James Bush
- Post by: mcalibrary
- January 3, 2024
- Comments off
INDUCTEE
Imagine spending six decades of your life involved in athletics – as a player, as a a coach, as an administrator, as an official. It is only fitting that today Jim Bush be honored for his dedication to athletics in this lower anthracite region of Pennsylvania.
Jim’s involvement began as a player in the Mount Carmel Area Junior Baseball League. He began his coaching career as an assistant to “Hobie” Forti for the Atlas Fire Company team in 1970 and is presently manager there. Atlas has probably been the most dominating team in the junior baseball league during the time Jim has been with the team. They boast a number of league titles and tourney championships. Jim has also served as president of the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League.
As a high school baseball player, Bush was a three year starter for Coach “Tufky” Andrulevich and was recognized as the leading pitcher in the Schuylkill League in 1965. That season the Tornadoes posted a 13-1 mark which was good enough to win the Schuylkill League Championship. Bush was the captain of that squad, completing the season without an error as an infielder and posting a .335 batting average. During his three years, the Tornadoes posted a 29-9 record.
Following high school Jim played both basketball and baseball while in the army and played on year with the semi-pro team Arnot Sox. After his return to the area, Jim became one of the most prolific hitters in the Intercity Softball League. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Hodrick once stated that, “Bush was the most difficult batter to strike out,” a fact supported by the season in which Intercity pitchers failed to strike him out at all. Jim’s versatility was noted as he was selected to various all star teams at three different positions during different years.
Bush has also coached basketball in the CYO League for 26 years, leading 39 teams during that time. Jim has led both boys and girls teams at Holy Spirit to 14 league titles during his tenure. Jim has served as president of the Shamokin-Mount Carmel CYO Boys Basketball League and as president of the West End Playground Association of Atlas.
Jim and his wife Betty Jean are the proud parents of three children; James, Robert and Rochelle all reside in Atlas.