2023

Jim “Panny” Pankratz

(Years) Teams:

(1976-1979) Burlington Little League - Bucks - Frank Roth division

(1979-1983) Burlington Babe Ruth / Pony League - Red Sox

(1981-1985) Burlington High School - Demons

(1983-1985) Burlington American Legion - Post 79

(1985-1987) UW-Parkside – Rangers

(1987) TCU Horned Frogs – Fort Worth, TX

(1986-1989) Land O’ Lakes – Burlington Brewers

(1989-1990) Land O’ Lakes – Mukwonago Indians

(1991-2004) Amateur MSBL – Rochester Businessmen and Minnesota Diamondbacks

(2022-Present) 55+ MSBL – Racine Blues

(Current) Assistant Coach – Burlington Junior Demons 14U

A career catcher, Jim embraced the “tools of ignorance” at a very young age. He was drafted into the Burlington Little League at age 9 by the Bucks esteemed manager Henry “Hank” Doeden, rising to all star status as a 12-year-old for the powerhouse, Frank Roth division. Continuing to develop his skills behind the plate through the intermediate ranks of the Babe Ruth / Pony leagues, Jim played for the BHS Demons throughout high school and was the starting catcher his junior and senior years. In the summer seasons, Jim played on the Legion Post 79 teams for H.O.F. manager Dick Imrie. Jim was selected as an All-State American Legion representative from Burlington playing in the All-Star game at County Stadium in 1985. Recruited to play for UW-Parkside out of high school, by legendary coach Ken “Red” Oberbrunner, Jim earned Varsity letters his freshman and sophomore years. In 1987 Jim transferred to TCU where his division 1 aspirations were cut short by a broken hand in the fall season. Upon return to Wisconsin, he graduated with a degree in architecture from UW-Milwaukee and started working in Rochester, MN. While there he played amateur baseball through the season of his 39th birthday. In 2005, Jim returned to his hometown of Burlington and has been active in the baseball community as a coach for both the Little League and Jr. Demons programs, a Burlington Baseball 2000 Board Member, and H.O.F. Committee Member.

Jim Continues to play baseball with the 55 and over Racine Blues and is a teammate of and catches for Burlington H.O.F. pitcher Jamey Oberbrunner. This can be witnessed up to three times a season at our own storied Beaumont Field, in the best small town, baseball town, Burlington, WI.

Burlington Baseball playing years and years of service:

14 years (1975 to 1989)

18 years (2005 to Present)

32 years