Throughout its history, baseball has suffered its share of scoundrels and scallywags. The names of many are familiar to fans, and those that aren't will remain so in this space.

   Less well known are those at the other end of the spectrum - those who heard the call of God and served as clergy after their baseball days. Representatives of this group include:

Billy Sunday	Albie Pearson	Lindy McDaniel

Billy Sunday, a rollicking outfielder during the 1880's who experienced conversion and became one of America's most renowned revivalists and prohibitionists as a Presbyterian minister.


Allen Travers, a seminary student whose one-game career with the Detroit Tigers was the result of Ty Cobb's suspension and a sympathy strike by his Tiger teammates. Joining a group of Philadelphians who were hurriedly recruited to play one game, the future Father Travers pitched a complete game, giving up 26 hits and 7 walks on the way to a 24-2 defeat during the afternoon of May 18, 1912.

Tom Imfeld, a post-World War II minor league outfielder who was later ordained a Catholic priest in the Lexington, Kentucky, diocese.

Albie Pearson, the 1958 American League Rookie of the Year. One of the game's smallest players at 5-foot-5, Albie left baseball following the 1966 season and became a non-denominational minister.

Lindy McDaniel, one of the early relief aces in baseball's pre-closer days. Lindy retired from baseball after accumulating 141 wins and 172 saves to become a minister in the Church of Christ.

   One of the few to simultaneously pursue his ministerial training while playing baseball was Jack Faszholz, a cup-of-coffee St. Louis Cardinal and twelve-season minor league pitcher. Like future Yankee third baseman, cardiologist, and American League President Bobby Brown, Jack spent his summers playing the game and studying the books and his off-seasons in the classroom in preparation for the ministry.

   Today, as he approaches his 74^th birthday and 50^th wedding anniversary, Jack looks back on his two careers, his family, and his memories. In a recent interview, he graciously allowed us to ask about the times and events in his life.

   Born in St. Louis on April 11, 1927, Jack and his five siblings spent most of their growing years in Seattle and Berkeley, California, as their father advanced in his career with the DuPont Chemical Company. A successful all-around competitor in high school, Jack crossed paths with a number of future professional athletes, including a classmate named Billy Martin.

   As World War II claimed increasing numbers of professional athletes, Jack was signed in high school by the Red Sox shortly after his 17^th birthday and was assigned to the Roanoke Red Sox of the Class B Piedmont League. His catcher there was 44 years old, which was not surprising in that, according to Jack, "That year every player was either 17 or 44". Under long-time manager and coach Eddie Popowski, Jack posted a 2-6 record and 3.55 ERA for the fifth-place team. Among his most vivid memories of that season is that of striking out Jimmie Foxx, who had been sent down by the Cubs to be player-manager of Portsmouth.

   1945 found Jack out of baseball and back in school in an accelerated program, "graduating from high school on Friday and entering college on Monday". Rejoining Roanoke in 1946 for $250 a month, he handled the returning veterans successfully and ended the season at 8-5 with an ERA of 1.96.

   During the next two seasons Jack's progress continued but the Red Sox ran out of options. He was drafted by the Cardinals following the 1948 season upon the recommendation of Lynchburg manager Vern Mackie. The suggestion paid dividends the following year as Jack led the Cardinals' Class-A team SALLY League team in Columbus with 20 wins. Making the year even more enjoyable was the presence of teammate and younger brother Gene, an outfielder-first baseman who played every inning of every game on the way to hitting .300.

   The next spring, the Cardinals made an exception to their custom of promoting players one classification at a time, and Jack spent 1950 with their Triple-A teams in Columbus and Rochester. At 23, he found major league baseball only one step away.

   That step took longer than expected despite a 37-23 record over the next three years in Rochester. Finally, it came in 1953 as Jack opened the season with the Cardinals. In his only start, facing the New York Giants, he left with a 5-4 lead which was squandered by the bullpen, leaving him with a 0-0 record. In mid-June he was optioned to Rochester after appearing in only four games with St. Louis. After winning ten games with Harry Walker's pennant winning Red Wings, he returned in 1954 to tie for the league lead of 18 wins, adding two more in the post-season playoffs.

   Once more hopes were high for a place on the Cardinal roster and once more, despite a spring training ERA under 2.00 and a strikeout of Mickey Mantle, Jack was given the news to report back to Rochester in time for the Red Wings' 1955 home opener. While highly disappointed, he returned for two more seasons, on his way to becoming the all-time Red Wing leader in victories with 80.

   Realizing that, as his 30^th birthday approached, the door to a major league career had closed, Jack made the decision that the door to the ministry was opening. Thus, he informed the Cardinals of his retirement after 12 seasons and 128 wins as a professional.

   Having completed his theological studies, he served a one-year internship and was ordained a Lutheran minister in 1958. With a master's degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis, Jack's career would be spent mostly in various schools. His athletic career prepared him for work in coaching, and his theology and language studies (including Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and German) served as a basis for teaching Scripture courses at both the high school and college level. In addition to his teaching, a number of temporary church assignments came along, providing a life rich in both pastoral and educational ministry.

   Today, the Reverend Faszholz still preaches once a month in the Lutheran circuit located near his East Central Missouri home. His home parish, a small country church with 30 parishioners, stained glass windows, and intimate sanctuary, is reminiscent of an earlier America that was typified by an uncomplicated spirituality. Jack Faszholz seems very much in peace with the life he lives.

   His baseball memories are mostly pleasant. There are recollections of special people who are gone - manager Johnny Keane and teammate Tom Poholsky, who passed away recently. Others are still around - Cot Deal, Joe Cunningham, Gary Blaylock - although there are regrets as Jack states, "I really have been remiss in keeping in touch with guys I should have. I wish I had kept up with some of the correspondences".

   There still remains a tinge of disappointment. Winning all those games in Triple-A and performing well in spring training, yet appearing in only four major league games leaves the question of what would have resulted from a greater opportunity.

   A career in the ministry has more than overcome the disappointment. A sense of modesty pervades Jack's comments, and even long-time residents of his home town were surprised to learn of his baseball career when an article about it appeared in the local newspaper.

   The only appearance of pride in Jack concerns his family. Of his five brothers, two played professional baseball and another was the last cut by the NBA's St. Louis Hawks. Jack and his wife Annette will celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary on October 25, 2001. Their six children, all of whom live in the Midwest, and their 14 grandchildren, will join them for that occasion.

   Very much the common man, Jack Faszholz still wears a baseball cap as he drives through town in his 1994 Ford Ranger. His health is good, with the only sign of age coming from the results of a hip replacement. In his words, "Everything that can be replaced or repaired has been". Only a few pounds over his playing weight of 205, he has a bounce uncommon in a big man.

   That bounce may come from relatively good health. Or from an athletic background. Or from the inner peace that lives in a man who counts his blessings and knows his God. Whatever the source, it dominates the presence of Jack Faszholz, pitcher and preacher.