Patience and Persistence — The Jim Czajkowski story

Manchester, N.H. – The bases are loaded in the top of the second inning at Delta Dental Stadium. There’s no score between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Hayden Juenger retired the first two batters he faced but then walked two and allowed a single to Binghamton’s nine hitter.

Out walks Jim Czajkowski (pronounced “cy-cow-ski”). The 6-foot-4 pitching coach for New Hampshire dawns a bright red shirt and his signature tinted Oakley sunglasses. He talks with Juenger, joined by catcher Ryan Gold and the Fisher Cats infielders. Prompted by the home plate umpire, Czajkowski trots back to the dugout.

The next pitch, Binghamton second baseman Wyatt Young lines out to first base to end the inning.

Czajkowski is in his 11th year in the Blue Jays organization, and he’s been in Minor League baseball since he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1986.

He is what you might call a “baseball lifer,” and his life story is one you could imagine in a book, or maybe even on the big screen. Czajkowski himself calls his story “book-worthy,” and he jokes that our conversation will spark his big break. From chapter one to today, Czajkowski has lived, played or coached in four countries, 17 states and Puerto Rico. He crossed paths with Steve Avery, Tim Wakefield, Joe Girardi, Barry Bonds and Darryl Strawberry, among others.

His story is one of full circles. He made his first major league appearance in Candlestick Park, about 50 miles from where he grew up in Northern California. He pitched his final MLB appearance against the Atlanta Braves, the team that drafted him. Through it all, Czajkowski has found patience and persistence central to his journey, and he teaches the Fisher Cats to practice the same.

Moving since day one

Jim Mark Czajkowski was the fifth of six children born to Jack and Mary Jean Czajkowski. Jim and his siblings—Jack, Jed, Jill, John and Jay—all shared the initials “J.C.” for “Jesus Christ.”

Jack was a purchasing agent for H.K. Ferguson and worked in construction, overseeing year-long projects around the United States. Jim was born outside of Cleveland in Parma, Ohio and moved to Palmer, Alaska at the age of seven.

“We basically lived in the woods, and the siblings were always together,” Czajkowski said. “It was fun as a kid. You’re looking for fun things to do. I mean Alaska in the snow, really, how much more fun can you have? It was a blast.”

Soon after, the family moved to McMinnville, Oregon, then Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and then Fairfield, California. Czajkowski worked his way up on the Fairfield High School team. By senior year, he was the ace of the staff and was named all-district in the highly competitive Monticello Empire League.

College brought more moves, and more success. After stops at Solano Community College and San Jacinto Junior College, Czajkowski moved to Florence, Alabama to play for the University of North Alabama Lions. He pitched 55.0 innings in 1985 with a 3.93 ERA. He earned a 6-1 record and had one save. In 1986, Czajkowski started the year on a 24-inning scoreless streak that helped earn him induction to the North Alabama Hall of Fame.

“I came out of the bullpen a few times,” Czajkowski said. “Then [I got] a spot start on a Saturday or Sunday and went complete-game shutout. The next Saturday [I got] another start. Complete-game shutout.”

Czajkowski earned a team-best 1.98 ERA in 1986 and had a 3-1 record with four saves. His appearances in the conference tournament in Jacksonville, Alabama would prove to be his showcase to scouts.

“I pitched in five games in three days,” Czajkowski said. “I was pumping 90s in all five games.”

Then he got a call from an Atlanta Braves scout who asked, “Can you do that every day?”

“Every day,” Czajkowski answered.

The climb

Jim Czajkowski was drafted in the 29th round of the 1986 MLB draft to the Atlanta Braves, going 711th overall. But for over 24 hours, he didn’t know it.

“That’s the funny thing. They couldn’t get a hold of me,” Czajkowski said. “They didn’t have cell phones. I was living basically as a nomad in Florence, Alabama.”

Following his final season with North Alabama, Czajkowski thought his aspirations of playing professional baseball were over. He describes thinking that he had to “do something instead of stay eligible.” Finally, Lions coach Mike Lane tracked Czajkowski down to tell him the good news. He traveled to Birmingham where his first contract was waiting for him… with the wrong name. The contract read “James Mac” Czajkowski instead of “Jim Mark.”

“I didn’t care,” Czajkowski laughed. “I had my chance. I got my foot in the door.”

In 1986, Jim started with Atlanta’s rookie affiliate, the Idaho Falls Braves. Czajkowski led the Pioneer League in innings, pitching 88.2 frames with 13 starts and a 7-5 record. One year later, Jim moved up to the Single-A Sumter Braves, serving mainly as the closer. He earned a career-high 20 saves in 50 appearances. For the next two seasons, Czajkowski played for the legendary Durham Bulls, then the High-A affiliate of the Braves. In 1988, Czajkowski earned a career-high eight wins.

“When we got to Durham, the movie [Bull Durham] had just come out, “Czajkowski said. “It was one of the most fun seasons we’ve ever had, my wife and I. The movie was such an impact. We were still riding the same stinking bus that was in the movie. It was disgusting.”

The Bulls tallied 271,650 in total attendance that season. The team went 82-50, and Czajkowski had a 3.39 ERA, fifth among pitchers with at least 50 innings. Again, Jim served as a closer with a team-high 17 saves. His wife, Cheri, worked at the nearby apartment complex. She and Jim had met in line for registration during Jim’s first day at North Alabama.

“I was in the wrong line, but it turned out good,” Czajkowski said with a smile.

Cheri was able to score jobs where Jim was playing most seasons. Czajkowski says Cheri sacrificed a lot to get where we were going. When the two started having children, things became a lot tougher. Their first son, Josh, was born in March 1990 after Czajkowski had been acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates via the Rule 5 Draft. That season, he started with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Harrisburg marked the first of four teams Czajkowski would play for in 1990, the first year that he was father.

Due to a plethora of relievers in the Pittsburgh system, Jim was sent down to the High-A Salem Buccaneers where he was throwing partners with Tim Wakefield, the famous Boston Red Sox knuckleball pitcher who won two World Series.

“I caught Tim every day as he’d work on his knuckleball,” Czajkowski said. “I hate knuckleballs.”

In the middle of the season, Salem manager Stan Cliburn asked if Jim would go to Milwaukee in a trade. Cliburn wanted to make sure Czajkowski wouldn’t quit.

“I was a little older. I’d been in parts of Double-A for two years,” Czajkowski said. “I said, ‘Sure, I’ll go.’”

The next stop was Beloit, Wisconsin to play for the Beloit Brewers, Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Czajkowski pitched 21 games with Beloit before joining the High-A Stockton Ports for the California League championship. The Ports defeated the Bakersfield Dodgers in the series after losing game one, 5-4, in a 22-inning, six hour and 20 minutes contest.

In 1991, Czajkowski was on a 40-man roster and went to spring training for the first time. He pitched 1991 and 1992 for the El Paso Diablos in what he described as a hitters’ park at Cohen Stadium.

Czajkowski would finish 1991 and 1992 with a 4.94 and 4.88 ERA, respectively. He said the numbers weren’t up to his standard. Following the season, Czajkowski was a free agent. He and his agent looked for a possible landing spot and decided on the Cubs organization. He started 1993 with the Double-A Orlando Cubs and then was promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he threw 70.1 innings. In the winter of 1993, Czajkowski played in the Dominican Winter League, calling it a “life-changer.”

“Before, you’re trying to please people,” Czajkowski said. “This was just about winning. [The Dominican Winter League] didn’t care if you were a prospect. They didn’t care how much money you were making. They just cared about winning, which is right up my alley.”

In 1994, Czajkowski joined the Rockies organization. The Rockies had joined Major League Baseball in 1993, and Czajkowski knew they were sending a lot of their pitchers up and down around the minors. Jim was 30 in the 1994 season and thought if he was ever going to make it to the majors, this might be his chance.

Jim, Cheri, and their sons Josh and Zak, lived by Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. Czajkowski started the year with the Triple-A Colorado Spring Sky Sox. He loved the team, recalling a clubhouse full of students of the game.

In July, the Sky Sox pitching coach Frank Funk trotted down to the bullpen where Czajkowski and the other relievers sat. Funk started going down the line of pitchers saying, “You’re available tomorrow. You’re available tomorrow.” He got to Jim and said, “You’re going to San Francisco.”

The Rockies were playing at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco Giants. Czajkowski had gotten the call.

“Seriously?” Czajkowski asked.

“Yes,” Funk said. “You’re going to the big leagues.”

The show

Czajkowski made his major league debut on July 29, 1994 against the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park, 52 miles from where he grew up in Fairfield.

“I was trying to get tickets for all of my family,” Czajkowski said. “It was the most hectic day ever. [I got] 75 tickets a night for the four days I was there.”

Czajkowski came on in the seventh inning with the Rockies trailing, 6-2. Waiting for him in his first major league inning were the Giants three, four and five hitters: Barry Bonds, Matt Williams and Darryl Strawberry.

“I’d been ready for Barry Bonds for years because he was one of these guys that was a star player in the making when I was working out during the offseason,” Czajkowski said. “Every time I would simulate hitters, I’d envision him.”

Czajkowski talked with Rockies catcher Joe Girardi before his inning. He told Girardi, who became the manager for the Yankees and the Phillies, that he liked to throw fastballs in, sliders and occasionally his splitter.

Bonds started off the inning with a missile to right field for a single. After broken bat singles from Williams and Strawberry, Czajkowski had given up one run and had runners on first and second. Then he got a line drive bullet to second base which resulted in a double play, and Czajkowski got out of the jam allowing just one run in the inning. The Giants would win 8-4. Bonds, Williams and Strawberry went a combined 6-for-11 with five RBIs.

Two days later, Czajkowski pitched in the final game of the four-game series at Candlestick, and the Giants won 9-4. Earlier in the week, Giants reliever Dave Burba hit two Rockies with a pitch. The first was right fielder Dante Bichette, father of former Fisher Cat and current Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette. The second was Rockies first baseman Andres Galarraga, who broke his hand.

After giving up back-to-back homer runs to Barry Bonds and Matt Williams, Czajkowski felt the need to go back to his best pitch

“I’m telling myself if I’m pitching in this league, I gotta pitch the way I pitch,” Czajkowski said. “I gotta pitch IN.”

That’s exactly what he did. Czajkowski came inside and hit Giants shortstop Royce Clayton. The next batter, Czajkowski caught catcher Kurt Manwaring in the same spot.

A fight broke out.

Czajkowski stayed in the game because he didn’t come at anyone during the scrum. When he got back to the dugout, coach Don Zimmer was waiting for Czajkowski.

“He comes up to me and says, ‘I don’t know if you did it on purpose, kid, but I like it,'” Czajkowski recalled. “I go, ‘Thanks, Don. It wasn’t on purpose.’”

Czajkowski then pitched two innings at the Astrodome in Houston, the same city where he spent a year with San Jacinto. His final MLB appearance was against the Braves, the team that drafted him, at Mile High Stadium.

All in all, Czajkowski’s pro career lasted five outings. He threw 8.2 MLB innings, giving up four earned runs. He struck out two batters. The 1994 season ended on August 12 due to the players’ strike. Czajkowski last pitched on August 9. When the winter rolled around, Czajkowski went to Mexico to play winter ball. He needed to make money for Cheri and his family. There, Czajkowski matched up with Fernando Valenzuela, who played 17 years in the majors and was a six-time All Star with the Dodgers. Czajkowski won.

1995 brought a return to the minors for Czajkowski. He called the beginning of the season his worst start ever. He finished with a 5.06 ERA and 17 saves in 83.2 innings. The Sky Sox won the Pacific League Championship. Despite finishing strong, Czajkowski never got another call up with the Rockies. He thinks his start to the season ruined any second chance he may have had.

Czajkowski finished out his playing career in the Toronto organization. He threw with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. All in all, he played for 14 minor league teams across six organizations.

Full-circle

Czajkowski spent time in land surveying after finishing his playing career. He got his competitive fix with three-on-three basketball tournaments and softball.

One day in 2000, he saw his former Braves teammate Steve Avery was making a start for the Greenville Braves in Knoxville, Tennessee, 30 miles from Czajkowski’s home in Sevierville. Jim decided to go visit Avery. He’d come back with a start for his coaching career.

Greenville pitching coach Bill Champion recognized Czajkowski when he visited. The two spent time together in the Brewers system. Champion asked Jim if he knew Dick Balderson, who was working with the Braves at the time.

Coincidentally, Balderson was the one who sent Czajkowski to the majors and gave him the promotion from Colorado Springs to the Rockies. Balderson gave Czajkowski a job coaching with the Danville Braves. He coached in the Braves organization until 2011 and has been with Toronto since.

This is Czajkowski’s second straight year and third overall coaching New Hampshire. He spent 2014 in Manchester before returning in 2021. As he looks around baseball today, Czajkowski sees cyclical change.

“Everything is changing, but everything is going back to the way it was,” Czajkowski said. “It always is that way.”

For example, he points to the fact that two years ago pitchers were pounding fastballs up.

“Now the hitters are starting to hit things that are up,” Czajkowski said. “Sinker ballers are going to be in high demand.”

Czajkowski adjusts his coaching style depending on the player he’s talking to. He’ll lift players up when they need it. He takes pride in the fact that he can get in a player’s face, too.

“You can’t treat everyone the same, but you can treat everyone fairly,” he said.

There are certain lessons he repeats, regardless of the player. For one, he tells his players to never expect they’re going to another team until they’ve set foot there. He’s seen enough last-minute changes in the minors to know.

Another is the importance of patience and persistence.

“Patience and persistence will win the day,” Czajkowski said. “For me, I kept on pursuing my dream and stayed patient.”

Patience and persistence meant eight years in the minors before five games in the majors. Patience and persistence meant countless prayers with his wife for a day in the majors, and God giving him 15 days.

Now, instead of getting loose in the bullpen before a relief appearance, Czajkowski oversees the warmup routine of about 15 Fisher Cats pitchers. During games, he watches keenly from his dugout perch. He comes out for a mound visit occasionally, perhaps telling pitchers to stay patient, be persistent, or throw a fastball in.

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