Jim Adduci graduated in 2003 after three phenomenal years with the Mustang Baseball Program. Jim hit over .500 in both his junior and senior seasons earning team MVP, All Conference, and Southtown Newspaper All Area honors both years. He garnered honorable mention in both the Chicago Tribune and Sun-times his senior season. He was also an important member of the Mustang Basketball Program hitting one of the biggest shots in their history. In the 2003 Regional Semifinal, Jim drained a three pointer at the buzzer against Corliss to send the game into overtime and the newly formed Herd Fan Club into a frenzy. The Mustangs eventually won the game to advance to the Regional Championship. That game was one of the most exciting contests the Mustang Nation has ever seen. One of the best plays Coach Smyth remembers Jim making was a hustle play he made at Fenton his senior season. In a tight game, Jim knocked in the tying and go ahead runs with a two out double in about the 5th inning. The next batter hit a pop up between the pitcher and third baseman. The ball dropped due to a communication issue on Fenton's part. Jim moving on contact and going hard all the way through scored from second on a ball that ended up only about forty feet from home plate.
Jim Adduci | Outfielder
Team:
Texas Rangers
Age / DOB:
(27) / 5/15/1985
Ht / Wt:
6'2' / 185
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
Rangers signed OF Jim Adduci to a minor league contract. Called up September 1st, 2013
Jim Adduci | Outfielder
Team:
Texas Rangers
Age / DOB:
(27) / 5/15/1985
Ht / Wt:
6'2' / 185
Bats / Throws: Left / Left
Rangers signed OF Jim Adduci to a minor league contract. Called up September 1st, 2013
Donn Pall '80
Perseverance Personified
I always loved baseball. My brothers, friends and I would play all summer (lob league or fast-pitch with a rubber ball at Southwest school). There were no “travel teams” back then but we would play on our own all summer. When playing on the EP Boys Club and Athletic Association baseball teams, I was considered a good player (often on the All Star team), but nobody ever looked at me and thought I could ever come close to playing in the major leagues someday. I went to Brother Rice freshman year of high school. I tried out for the baseball team there and didn’t make the team. I transferred to Evergreen my sophomore year and played on the team for 3 years. I did well but never even made All Conference. After high school nobody scouted me or recruited me to play in college. I decided to go to the University of Illinois because it was a terrific school. At the beginning of my freshman year I decided I would try out for the baseball team there at their “walk-on” tryouts. I got cut. For some reason, I went to watch a couple of their practices to see how good these guys really were. Indeed they were good, but for some reason I thought I could still play with these guys. I made up my mind that I would try out one more time at the beginning of my sophomore year. I prepared for the tryout and got as ready as I possibly could. This time when I tried out, they told me I made the team. The coaches thought I must have grown a few inches and threw harder. I didn’t play my sophomore year ( I was “red-shirted”). Then I played my junior year, senior year and fifth year senior year. (I went to school 5 years because I didn’t choose my major of Math/Computer Science until my junior year and thus I needed 5 years to finish the required classes.) After 2 years my record as a pitcher was 5 wins and 12 losses. Some of my friends were giving me a hard time about how I had a chance to break the record for most career losses at Illinois. The record was 15 and I already had 12. I wasn’t too thrilled. My last season turned out to be a dream year. I got better and our team got better. My record was 13 wins and 1 loss. I broke the record for most wins in 1 season. I was drafted in the 23rd round of the 1985 major league baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. On the scouting report, Larry Monroe, the White Sox scout said he didn’t project getting past minor league A ball I have been very blessed to say the least. Sometimes I look back at how good some of those other players were, how tough it was to move up in the ranks each year and I ask “How did I do that?” It’s amazing because I always felt like I was just a “regular kid” growing up on the South Side who loved baseball and the White Sox. I was nothing special. Somehow by sticking with it, working my butt off each year and staying out of trouble, I persevered and it all worked out for me. To play in the major leagues for anyone is phenomenal, but to play 5 years with your favorite home town team is the ultimate dream come true. I am very fortunate indeed.
Donn Pall's Professional Career
1985 - played Rookie Ball in Sarasota.
1986 - played A ball in Appleton, Wisconsin and then got promoted to AA in
Birmingham.
1987 - returned to AA in Birmingham again all season. Played winter ball in Venezuela.
1988 - played AAA ball in Vancouver; August 1st was called up to the major league team. I
1988-1993 - played in the major leagues for the White Sox
1993 - traded to the Phillies on Sept. 1st.
1994 - played on the Yankees until getting released in August. Signed
with the Cubs and played 1 week with them before the baseball strike in 1994.
1995 - signed back with the White Sox but played in AAA Nashville all season.
1996 - 1998 played in the major leagues and minor leagues for the
Florida Marlins.
I always loved baseball. My brothers, friends and I would play all summer (lob league or fast-pitch with a rubber ball at Southwest school). There were no “travel teams” back then but we would play on our own all summer. When playing on the EP Boys Club and Athletic Association baseball teams, I was considered a good player (often on the All Star team), but nobody ever looked at me and thought I could ever come close to playing in the major leagues someday. I went to Brother Rice freshman year of high school. I tried out for the baseball team there and didn’t make the team. I transferred to Evergreen my sophomore year and played on the team for 3 years. I did well but never even made All Conference. After high school nobody scouted me or recruited me to play in college. I decided to go to the University of Illinois because it was a terrific school. At the beginning of my freshman year I decided I would try out for the baseball team there at their “walk-on” tryouts. I got cut. For some reason, I went to watch a couple of their practices to see how good these guys really were. Indeed they were good, but for some reason I thought I could still play with these guys. I made up my mind that I would try out one more time at the beginning of my sophomore year. I prepared for the tryout and got as ready as I possibly could. This time when I tried out, they told me I made the team. The coaches thought I must have grown a few inches and threw harder. I didn’t play my sophomore year ( I was “red-shirted”). Then I played my junior year, senior year and fifth year senior year. (I went to school 5 years because I didn’t choose my major of Math/Computer Science until my junior year and thus I needed 5 years to finish the required classes.) After 2 years my record as a pitcher was 5 wins and 12 losses. Some of my friends were giving me a hard time about how I had a chance to break the record for most career losses at Illinois. The record was 15 and I already had 12. I wasn’t too thrilled. My last season turned out to be a dream year. I got better and our team got better. My record was 13 wins and 1 loss. I broke the record for most wins in 1 season. I was drafted in the 23rd round of the 1985 major league baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. On the scouting report, Larry Monroe, the White Sox scout said he didn’t project getting past minor league A ball I have been very blessed to say the least. Sometimes I look back at how good some of those other players were, how tough it was to move up in the ranks each year and I ask “How did I do that?” It’s amazing because I always felt like I was just a “regular kid” growing up on the South Side who loved baseball and the White Sox. I was nothing special. Somehow by sticking with it, working my butt off each year and staying out of trouble, I persevered and it all worked out for me. To play in the major leagues for anyone is phenomenal, but to play 5 years with your favorite home town team is the ultimate dream come true. I am very fortunate indeed.
Donn Pall's Professional Career
1985 - played Rookie Ball in Sarasota.
1986 - played A ball in Appleton, Wisconsin and then got promoted to AA in
Birmingham.
1987 - returned to AA in Birmingham again all season. Played winter ball in Venezuela.
1988 - played AAA ball in Vancouver; August 1st was called up to the major league team. I
1988-1993 - played in the major leagues for the White Sox
1993 - traded to the Phillies on Sept. 1st.
1994 - played on the Yankees until getting released in August. Signed
with the Cubs and played 1 week with them before the baseball strike in 1994.
1995 - signed back with the White Sox but played in AAA Nashville all season.
1996 - 1998 played in the major leagues and minor leagues for the
Florida Marlins.