Jim Enlund pitched three varsity seasons for the University of Wisconsin baseball team (1969-71).  He had a moving fastball and learned a change-up that helped him make Dynie Mansfield’s starting rotation, though Enlund also saw service as a relief pitcher. Enlund recently asked me to look up his career pitching record at the request of a friend of his.

Scouring the Wisconsin State Journal under newspapers.com, I discovered that Jim’s best season was a 6-5 mark in a 1970 season that ended with a tough 5-3 loss at Ohio State. The Badgers did win 22 games in Mansfield’s 31st and final year as head coach.  Among Enlund’s victories was a May 9 two-hitter in a victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Perhaps his best performance was in defeat. During the spring trip, Enlund lost to Grand Canyon College (now University), pitching all 17 innings.

Enlund had a 3-6 record in 1969 as a sophomore (freshman were not eligible in 1968) and concluded his career with a 4-5 senior season under first-year coach Tom Meyer. Enlund was a crucial member of a Badger staff that featured ace Lon Galli, whom teammates have since referred to as a left-handed Greg Maddux because of his pinpoint control and ability to change speeds, and Mike McEvilly, a Madison East grad who was UW’s #3 starting pitcher in the same period.

Jim Enlund spent his post-baseball years serving the senior citizen population in the assisted living industry in the greater Milwaukee area. Since retired, Enlund is a member of the Old-Time Ballplayers Association of Wisconsin.