The story of Jim Eisenreich is a good one:  A hot prospect has his rookie year derailed by a misdiagnosis.  Toss in a classy act (being sarcastic here) by Boston Red Sox fans, a couple years out of professional baseball, and a comeback that has a very happy ending and you have a biography worthy of a Hollywood movie.

Eisenreich's story has a local tie to it as well.  Charlie Eisenreich, Jim's younger brother, played for the Appleton Foxes in 1987 and Gary Shriver's Foxes Notes column from the June 21, 1987 edition of the Post-Crescent covers the details.  It is also this week's Friday Flashback.

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EISENREICH'S STRUGGLE HAS BECOME A FAMILY AFFAIR

Jim Eisenreich's struggle to make it back to the top of the baseball world is not just a personal battle, it also involves the members of his close-knit family.

Eisenreich was forced out of baseball in 1983 after a promising start with the Minnesota Twins by a disorder that caused him to shake and twitch and convulse while in the field.  The Twins accepted a diagnosis that Eisenreich suffered from a psychological disorder that eventually led to his retirement from baseball.

Eisenreich, however, chose to believe another diagnosis, that his problem was the result of a neurochemical disorder called Tourette syndrome.  He has been treated with a prescription drug.

After playing a couple of seasons of amateur ball in his hometown of St. Cloud, Minn., Eisenreich was picked up on waivers by the Kansas City Royals this spring and was assigned to their Class AA affiliate in Memphis.  After hitting over .380 with the Chicks for the first part of the season, Eisenreich was called up to the Royals last week.

"The family was apprehensive about his trying to play baseball again after what had happened," said Jim's brother Charlie, a member of the Appleton Foxes.  "The major concern of my mother and father is that he remains healthy.

"After he was diagnosed as having Tourette, Jim received a lot of letters and books containing information on the thing.  He really believes that's what he has.  Whether or not he really has that, who knows?  But the symptoms are there.  And he has a pretty good grasp on it right now."

Jim began to develop the symptoms that would jeopardize his baseball career while still playing in Little League.

"He was about nine or 10 when it started," Charlie explained.  "He went to the hospital and had some tests and they said he would grow out of it.  The family, everyone just accepted the problem.  It was no big deal."

Charlie - at 23, five years younger than Jim - grew up watching his brother play baseball, and considers him to be the best athlete that he has ever seen.

"Jim is one of those guys who can pick up a tennis racket for the first time and beat you," Charlie said.  "But I was surprised he did so well so quickly at Memphis .  I didn't think he would be able to comeback that quick.  He really did expect to stay with the Royals this spring, until he hurt his shoulder.  But that's something he didn't have any control over."

Jim's signing with the Royals may have had the spinoff effect of launching brother Charlie's professional baseball career.

"My name came up in a conversation Jim had with Bob Hegman (Royals' administrative assistant of scouting and player development)."

Charlie was then signed as a free agent by the Royals last January and is now in his first season of professional baseball.

"Actually, I had planned to go into teaching math and coaching," Charlie said.  "I already had been accepted for a job at a small high school outside of St. Cloud .  I'll finish up my degree this fall, and I still may teach someday."

Entering the teaching profession wouldn't be unusual for Eisenreich.  His father, Cliff, is a retired teacher, his older brother, Bill, is a teacher in Cold Spring, Minn., and his 25-year old sister is also a teacher.

"I was an academic All-America, so I shouldn't have too much of a problem finding a job," said Charlie.  "And while I've learned to accept that Jim is a great baseball player, I can beat him in a math test."

For now, the teaching will have to wait because Charlie plans on giving professional baseball a shot.

"It was just something I had to give a chance," Charlie said.  "I've always been a slow starter, so I'm hoping that my hitting will pick up.  But I'm having fun here.  I was able to play a couple of seasons of amateur ball with Jim, and that was great.  It really would be a big thrill if someday we could both be on the Royals.  

·         Prior to Friday's game with Wausau at Goodland Field, the Foxes held a moment of silence in honor of the late Royals' manager Dick Howser, who passed away Wednesday afternoon.  The flag in center field was lowered to half-staff.  

·         The Foxes have also made a few other roster moves.  Pitcher Brian Meyers has been sent to Sarasota of the Gulf Coast Rookie League, and designated hitter Deric Ladnier has been placed on the disabled list.  

Coming off the disabled list are pitcher Dennis Moeller and catcher-third baseman Carlos Escalera.  With Escalera activated, Coach Brian Poldberg has been removed from the roster.  

Also activated is right-handed pitcher Gary Peters.  In addition, Andy Naworski, another right-handed pitcher will be joining the Foxes from Ft. Myers of the Florida State League.  

·         Bill Byrk, Midwest supervisor of scouting for the Pirates and Dick Colpaert, of the Major League Scouting Bureau, were on hand for Friday's Foxes-Timbers game.  

Byrk spends most of his summer conducting tryout camps throughout the Midwest .  While many major league teams have discontinued the use of these camps, Byrk said that last season he signed two players out of them.  

"We look mainly for arms and legs," said Byrk.  "While most of the good players are now going to college, occasionally you pick up on someone that everyone has missed.  It also helps you to eliminate some players and saves a trip or two the next spring."  

Byrk conducted a camp in Green Bay last week and will hold camps in Beloit and Milwaukee later this month.  

Colpaert, who pitched for the Appleton Foxes in 1962, is responsible for compiling scouting reports on six of the teams in the Midwest League, including all five Wisconsin teams, for the Major League Scouting Bureau.  During the spring, he also scouts area high school and college players in 12 states in the Midwest .

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NOTES AND REACTIONS:

1.) I'd like to make a correction to last week's Flashback.  I had forgotten that Greg Connors, a member of the 1998 Timber Rattlers, had also played all nine positions in a game.  I had stated that Scott Steinmann (1996) and Kuzmic (1999) were the only two Rattlers to accomplish that feat.  Thanks to long-time reader Patty for pointing that out to me.

2.) That classy act of Boston Red Sox fans?  Here's a link to a New York Times piece on Jim Eisenreich's comeback.  It has the following details: It began in Boston , when fans at Fenway Park noticed the exaggerated facial twitching and began to ridicule Eisenreich, the starting center fielder.

That is mild compared to this account: In 1982, Minnesota Twins rookie Jim Eisenreich stood in left field of Fenway Park trying to block out the taunts of the Red Sox faithful, "Shake, shake, shake," they jeered from the stands. The taunts were eerily similar to the cruel words that Eisenreich had heard many times before  -- from classmates, teachers and even coaches.   But this time, it was different.   This time, the taunts raining down on him from Fenway Park 's storied outfield were in full view of the public eye. A camera briefly caught the outfielder fighting back tears and eventually struggling to return to the dugout at mid-inning.   I remember those shots.   I remember them well.

Tell me again how Sox fans were well-deserving of a World Series title.

3.) Charlie Eisenreich, was signed as a free agent out of St. Cloud State University .  His only season as a professional ballplayer was 1987 with the Foxes.  He played in 104 games, hit .240 and chipped in with three home runs.

4.) If my google search hit the mark, Charlie is now Charles Eisenreich, Principal of Apollo High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

5.) Brian Poldberg, a 30-year old coach pressed into service for the Foxes in 1987, became the manager of the Foxes in 1988 and 1989.

6.) Dick Colpaert was 18 years old when he joined the Foxes in 1962 for his first season of professional baseball.  He went 5-6 in 36 games (two starts) on his first step up the ladder.  Colpaert made it to the Major Leagues for eight games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970.  He made eight relief appearances.  His debut game was on July 21, a game in which he pitched two scoreless innings against the Houston Astros.  His last major league appearance was on August 10 against the New York Mets. 

Colpaert won the only game in which he was involved in the decision, a game against the Atlanta Braves in Pittsburgh on July 23.  He entered the game in the top of the eighth inning with the Pirates down 5-3.  Colpaert pitched a scoreless eighth by retiring Henry Aaron, Orlando Cepada, and Clete Boyer in order.  The Pirates scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning and Dave Giusti pitched a scoreless ninth to save Colpaert's only major league win.

Colpaert was not on our honor roll of alumni who made it to the big leagues...until now.

7.) Jim Eisenreich's story had a happy ending.  Here is his BaseballLibrary.com entry.  Notable excerpts:  After three more seasons in a platoon role for the Royals, he left as a free agent after the 1992 season to join the Phillies, where his career hit its high point . Originally signed as a backup outfielder and a left-handed bat off the bench, Eisenreich shared time with Wes Chamberlain in right during the Phillies' pennant-winning season of 1993 and hit over .300 in each of his four seasons in Philadelphia ... Eisenreich joined the Marlins in 1997, and batted .280 in 120 games as an outfielder, first baseman, and pinch hitter as the club stormed to their first championship.

8.) Jim Eisenreich, who played in the Midwest League the for Wisconsin Rapids Twins for a few games in 1980 and most of the season in 1981, went 4-for-8 with a homer and three RBI for the Marlins in their win over the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series.  He hit a key homer as part of a Marlins comeback in Game Three.  He entered Game Seven as a defensive replacement and was walked intentionally during the winning rally in the bottom of the eleventh inning.  Eisenreich was on second base when Edgar Renteria singled to chase home Craig Counsell with the Championship-clinching run. 

He now is involved in the Jim Eisenreich Foundation for Children with Tourette Syndrome in Kansas City .  According to the site: In baseball stadiums all around the country, Jim speaks to children and their families about his story. He speaks from experiences that were painful and he speaks from his heart. He has forgiven those that made fun of him and in turn ask them for their help in getting the message out about Tourette Syndrome.

By establishing the Jim Eisenreich Foundation for Children with Tourette Syndrome, Jim has found a way to help others achieve their dreams.

I told you there was a happy ending.

Previous Flashback Fridays:

10/16: Organist at Goodland Field

10/23: Coming Home

10/30: The Next Unit

11/6: Rattler Rally

11/13: The Beginning of the End

11/20: Frankie

11/27: Stewart Cooper

12/4: Craig Kuzmic x 9