Jim Czajkowski (2006) - Hall of Fame - University of North Alabama Athletics

Hall of Fame

Jim Czajkowski

Class
Induction

2006
Sport(s)

Baseball

Jim Czajkowski, a native of Houston, Texas, pitched for the Lions baseball teams in 1985 and 1986. He helped lead UNA to a 46-11-1 record in 1985 and a 34-16-1 mark in 1986. He was selected GSC Pitcher of the Week for April 15, 1986 and led the Lions in earned run average as a senior at 1.98. He had a school-record streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings in 1986 as well. In 1985 he was 6-1 with one save, pitching 55.0 innings with a 3.93 ERA. He was used primarily as a reliever ss a senior, he was 3-1 with four saves. He allowed just eight earned runs in 36.12 innings. He had a 9-2 career record with a 3.13 ERA with just 27 walks and 71 strikeouts.

He became UNA’s second major league baseball player. He was originally drafted in the 29th round of the 1986 amateur draft by the Atlanta Braves and spent seven years in the minor leagues as part of the Braves, Pirates, Brewers, Cubs and Rockies organizations before he made his major league debut on July 29, 1994 for the Rockies against the San Francisco Giants. In 1994 he pitched in five games with the Rockies with a 4.15 ERA in 8.7 innings. He spent three more years in the minor leagues before retiring as a player in 1998.

In 2000 he became a minor league pitching coach in the Atlanta Braves organization and had coached in the Braves organization for seven years at the time of his induction.

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