Jim Kotkas

James Kotkas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 215 lb.

• School Southern Utah University, College of Southern Idaho

• Born November 1, 1964 in Lethbridge, AB Canada

Biographical Information

Jim Kotkas was a member of Team Canada in the 1980s.

Kotkas played for Lethbridge, AB in the 1977 Little League World Series. He played in the 1981 World Junior Championship, was on the winning team in the 1984 NJCAA Baseball World Series and debuted for Canada's senior team in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup. In 1986, he made the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team and drew 37 walks, which at that point was second-highest in Southern Utah State University history. Kotkas played in the 1987 Pan American Games and 1987 Intercontinental Cup.

In the 1988 Baseball World Cup, Jim hit .357/.426/.667 with 3 triples and 11 RBI while alternating between right field and left field. He was second on Team Canada in OPS and tied Warren Sawkiw for the most RBI on the club. He failed to make the All-Tournament outfield as Lourdes Gourriel Sr., Daisuke Tsutsui and Luis Casanova were chosen. Kotkas stayed with Canada for the 1988 Haarlem Baseball Week and 1988 Olympics.

Kotkas hit .233/.359/.367 with 7 RBI in 9 games in the 1990 Baseball World Cup as a RF-LF-DH. He also played in the 1990 Goodwill Games, 1990 Haarlem Baseball Week and 1991 Pan American Games. After retiring, Jim worked as a coach at the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball and coached American Legion Baseball teams.

Sources

• All-RMAC teams
• SUU record book
• Lethbridge Sun Times article discussing Kotkas's career
• Jim's bio at the Vauxhall Baseball Academy site