Jim Sundberg
MLB Six-Time Gold Glove Catcher and Successful Businessman
SPEAKER FEE RANGE: $6,500–$8,000 [FEE NOTE]
TRAVELS FROM: Texas
Jim Sundberg spent 16 years of his life as a Major League Baseball player. He is a six-time American League Gold Glove catcher, a three-time American League All-Star. After playing the game he loves, Jim worked announcing as a sports broadcaster for six years. In 1994, Jim began his own business, creating youth sports training material, which is sold nationwide. Among this material is the Practice Planner™ fundamental learning system, sold in hundreds of retail outlets. Jim’s refreshing personality and warm speaking style enable him to convey valuable insights in ways people can easily understand. Using his wit and humor to blend business principles with baseball analogies.
Jim Sundberg recently retired as Executive Vice President of the Trexas Rangers. Sundberg began his career as a Major League Baseball player, and much of his career he played for the Texas Rangers.
A member of the inaugural class of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, Sundberg returned to baseball in 2002, coordinating several community programs for the Frisco RoughRiders. He also served as Texas' Minor League catching coordinator from 2002-2004.
Jim retired at the end of the 1989 season following a 16-year major league career with the Rangers, Milwaukee, Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs.
One of the top defensive catchers in Major League history, Sundberg won six Gold Glove awards and was a three-time American League All-Star. He still ranks 6th on the all-time list for games caught (1927), trailing only Ivan Rodriguez (2288), Carlton Fisk (2226), Bob Boone (2225), Gary Carter (2056), and Tony Pena (1950). Sundberg spent 11 1/2 seasons with Texas and still ranks among the club's all-time leaders in games (2nd, 1,512), walks (3rd, 544), triples (4th, 27), at-bats (5th, 4,684), hits (6th, 1,180) and doubles (7th, 200). He also maintains the record for the most games caught in one season in the A.L. (155 games in 1975).
Jim was a member of the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals, scoring the winning run with a head-first slide in the Royals' memorable Game 6 win over St. Louis. He was voted "World Series Hero" by the Chicago sportswriters for that play. Jim spent just one season in the Minor Leagues during his entire playing career, with Pittsfield in 1973.
Jim was an All-American at the University of Iowa in 1972, leading the Hawkeyes to the Big 10 championship and their lone College World Series appearance.
After making tremendous efforts in the community during his playing days, the Rangers placed Jim's name on the club's community service award beginning in 1989. He is on the board of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
Between his playing days and re-joining the Rangers, Jim started companies manufacturing sports training products and conducting motivational speeches. He co-wrote the book How to Win at Sports Parenting with his wife. Jim was also an analyst on Rangers' television games from 1990-95.
Jim married the former Janet Naugle on July 3, 1970. The couple has three children, Aaron James (2/12/72), Audra Janette (7/17/76), and Briana Nicole (4/8/83), and eight grandchildren.
A member of the inaugural class of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, Sundberg returned to baseball in 2002, coordinating several community programs for the Frisco RoughRiders. He also served as Texas' Minor League catching coordinator from 2002-2004.
Jim retired at the end of the 1989 season following a 16-year major league career with the Rangers, Milwaukee, Kansas City and the Chicago Cubs.
One of the top defensive catchers in Major League history, Sundberg won six Gold Glove awards and was a three-time American League All-Star. He still ranks 6th on the all-time list for games caught (1927), trailing only Ivan Rodriguez (2288), Carlton Fisk (2226), Bob Boone (2225), Gary Carter (2056), and Tony Pena (1950). Sundberg spent 11 1/2 seasons with Texas and still ranks among the club's all-time leaders in games (2nd, 1,512), walks (3rd, 544), triples (4th, 27), at-bats (5th, 4,684), hits (6th, 1,180) and doubles (7th, 200). He also maintains the record for the most games caught in one season in the A.L. (155 games in 1975).
Jim was a member of the 1985 World Champion Kansas City Royals, scoring the winning run with a head-first slide in the Royals' memorable Game 6 win over St. Louis. He was voted "World Series Hero" by the Chicago sportswriters for that play. Jim spent just one season in the Minor Leagues during his entire playing career, with Pittsfield in 1973.
Jim was an All-American at the University of Iowa in 1972, leading the Hawkeyes to the Big 10 championship and their lone College World Series appearance.
After making tremendous efforts in the community during his playing days, the Rangers placed Jim's name on the club's community service award beginning in 1989. He is on the board of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
Between his playing days and re-joining the Rangers, Jim started companies manufacturing sports training products and conducting motivational speeches. He co-wrote the book How to Win at Sports Parenting with his wife. Jim was also an analyst on Rangers' television games from 1990-95.
Jim married the former Janet Naugle on July 3, 1970. The couple has three children, Aaron James (2/12/72), Audra Janette (7/17/76), and Briana Nicole (4/8/83), and eight grandchildren.
- Light the Brilliance in Your Team
- Making Your Vision Come Alive
- The Shield of Faith
- Impact Player
The essence of team leadership - motivating others towards excellence - Bottom of the Ninth
The winning formula - maximizing resources when it counts - Step Up to the Plate
Keeping pace with change - clarifying vision, building momentum
We can help ideate, source and book speakers that aren't on our website, too. Leave an inquiry or call us at