Jim Rooker was a pitcher in major league baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1968 until 1980, and during that time he won a total of 103 games. He was a 15-game winner for Pittsburgh in 1974 and 1976, and was also a member of the Pirates’ 1979 World Championship team.
After his playing career was over, Rooker worked as a color commentator for Pirates’ radio and television broadcasts from 1981 until 1993 and also spent four years with ESPN in the same capacity. He was born in Lakeview, OR, and grew up in Compton, CA. Rooker now resides in Jacksonville, FL.
After his playing career was over, Rooker worked as a color commentator for Pirates’ radio and television broadcasts from 1981 until 1993 and also spent four years with ESPN in the same capacity. He was born in Lakeview, OR, and grew up in Compton, CA. Rooker now resides in Jacksonville, FL.
Photos courtesy of the Bree C. Main / Pittsburgh Pirates
Rooker Creates Baseball-Themed Children’s Books
By Jim Lachimia ( First appeared in Pirates Insider, September 2009 )
One member of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates has taken on a new career of sorts.
Former pitcher Jim Rooker has become an author. Rook -- who pitched for the Bucs from 1973 to 1980 and served as one of the team’s broadcasters from 1981 through 1993 -- has written a series of baseball-themed children’s books. The first three books in the series, published by Mascot Books and entitled “Paul The Baseball,” “Matt The Bat” and “Kitt The Mitt,” have become available.
Back in August, Rooker (who now makes his home in Jacksonville, FL) did a book signing at the restaurant and bar that he owns in nearby Ambridge, PA -- called Rook’s East Side Saloon -- and at the Pirates Outfitters Store on Federal Street when he was in town to help the team celebrate the 30th anniversary of its 1979 World Series triumph.
Rooker’s love for his seven grandchildren served as the inspiration for the book series.
“One day I was flying back to Jacksonville after visiting with my family and I started thinking about my grandchildren and how much fun we had just had together,” he said. “Then it just hit me out of nowhere. It just happened. I don’t know how and I don’t know why. I don’t have any training as a writer. I’ve never written anything before. It was just something that came out of me.
“I started thinking about what I could do for my grandchildren that would catch their eye and be entertaining. I wanted to do something that might inspire them to love the game of baseball the way that I have for 60-some years now. Or maybe even just make them happy for a short time.”
The rhyming stories tell tales of baseball and friendship from the point of view of each of the three characters. Rooker has described the books as a very easy read and very “parent friendly and grandparent friendly.” The illustrator for the books was Mark Spaeder, who lived in Florida before relocating to Latrobe, PA, this summer.
The early response Rooker has received regarding the books has been a little overwhelming.
“Everyone who has picked one up has loved them. I’m not kidding you,” he said. “I haven’t come across one single person who doesn’t think they’re fantastic. People just love them. They’re cute, little stories that rhyme. You can’t get better than that -- kids and baseball.”
Some of Rooker’s ex-teammates, such as former pitcher Dave Giusti, have teased him about becoming a children’s book author but he doesn’t care what they say. He couldn’t be any more excited about the endeavor.
“I just told Giusti, ‘Hey, we all have a soft side and I found mine,’” Rooker said.
Future books in the series -- such as “Fletcher The Catcher” and “Chase The Base” are already on the drawing board.
“The possibilities are endless really,” Rooker said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way the books have turned out.”
By Jim Lachimia ( First appeared in Pirates Insider, September 2009 )
One member of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates has taken on a new career of sorts.
Former pitcher Jim Rooker has become an author. Rook -- who pitched for the Bucs from 1973 to 1980 and served as one of the team’s broadcasters from 1981 through 1993 -- has written a series of baseball-themed children’s books. The first three books in the series, published by Mascot Books and entitled “Paul The Baseball,” “Matt The Bat” and “Kitt The Mitt,” have become available.
Back in August, Rooker (who now makes his home in Jacksonville, FL) did a book signing at the restaurant and bar that he owns in nearby Ambridge, PA -- called Rook’s East Side Saloon -- and at the Pirates Outfitters Store on Federal Street when he was in town to help the team celebrate the 30th anniversary of its 1979 World Series triumph.
Rooker’s love for his seven grandchildren served as the inspiration for the book series.
“One day I was flying back to Jacksonville after visiting with my family and I started thinking about my grandchildren and how much fun we had just had together,” he said. “Then it just hit me out of nowhere. It just happened. I don’t know how and I don’t know why. I don’t have any training as a writer. I’ve never written anything before. It was just something that came out of me.
“I started thinking about what I could do for my grandchildren that would catch their eye and be entertaining. I wanted to do something that might inspire them to love the game of baseball the way that I have for 60-some years now. Or maybe even just make them happy for a short time.”
The rhyming stories tell tales of baseball and friendship from the point of view of each of the three characters. Rooker has described the books as a very easy read and very “parent friendly and grandparent friendly.” The illustrator for the books was Mark Spaeder, who lived in Florida before relocating to Latrobe, PA, this summer.
The early response Rooker has received regarding the books has been a little overwhelming.
“Everyone who has picked one up has loved them. I’m not kidding you,” he said. “I haven’t come across one single person who doesn’t think they’re fantastic. People just love them. They’re cute, little stories that rhyme. You can’t get better than that -- kids and baseball.”
Some of Rooker’s ex-teammates, such as former pitcher Dave Giusti, have teased him about becoming a children’s book author but he doesn’t care what they say. He couldn’t be any more excited about the endeavor.
“I just told Giusti, ‘Hey, we all have a soft side and I found mine,’” Rooker said.
Future books in the series -- such as “Fletcher The Catcher” and “Chase The Base” are already on the drawing board.
“The possibilities are endless really,” Rooker said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way the books have turned out.”
