Nageleisen, Jim

Jim Nageleisen resides in Edgewood, KY and his Northern Kentucky playing days began just after his graduation from Covington Catholic High School in 1965. Hep Cronin, dad of University of Cincinnati former head basketball coach, Mike Cronin, asked Jim to meet him somewhere on a spring Saturday. That somewhere was a softball field and James was hooked. Shortly afterwards, he played for Standard Laundries from the Edgewood area and as a young shortstop, he won the coveted Cincy Metro in 1965 and was 2nd in 1966.

Then, three-time major champions, Gatliff Motors of Newport, KY, showed interest in the rookie superstar, and he was easily coerced into playing with them mainly because his elder brother (12 years older), Karl, was a mainstay with the major Gatliff powerhouse (who changed their name to Carlisle Construction in the late 60's to early 70's). "I grew up as s fan, batboy, and admirer of Gatliff and then I got to play with them, and it was such a great thrill," recalls Mr. Nageleisen.

Because brother, Karl, was the shortstop, Jim was asked to play outfield, and he's remained in the grass the last 50 years. He was always the fastest player on his teams and even both of his University of Cincinnati coaches (baseball and basketball) gave him the same praise as being the fastest player they've coached. In the L.I.T. (Louisville Invitational), a career game memory happened when he scored three times in the same game from second base on sacrifice flies.

Jim's speed and exceptional bat control led him to a plus .400 batting average his Senior season (1969) at UC and the next three years he played in the Atlanta Braves organization before giving up baseball cold turkey after he was reluctantly released.

Jim's storied career in the Bluegrass was highlighted from 1970-1980 when he earned All Northern Kentucky first team selections and was second team All Century team in the greater Cincinnati area. He parlayed that success into a two-year stint with the Pro League Cincinnati Suds. He won the 35 & Over State with Rolling Hills Lakers and the 40 & Over Nationals in Lafayette, Louisiana 5 years later. Mr. N's youthful days were dominant enough with countless all-tournament awards, state, and national championships, but like a new bat out of the wrapper--it gets better with time.

Jim is quick to point out that the best team he ever played for was Turn 2 out of Virginia. "We won 7 rings in 2025 on the Senior Circuit 55 & Over Major Plus division culminating with the World Series in Las Vegas. We received our batting averages after each tournament, and I was so proud when I finished at .680 one weekend, and then I looked at the rest of the stats and mine was the worst which tells you how good our team was."

Riverside Seniors and Jim & Joe's with Kentucky Hall of Famer, Joe Gramig as the coach, was also one of Jim's favorites because he got to play with great friends, Butch Hays and Dickie Vaughn, who are both in the Hall of Fame in Kentucky.

Winning the MVP in St. Louis at the Seniors was another individual feat, yet Jim is adamant that stats are not what he plays for. "I can remember my last at bat and that's it. I just want to do whatever I can to help out my teams."

At 78, Jim was among friends hitting outside just one week ago and after 13 career surgeries, he plans on doing it again this summer. WOW!