brother Jerry (HOF Class of 2019) asked if he wanted to start playing baseball again? A quick "okay" was his reply and he has been playing ever since. Jim is grateful to have played with a lot of talented players over the course of his men's league career. Jim has won two national championships and five Woodland/Davis Labor Day tournaments. Throw in a Sea Otter title in Monterey, a Las Vegas tourney title and many league championships too! But Jim knows that without the talent surrounding him, he never would have accomplished any of this. He would like all his fellow players to know that he is ever so grateful for all they have done for him.

Despite all the success Jim has had, one of the top moments came early in his career. It was while he was playing for the 18+ open A's. His nephew JR Marquardsen was on third, Jim was on second and Jerry was on first when Jim's son, Jimmy Jr. came to the plate. There it was! Four Marquardsens, one on each base, and the youngest Marquardsen at bat. Low and behold Jimmy Jr. came through with a hit to score two runs. After the game they all realized that special moment would be hard to duplicate. And to this day, it has never happened again.