Charlton Jimerson
Encyclopedia
Charlton Maxwell Jimerson (born September 22, 1979 in San Leandro, California
) is a guest co-host for Life Beyond The League. He played college baseball at the University of Miami
.
, Jimerson endured a turbulent childhood. His mother was addicted to crack cocaine
, and she often abandoned Charlton and his younger brother Terrence while searching for drugs.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml His father had moved out and abandoned the family while Jimerson was young, becoming a homeless person
, and before that time had been physically abusive of Charlton's mother.https://www.baseballamerica.com/today/columnists/askba02may.html The family was supported largely by Jimerson's sister Lanette, who worked as many as three jobs simultaneously to provide financial support.
Lanette also helped the oldest of the five children http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jimerson_charlton00.html, Derrell, sue for custody of Charlton and Terrence when Charlton was 15.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml
on an academic scholarship.
Jimerson earned a spot on the University of Miami's baseball
team as a walk-on, although he had not been widely recruited in high school. Coach Jim Morris initially tried to convince him to transfer to a junior college
,http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_26_225/ai_76134313 but Jimerson used a homemade portfolio of clippings and a personal essay to impress the coach with his motivation.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml He was a bench player his first three years, and he did not play during Miami's successful pursuit of the College World Series
title, but an injury to a teammate opened a spot for him in the starting lineup his senior year. In 1999, he played for the Bethesda Big Train
, a college wooden bat summer team.
Jimerson took the opportunity and ran with it, ultimately being honored as the "Most Valuable Player
" in the 2001 College World Series
, as Miami won its second title in three years.http://static.espn.go.com/ncaa/cws/history.html He tied a CWS record by stealing
four bases in a game against Tennessee
http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061401aad.html, and his teammates voted him the "Bob Werner Memorial Award", for exhibiting the qualities of a "winner".http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060301aab.html Jimerson graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree
in computer science
,http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060301aab.html and the Houston Astros again selected him in the draft, this time using the 146th overall pick, part of the fifth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
. This time, Jimerson elected to turn pro.
cited him as being the "Best Athlete" and having the "Best Outfield Arm" in Houston's farm system in http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/04top10s/astros.html, and he has stolen more than 25 bases in each of his four years in full-season baseball. He has had trouble maintaining his batting average
, however, hitting only .245 through all levels of the minor leagues. He also strikes out
frequently, with 152 Ks in 2005 and 163 the season before.
Jimerson made his major league debut on September 14, , appearing as a defensive replacement in a 10-2 win against the Florida Marlins
; he did not record an out, nor did he make a plate appearance.http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250914118 He was called up again after the roster expansion at the end of the season. When he pinch-hit
for Roger Clemens
in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
on September 4, , he hit a home run
in his first major league at-bat. It was also the first pitch he had seen in the majors.
Jimerson was released from the Astros on March 28, , four days after he was outrighted to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4670705.html
signed Jimerson to a minor league contract on May 8, 2007, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7675/transactions.html and sent Jimerson to Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
. In his first two months in West Tennessee, Jimerson continued to exhibit a low batting average and a high strikeout rate, but with a notable increase in power. In his first 244 plate appearances, he hit 16 home runs and slugged .552. With the trade of Sebastien Boucher
and a player to be named later or cash to the Baltimore Orioles
for pitcher John Parrish on August 9, 2007, the Mariners optioned Charlton Jimerson to Triple-A Tacoma. After later spending time on the big league club later that September, Jimerson made the opening day roster for the season as a backup outfielder. He was designated for assignment
on April 11, 2008, to make room for Greg Norton on the active roster. On April 16, 2008, Jimerson was re-signed and assigned to Triple-A Tacoma
, but was released in early July.
of the American Association on August 5, 2008, but was released from the Explorers 10 days later on August 15, 2008.
contract with the Minnesota Twins in March 2010 and was assigned to the Rochester Red Wings
. He was waived by the organization on April 6 of the same year.
of the Atlantic League
on July 19, 2010. He was assigned to the Angels' Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers
.
Jimerson played for the Newark Bears last year and led the league in hitting. He batted 335.
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
) is a guest co-host for Life Beyond The League. He played college baseball at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
Early life
Growing up in Hayward, CaliforniaHayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, Jimerson endured a turbulent childhood. His mother was addicted to crack cocaine
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
, and she often abandoned Charlton and his younger brother Terrence while searching for drugs.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml His father had moved out and abandoned the family while Jimerson was young, becoming a homeless person
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, and before that time had been physically abusive of Charlton's mother.https://www.baseballamerica.com/today/columnists/askba02may.html The family was supported largely by Jimerson's sister Lanette, who worked as many as three jobs simultaneously to provide financial support.
Lanette also helped the oldest of the five children http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jimerson_charlton00.html, Derrell, sue for custody of Charlton and Terrence when Charlton was 15.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml
University of Miami
After Jimerson graduated from Mt. Eden High School, he was chosen by the Astros in the 24th round of the June draft, with the 760th overall pick. Jimerson did not feel that he was ready for a professional career, however, and he instead chose to attend the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
on an academic scholarship.
Jimerson earned a spot on the University of Miami's baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team as a walk-on, although he had not been widely recruited in high school. Coach Jim Morris initially tried to convince him to transfer to a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
,http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_26_225/ai_76134313 but Jimerson used a homemade portfolio of clippings and a personal essay to impress the coach with his motivation.http://www.sptimes.com/News/060801/Sports/Older_sister_sacrific.shtml He was a bench player his first three years, and he did not play during Miami's successful pursuit of the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
title, but an injury to a teammate opened a spot for him in the starting lineup his senior year. In 1999, he played for the Bethesda Big Train
Bethesda Big Train
The Bethesda Big Train are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bethesda, Maryland. Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks. The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League . The Big Train plays its home games at Shirley Povich Field...
, a college wooden bat summer team.
Jimerson took the opportunity and ran with it, ultimately being honored as the "Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
" in the 2001 College World Series
2001 College World Series
The 2001 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 8 to June 16. The fifty-fifth tournament's champion was the University of Miami, coached by Jim Morris...
, as Miami won its second title in three years.http://static.espn.go.com/ncaa/cws/history.html He tied a CWS record by stealing
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
four bases in a game against Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061401aad.html, and his teammates voted him the "Bob Werner Memorial Award", for exhibiting the qualities of a "winner".http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060301aab.html Jimerson graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
,http://hurricanesports.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060301aab.html and the Houston Astros again selected him in the draft, this time using the 146th overall pick, part of the fifth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. This time, Jimerson elected to turn pro.
Houston Astros
Jimerson is regarded as having very good physical tools, with some scouts comparing his abilities to those of a young Eric Davis.http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/columnists/askba02may.html Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
cited him as being the "Best Athlete" and having the "Best Outfield Arm" in Houston's farm system in http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/04top10s/astros.html, and he has stolen more than 25 bases in each of his four years in full-season baseball. He has had trouble maintaining his batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, however, hitting only .245 through all levels of the minor leagues. He also strikes out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
frequently, with 152 Ks in 2005 and 163 the season before.
Jimerson made his major league debut on September 14, , appearing as a defensive replacement in a 10-2 win against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
; he did not record an out, nor did he make a plate appearance.http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=250914118 He was called up again after the roster expansion at the end of the season. When he pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on September 4, , he hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in his first major league at-bat. It was also the first pitch he had seen in the majors.
Jimerson was released from the Astros on March 28, , four days after he was outrighted to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4670705.html
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
signed Jimerson to a minor league contract on May 8, 2007, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/7675/transactions.html and sent Jimerson to Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
. In his first two months in West Tennessee, Jimerson continued to exhibit a low batting average and a high strikeout rate, but with a notable increase in power. In his first 244 plate appearances, he hit 16 home runs and slugged .552. With the trade of Sebastien Boucher
Sebastien Boucher
Sebastien E. Boucher is a minor league baseball outfielder, who currently plays for the Quebec Capitales of the Can Am League. He was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 7th Round in the Amateur entry-draft from Bethune-Cookman College...
and a player to be named later or cash to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for pitcher John Parrish on August 9, 2007, the Mariners optioned Charlton Jimerson to Triple-A Tacoma. After later spending time on the big league club later that September, Jimerson made the opening day roster for the season as a backup outfielder. He was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on April 11, 2008, to make room for Greg Norton on the active roster. On April 16, 2008, Jimerson was re-signed and assigned to Triple-A Tacoma
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
, but was released in early July.
Independent League
Jimerson signed with the Sioux City ExplorersSioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
of the American Association on August 5, 2008, but was released from the Explorers 10 days later on August 15, 2008.
Minnesota Twins
Jimerson signed a minor leagueMinor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
contract with the Minnesota Twins in March 2010 and was assigned to the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. He was waived by the organization on April 6 of the same year.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Jimerson's contract was purchased by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from the Bridgeport BluefishBridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
on July 19, 2010. He was assigned to the Angels' Double-A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
.
Personal
Jimerson has three children. Daughter Alexa (14), and sons Tyson (4) and Nicolas (2). http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430590Jimerson played for the Newark Bears last year and led the league in hitting. He batted 335.