Rock Valley College Athletics

Jim Yeager was a pitcher and outfielder for the RVC baseball team in 1968 and 1969. In 1969 he was named a Central District All-Star, a team made up of players from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He was one of only two players from Illinois to be selected. Jim’s 1969 season saw him go 9-1 with a 1.26 ERA and 103 strikeouts and just 18 walks and 28 hits in 81 innings pitched. He also threw RVC’s first no-hitter and struck out 17 of 21 batters faced in that game. At the plate he batted .550 in league play that season. Later that year, Jim was named a Junior College All-American by Topps Bubble Gum for the Central District (comprised of players from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). He was the first RVC athlete to earn All-American honors, and to this day is one of only two RVC baseball players to earn that recognition.
 
Jim had a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds in 1970 but was drafted that same year by the United States Army. He received the Honor Graduate Award after eight weeks of basic training and was selected from over 700 soldiers for his leadership, physical proficiency, marksmanship, and scholarship achievement. He served 14 months as a Military Policeman in Vietnam and received the Bronze Star for merit. He returned to Rockford after his military discharge in 1972.
 
After returning to Rockford, Jim began playing semi-pro baseball and slow-pitch softball and went on to have great success, including playing for several state championship teams. He was named first team All-World in 1978 and 1984 at the national tournament and in 1996 was elected to the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the West High School Hall of Fame for his efforts in football, basketball, and baseball.
 
Jim has also been a member of the RVC Athletics Booster Club for over 30 years.