Meet Jim Milligan ( Milly), a laid-back beach lover hailing from the sunny shores of Pacific Palisades, just a stone's throw away from the bustling city of Los Angeles. With sand between his toes from a young age, Jim's summers were filled with the rhythm of the waves, whether he was bodysurfing, sailing,
or spiking volleyballs.
But Jim's real passion ignited on the baseball diamond at the tender age of eight, when he first stepped up as a catcher in the local West Los Angeles Little League. Despite starting with minimal skills, his coach quickly spotted his potential, thanks to Jim's cool demeanor and knack for reading hitters like a book.
Through high school and college, Jim's love for baseball never waned. He became a regular fixture in
various leagues across Southern California, from the Los Angeles Recreational Baseball League to the
Southern California Baseball Association.
Outside of the ballpark, Jim's engineering mindset led him into the world of swimming pool contracting, eventually transitioning into manufacturing elegant all tiled spas. Along the way, he married his
wife Maureen, an animal enthusiast in 1988. In 1992 they welcomed their daughter Katie. Kate with
her dad coaching inherited her father's love for sports, playing volleyball and softball for Butte and
Menlo colleges. In '93, Jim took his talents to his first MSBL Arizona World Series with the West LA Dodgers. This marking the beginning of a baseball odyssey starting in Sacramento 1999 and playing many years with Mike Bakers MSBL World Series Champion Auburn Braves. Transitioning to Sunday’s Buzzards baseball “church league” with the fellow partitioners, Kephart, Welz, Everingham, Wooden, and Weathers.
From winning gold medals at the Australian and New Zealand World Masters Games to suiting up with
the Miners and Dan Wukmir Red Sox, Jim's passion for the game knows no bounds. Despite life's twists and turns, Jim's dedication to the game never faltered. From the beaches of Hermosa to the horse ranches of Fallbrook, and now the tranquil town of Chico, he's laced up his cleats and grabbed his catching gear, making the 180-mile trek to play ball at least three times a week for over two half decades.
And whether he's playing in Arizona with the Braves, Royals or Tribe, he's always ready to collaborate
with teammates and create lasting memories.
For Jim, SMSBL isn't just about baseball—it's about connecting with others, sharing experiences, and
embracing the joy of the game, one pitch at a time.
