House That Hank Built
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Podcast: Jim “The Rookie” Morris on his new book and encountering Braves legend Hank Aaron

By Seth Carter

20 Apr 2000: Jim Morris #63 of Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland. The Oriloles defeated the Devil Rays 8-4.
20 Apr 2000: Jim Morris #63 of Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitching during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland. The Oriloles defeated the Devil Rays 8-4. /
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FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 06: (L-R) Actor Chuck Norris, Gena O’Kelley, actor Dennis Quaid, Shawna Morris and former Tampa Bay Devil Rays relief pitcher Jim Morris pose prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 6, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

A Second Chance

Flash forward to 2002. In honor of the release of the movie, Jim was invited to the New York Stock Exchange by Russell Athletics to ring the closing bell. They also invited another baseball legend for the ceremony, Hank Aaron.

Jim got the opportunity to tell Hank about the baseball he destroyed and how it happened. Hank just smiled and sort of looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Jim turned and asked the legend, “is there any way you’ll sign another baseball for me?”

He laughed and put his arm around the man the movie was made about and said “I would have if you hadn’t have told me that story!”

At least he got a plaque commemorating the event and a great story he was able to write about in the book.

Dream Makers

As I said earlier, if you love baseball, you’ll love this book. His passion for the game comes across immediately but the story goes so far beyond just baseball. Most people aren’t aware of the numerous surgeries, his battle with CTE and Parkinsons, his struggle with pain killers and alcohol that led to a stint in rehab, and the impact of an abusive household as a child.

Jim’s book discusses those other people in our lives that enable you to aspire to reach higher. He calls them Dream Makers. The point he made about Hank Aaron being a Dream Maker went beyond just being a great ballplayer. The hatred he endured as he chased down the Babe made him a Dream Maker. The death threats and awful rhetoric he would hear on a daily basis, simply because of the color of his skin, made him a Dream Maker.

It was just one of many great stories Jim shared with us on the podcast. Make sure you listen to the full interview here:

Listen to “EPISODE 26: A baseball and life conversation with “The Rookie”” on Spreaker.

Pick up a copy of the book here.

Next. Ronald Acuna Jr. is a Phenom. dark

I want to extend a special thanks to Jim Morris for taking the time to share his incredible story with us.

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