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

The Life and Faith of Jim Aldredge

Jim Aldredge was a phenomenal baseball player and 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 he 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 return to Fresno and get an education. He already had enrolled at Fresno City College and was graduated with an Associate of Arts degree. He continued at Fresno State where he received bachelors and master's degrees while working full time for the City of Fresno. He earned a Ph.D. from Golden Gate University and also studied at Oxford. At nights, he taught at Fresno City College, the University of San Francisco and eventually became a full professor at Fresno State -- all the while he was working full time as an assistant city manager. He was made interim city manager a few times when mayors and administrations would change, but an outsider always got the job. Then, at last, the city came to realize they had the right man all along. He left the city when changes were on the horizon and taught at Fresno State until he retired in 2008. He was named a professor emeritus. He then created a foundation to help aspiring students and athletes, and sports programs.