Biofile with Jimmy Rollins

Biofile with Jimmy Rollins  | read this item

Status: Philadelphia Phillies shortstop.

Ht: 5-8 Wt: 165

DOB: November 27, 1978 In: Oakland, CA

Baseball Inspirations: “Rickey Henderson is who I really liked a lot. As I was growing up, I mimicked his style. And Jackie Robinson.”

Nicknames: “J-Roll, Jim Bone, Jimbo, Jimbob, J-Smooth.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Music, pretty much go around and look at nice lookin’ cars, stereos.”

First Job: “Summer job for the city of Oakland, between my junior and senior year of high school, cleaning up the city streets, cut the trees, trying to make the city look nice. My father got me the job.”

First Car: “1996 green Mitsubishi Diamante. When I got signed. Day before my birthday. Got the car, next day I’m rollin’.”

Favorite Meal: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say collard greens, smothered steak, homemade macaroni and cheese, cornbread and got to have some peach cobbler to go with that [smiles].”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Fruity Pebbles [laughs].”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Pecan praline.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Getting to the big leagues, actually. And winning the World Series (2008).”

Most Painful Moment: “1998 – I got hit in the ribs and missed about a month. I mean, fastball, just dead in the ribs. Got x-rayed but nothing showed up. But even now, once in a while, it bothers me. So that’s my most painful, literally, most painful.”

Favorite Uniforms: “Phillies.”

Funny Baseball Memory: “We were playing on the field and right in the middle of the game, I got a ground ball hit to me (age 8). And it jumped and hit me on the chin. And I was trying to call timeout. Like an injury timeout. I had the ball in my glove and my hand up to my face, trying to call timeout. And everybody’s running around the bases. And I’m like, What’s going on? I don’t get a timeout?! And everbody kept running. So, next thing I know, two runners are on third and I finally throw the ball in. It was just funny. My mom, she still talks about it to this day [smiles].”

Favorite Movies: “Boyz N The Hood. When it first came out in the theater, Ricky got shot, aw man, sad moment. I almost started crying right there in the theater [smiles].”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “Montego Bay, Jamaica.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Randy Johnson. That dude was intense. Greg Maddux. He was the same way. His intensity level was shaped a little different but he was intense on the mound too. Vladimir Guerrero.”

Most Memorable Hit: “My first official at-bat at Veteran’s Stadium (2000). I hit a triple. It took a lot of pressure off getting that first hit. And I could always say, My first Major League at-bat, I got a hit. (Remember the pitcher?) Chuck Smith of the Florida Marlins.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Independent people. Leaders. People willing to lead the way if no one else steps up, who take the blame for something, if it happens.”

Career Accomplishments: Three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner; 2007 N.L. MVP; 2008 World Series Champion.

Topics: Boyz N The Hood, Breakfast Cereal, City Of Oakland, Collard Greens, Cornbread, Fastball, Greatest Sports, Hobbies Interests, Homemade Macaroni And Cheese, Jackie Robinson, Jim Bone, Jimbob, Jimmy Rollins, Macaroni And Cheese, Mitsubishi Diamante, Painful Moment, Pecan Praline, Philadelphia Phillies, Rickey Henderson, Sports Moment