Jim Eisenreich By: Heather Salazar

About Jim Eisenreich Jim was a Major League Baseball player. He had a Career Span of 15 Major League Seasons, and two World Series Appearance. Eisenrich began playing Baseball very young, Although He was teased often, He was so good at baseball that he was usually the first one picked during pick-up games. He Played baseball as a child, in High school and through College. He was first Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 16th round of the 1980 armature draft. He eventually made the major league team as a starting center fielder.

Jims Disability When Jim began playing ball at the age of 7 , He began to display strange symptoms. Jim would tic, jerk, and clear his throat uncontrollably. Jim was diagnosed in his adult life with Tourette's syndrome.

Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) Tourette's Syndrome: is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. Tourette’s causes involuntary movement, tics to the face arms, limbs, and/or trunk. These movements and outburst can be repetitive and rapid. Medicine and counselling can help the person with Tourette's syndrome as well as the family dealing with the syndrome. Listed under OHI-other Health Impairment

How Tourette’s has affected Jim: Growing up Jims teachers assumed he could stop the irrational ticks and jerks anytime he wanted to. Many of the kids at school would make fun of him and call him names. The students, as well as Jim, didn’t understand why these movements were occurring. Jim turned to sports as a safe haven, and didn’t like having to be in public. He didn’t like going to the movies with friends due to his outburst, but felt like when he was playing they were controlled and he was able to enjoy the game. He had success throughout high school with baseball and played college ball for St. Cloud State University.

Jims Career, and His struggles: After being drafted, Jims early childhood problems surfaced once more. Many thought it was just “rookie nerves”. Eisenreich began pulling himself out of games because of the twitches and facial grimaces that were occurring. In the May 1982 edition of The Sports News, Eisenreich stated, “ When I think about it, and try to correct it, I make it worse. The more I do it, the madder I get at myself. When I forget about it and have fun, I’m okay.” Fans of the opposing teams would often taunt and insult Eisenreich. This made the symptoms worse and would even cause him to have a hard time breathing to the point where he would hyperventilate and have to remove himself from the game. In the 1982 season Eisenreich was voluntarily removed from the Twins and began to seek medical help. Eisenreich went to many doctors, and they would all give him a different diagnosis. He stated, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. No one does. If I go to four doctors, I get four different opinions.” Jim came back to baseball in 1983, but for the next two seasons he looked to retire. It all came to an end in 1984. However, in 1986 he made another comeback.

Continued… In June of 1987 he was officially drafted onto the Kansas city Royals. This beginning also prompted him to announce that he had Tourette’s Syndrome. This understanding gave him the confidence to try major league baseball once again. He then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1993, the Florida Marlins in 1996, and the Los Angela's Dodgers in 1998 where he then officially retired during the season.

How has Jim Overcome his Disability? Jim Became an inspiration to others dealing with Tourette’s syndrome. He founded the Jim Eisenreich Foundation of Children with Tourette’s Syndrome in 1996. http://www.tourettes.org/ Jim now travels around the country telling his story to children and their families in order to get the message of Tourette's syndrome out. Their foundation provides resource guides for teachers, principles, counselors, and school support staff on Tourette's syndrome. He now also gives an annual Children’s Most Valuable award to Major League players, and alumni who have made a significant positive impact on the lives of children. Jim has realized that with understanding of Tourette's syndrome people can learn to deal with the tics and live regular, healthy, and happy lives.

Jim Eisenreich on being diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome

Credits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NzYsjLYRdg http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/8c6b1cee http://www.tourettes.org/ http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/detail_tourette.htm#262163231