Federal League Baseball | Minnesota

Jim Block has had a lifelong love for baseball, which began when he started playing in youth leagues in the Como Park area of St. Paul at the age of 7. With a family history of baseball enthusiasts, there was always a Twins game on the radio or television, Jim was immersed in the game early on. He started out like most baseball kids do, playing T-ball, Little League, Juniors, American Legion, and then high school baseball at St. Agnes High School which ultimately led him to the amateur baseball scene in Minnesota.

In 1979, Jim and his friend Joe Taney formed the Joe Taney Construction Amateur Baseball Team, which later became known as the J. Thomas Athletics. Throughout the years, Jim and his team experienced success in amateur baseball, making it to the Final 8 of the State Tournament multiple times. In 1995, they transitioned to the 35+ leagues and have continued playing in the Federal League since maintaining the J.T’s name, playing and managing one of the more successful clubs in the Federal League over the years, the J.T’s claim two Federal League titles, two Class B titles and one AA title over the years. He also was a part of three Roy Hobbs Championships with the Crosstown Traffic winning in Florida in 2001, 03 and 05.
 

In 1999, Block created the "Twin Cities Fall Amateur Baseball League" and was commissioner for twenty years developing relationships with teams and municipalities, retiring from Fall Ball in 2019. It is a league that still is active today and is popular with teams traveling out state for Fall and Winter Tournaments.

Over the years, Jim has had numerous memorable moments in baseball, from winning state championships to playing at the Metropolitan Stadium and hitting home runs in front of his family. As Jim approaches his final year in the Federal League in 2024 at the age of 67, he reflects on the joy and happiness that baseball has brought him throughout his life. He plans to continue playing in the 50+ and 60+ leagues as long as he can. To him, baseball is not just a game but a special journey that has brought him immense happiness and fulfillment. Jim is grateful for the opportunity to play the game he loves and looks forward to many more years of enjoying the sport that has been such a significant part of his life.

We sat down with Jim to go over his long journey...


What drew you to the game of baseball?

My great grandfather, grandfather, great uncle, and my dad all were big baseball fans, and really got me into the great game of baseball. My great Uncle Harry Moldenhauer was a Legion Baseball Manager in St. Paul and was always giving me bats and gloves when I was a young child. The Twins games were always on at the Block household either on the radio, or the television for as long as I can remember. So many fun days and nights with the Block family watching Twins games. I had my personal rooting section with my great grandfather, grandfather and dad who attended almost all of my games growing up. 

   


When did you start the J.T's? How did you go about forming the team?

In regards to the J.T’s and how it all began, it is interesting. Joe Taney and I made the University of Minnesota Fall Tryouts and were invited to the Winter Practices for the Gophers. The legend Dick Siebert was the Manager at the time and we both made it through the Fall Tryouts and played some Fall games, and we became friends at that time. We had known each other through High School and Legion battles while growing up as well. In the Winter, Joe moved on and decided to play college baseball at UW River Falls, and I decided to not play baseball because I was working so many jobs at the time that I couldn't give up. My goal when I got to college was to graduate and graduate with no college debt. So I stayed in school while working multiple part-time jobs, I eventually transferred to the University of St. Thomas and graduated. Happy to say I achieved the goal of getting a degree and doing it with no debt. But I had to give up baseball for a few years - even the chance of playing with the Gophers.

Years later Joe Taney wanted to get an amateur baseball team formed. Joe’s Dad owned a construction company called Joe Taney Construction and he said he would sponsor an amateur team if we could field one. So, players from Washington High School, St. Agnes, St. Bernards High School and Murray High School, came together and the Joe Taney Construction Amateur Baseball Team was formed in 1979. We had the initials J.T. on our hats for Joe Taney Construction and played in St. Paul. After about nine years, Mr. Taney was going to retire and close the Taney Construction company. J. Thomas Athletics wanted to sponsor our team then, and thus we became J. Thomas Athletics. Coincidentally JT was our hat initials again. Our nickname remained the J.T’s. We were very successful in Amateur Baseball and made it to the Final 8 of the State Tournament many times but did not ever win the Amateur State Tournament. But we had a lot of fun for many years in the Amateur Baseball Journey.

Mid Nineties, we started playing in the 35 + in the Classic League. Then we moved over to the Federal League and have been in the Federal League to this day. We decided to keep the J.T’s name, and we then officially became the St. Paul J.T’s. It has been a great 35 + journey as well.

(editor's note: I always thought the team was named after the famous St Paul hamburger place JT's Hamburgers. Which closed and moved its iconic neon sign on Robert St in 2017.)

What kept you involved all these years with the JTs and the Federal League?

The Federal League is great! Great teams, great players, great leaders, great managers, and a great ten years we have experienced in the Federal League. Fantastic Executive Committee, Website, and a fantastic baseball experience overall. Personally, the J.T’s have had great success over the years. We won the State 35+ Championship in 1996 and 1999, and were Runner Up in 1995, 2000, and 2003. Thus five times in nine years we were in the State Championship game. Also the AA title we won in 2021 was special because of the group of guys we had on the team, no one expected us to win. And winning Class B this past season was a fun way to close the summer.

What are some personal highlights over your career?

Two different instances stand out - First one was when I was young attending the Minnesota Twins Tryout Camp at Metropolitan Stadium and making it to the last day of cutoffs. Playing a game at third base at the Met, the same position where my hero Harmon Killebrew played. Then looking up from third base and seeing 47,000 seats at the Met. Just taking it all in. All the games on the radio and television growing up and here I was playing in the same spot as them. I did not make the Twins, but it was still a great, great memory - playing third base at Metropolitan Stadium.

Probably the best though was one Fathers Day, while playing with Joe Taney Construction we were playing at the old Midway Stadium in St. Paul, and with my Grandfather and Dad in attendance hitting two home runs out of Midway. After the first homerun, I looked up as I came back to the dugout and said "That is for you Grandpa!" then the next at bat I hit another homer and came back to the dugout and said "That is for you, Dad." I don't think you can have a better baseball Fathers Day than that. A very special and memorable day. 

    


What are you looking forward to in the 50+ league?

I really look forward to this year, my final year in the Federal League. It will be fun and exciting and it has been such a great and beautiful experience, playing all these years in the Federal. Our J.T's team will enjoy the 2024 journey, and have fun playing the great game of baseball against all our old rivals and friends. We can’t wait for this season to begin - one of my favorite sayings to our team is “Win and steal their Cheerleaders!“ And the J.T's will continue onward after this year, as some of our younger guys have stepped up and will keep it going for hopefully another thirty years.

God willing if I stay healthy, after this year, I will continue my baseball journey in the 50+ and 60+ Leagues, for as long as I can. I always tell others to keep going as long as you can. Where else can you spend three to four hours and feel like a kid again? No matter what your life is about, the good, the bad, the struggles, the challenges, BASEBALL MAKES YOU HAPPY.

   


How long do you think you can play baseball?

For the past three years, I have Managed and Played on three teams each year. 35+ St. Paul J.T’s, 50 + Crosstown Traffic and 60+ Crosstown Traffic teams. I thank God every day, for giving me the opportunity to play baseball. I am totally blessed to say I have been able to play this game for as long as I have, and to have enjoyed Federal League Baseball for the past ten years. The players, teammates, the opponents, groundskeepers, board members, commissioners and all the people responsible for being part of this great game - and most important, my wife Darcy, and my close family and friends.

(Thanks to Jim Block, we wish you and the JT's good luck in your last season in the Fed.)