A Baseball Career That Ended in . . . a Split Second

Jim Aldredge, a phenomenal baseball player, signed a professional contract at age 17. In his second season, he was hit in the left eye by a thrown ball. He eventually lost sight in the eye, but attempted two comebacks and was playing very well - better than most players with two good eyes. But the politics of baseball and racism made him realize it was time to turn to Fresno and get an education. He was graduated from Fresno City College and Fresno State while working full time for the City of Fresno. He earned a Ph.D. and also studied at Oxford. At nights, he taught at Fresno City College, the University of San Francisco and Fresno State - all the while he was working as an assistant city manager. He was made interim city manager a few times when administrators would change, but an outsider always got the job. At last, the city realized he was the right man all along and promoted him to city manager. He taught at Fresno State until he retired and was named professor emeritus. He then created a foundation to help aspiring students and athletes, and to deliver social services to the poor and needy.