87-year-old honored after final game in Nebraska Senior Softball League

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The sun is beginning to warm the air as teams from the Tuesday morning session of the Nebraska Senior Softball League are warming up, preparing for their game.

Jimmy Jackson is already on his second round of warm-ups.

“About every morning before I get up, I do a set of exercises in the bed, and I think that gets the blood flowing a little bit,” Jackson said.

This is the last game of the season, and for 87-year-old Jimmy, it’s the last competitive game of his long softball career, so both teams gave him a special welcome to the diamond after 20 years of participating in the La Vista league.

“I gave my glove and bat to somebody else in the league, and I borrowed a glove because every year I say I’m going to quit, but then when it comes around, and the sun comes up, and the grass starts growing...”

Jimmy was once a pitcher, but he says that got a bit too dangerous.

“We had no screen and we had no mask,” Jimmy said. “I was hit several times. Luckily, I didn’t get killed.”

Now, Jimmy is behind the plate, and at 87 — catching a foul tip to end the inning and showcasing the speed to stretch out a one-bagger — he’s still got it.

“My legs are my asset,” Jimmy said. “I can still run pretty good. Hitting is here and there.”

Jimmy’s play has motivated others to get involved in the Nebraska Senior Softball League, like Dick Netley, who’s back in the batter’s box after 30 years away from the game.

“Jimmy was responsible for me coming out here,” Netley said. “When I was approached earlier this summer about playing in the senior league, I said, ‘I’m 74, I’m too old.’ And they go, ‘Hey, we got a guy who’s 87, age is not an excuse.’ So, I blame him for making me get up off my butt and come out here to have some fun.”

Jimmy says that inspiration and motivation goes both ways, and that the younger players keep him going despite all the aches and pains.

“I got arthritis and a few other things in 2020,” Jimmy said. “I had a bad spell of setbacks health-wise, got COVID, a slight stroke and everything, but luckily I came out of that.”

Jimmy says he loves the game, and that he’ll miss it dearly, but he’ll miss hanging out with his teammates the most.

“It’s the comradery and the exercise and just getting out,” Jimmy said. “If I wasn’t playing ball, I’d probably be laying in bed thinking about how good it was in the old days.”

Of course, Tuesday may have marked his final game, but Jimmy told 6 News he’ll continue to practice with the team and go out for breakfast afterwards.

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