Jim Edmonds

Biography

James Patrick Edmonds was born in Fullerton, California on June 27, 1970. His family's home was in Diamond Bar, a quiet community (technically located in Los Angeles County) that had the Edmonds stamp of approval. Jim's grandparents, and his aunts and uncles all lived in the same neighborhood. Years later, when Jim started his own family, he moved back to the area.

Jim was a natural athlete from a very early age. Fast and strong, he possessed good hand-eye coordination and absorbed information quickly. But it wasn't always easy to tell whether Jim really cared all that much about winning and losing. He was known to be laid-back, even by Southern California standards.

What truly set Jim apart in baseball was his keen eyesight. (Years later, when the Angels tested him, it was discovered that he had 20-15 vision.) He could pick up a ball in flight—whether batted or thrown—a half-tick before other players. As he moved on to higher levels of play, this ability enabled him to rise above his peers.

Jim had another skill that he used to great advantage in the other sports he played: He was ambidextrous. This did not have much of an impact in baseball—as a kid he determined he would throw and bat exclusively left-handed—though he liked taking grounders right-handed during infield practice. But it made him an exceptional basketball player, and also helped in soccer and football.

Jim was a big fan of the California Angels, who played 15 miles away in Anaheim Stadium. When the team signed free agent Rod Carew in 1977, Jim became transfixed with the sweet-swinging lefty's scientific approach to hitting. Jim went nuts when the Angels won their division in 1979, and was crestfallen when they crashed and burned against the Orioles in the ALCS.

Baseball developed into one of Jim's passions. He was in the right place to hone his game. Diamond Bar had a long tradition for Little League excellence. Lance Parrish was the first player to bring national recognition to the town, in the 1960s. Then Kevin Gross followed his lead in the 1970s. Jim added to the legacy in the 1980s. In his last tournament for Diamond Bar, he batted .529 with three home runs and nine RBIs.