Jim Kaat has had more sporting lives than a feline. Hence, the nickname Kitty.
He played a quarter century in Major League Baseball for six different teams, winning 283 games and, amazingly, earning 16 Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess. His arm was as durable as the slab he toed to deliver each pitch — the only two times he suffered major injury was while running bases, not throwing curveballs. He had a rubber arm.
He has been a Stuart, Florida, winter resident for 37 years, and has spent even more time in baseball when you add almost 30 years as a TV commentator.
Kaat also made history almost a decade ago when at 75 he likely became the first player on this planet to shoot his age left-handed and right-handed while a member of McArthur Club in Hobe Sound, Florida.
But Kaat isn’t finished making headlines. Earlier this month, the 83-year-old was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Golden Days Era Committee. While receiving that wonderful phone call wasn’t shocking, it sure was meaningful.
Former New York Yankees pitcher Jim Kaat in July 1979. (Photo: Ray Stubblebine, AP)
The veteran’s committee meets only once every five years these days, and COVD-19 stretched the last interval to seven years. Do the math and you’ll see why Kaat was giddy about entering Cooperstown next July.
These ceremonies don’t tend to be as enjoyable when one enters the Hall of Fame posthumously.
“There’s no question I was running out of time,’” Kaat, who will be inducted alongside former teammate Tony Oliva, recently said. “In a perfect world, Tony and I would have gone in together with (another ex-teammate) Dick Allen (who died a year ago). It’s been worth the wait.”
Kaat had come close the two previous times he was on the veteran’s ballot — close but no bust. Even though he said he had put the induction chances “in his rearview mirror,” he had hope this time because of the makeup of the 16-man committee.
“In the past, there were guys on the committee who had never seen me play,” Kaat said. “This time, there were a lot of guys on the committee who had played with me or against me. I thought I had a chance.
“But as I told Dick’s widow, Willa, when she called to congratulate me, if someone votes for Dick who voted for me, he would have gotten in and I still would be waiting. It’s a very fine line between getting in and having to wait.”
In my mind, Kaat bettering his age while playing golf left-handed and right-handed is one of the most amazing, if not quirky, accomplishments in sports. He would sometimes play both ways during the same round, much to the chagrin of his caddie.
Kaat always downplayed the achievement.
“I was the only one crazy enough to try it,” he said.
Jim Kaat tees off during a round at the Medalist Golf Club on Jan. 11, 2003, in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo: Steven Martine, TCPalm)
Kaat was a natural lefty, but after he started getting the short-game yips, a PGA Professional suggested he played right-handed around the greens. He hits with more power from the left side, but he’s more consistent as a righty.
As time has gone on, and it does, he savors the achievement more often. He rarely shoots his age these days no matter what side of the ball he stands on.
“It’s harder,” Kaat said. “Your body just doesn’t do what you want it to do at 83.”
We should all be so lucky to still be playing golf at 83.
Slowly, Kaat has become like the rest of us when it comes to chasing the little white ball.
“I just do it now for the camaraderie with the guys and to hit a few good shots,” he said. “I just enjoy the challenge of the game. I try to hit balls every day. It’s great therapy just to be outside.”
Kaat is not sure how many more winters he will be spending on the Treasure Coast. The things that brought him here — less traffic, low population density — have changed in recent years, no doubt affected by the COVID migration.
One boon he doesn’t mind is the increasing number of high-end golf courses being built here. In addition to McArthur, he also was a member of Medalist and played his most recent golf at Hobe Sound Golf Club.
“Tom Fazio II did a great job with the re-design,” Kaat said. “It’s only going to get better.”
Kaat has few complaints, especially recently.
“I’ve had a lot of good things happen to me late in life,” he said.
This cat is not finished.