Taschner trades his MLB cleats for a badge
Posted: March 14, 2012
APPLETON, Wis.(WFRV) – A major league baseball player is trading his cleats for a police uniform.
Jack Taschner is Appleton’s newest officer. He grew up in Racine and played baseball at UW Oshkosh. Taschner was drafted to the majors in 1999 as a left hand reliever.
He pitched for the Giants, Phillies, Pirates and Dodgers.
“I got ready this winter like I did every winter” says Taschner “but my velocity dropped so that the major leagues decided I was no longer needed”.
Taschner knew it was time to follow his other passion. Family footsteps led him into the world of law enforcement.
“I don’t look at this as a step down or as I’m not getting things handed to me. I’ve just never bought into that lifestyle. I grew up in a blue collar family and that’s the kind of work I like to do”.
On the job Taschner is learning to deal with day to day police operations. He says his experience on the field is making him a more observant officer in the field.
“With baseball especially being on the mound you have to know who’s on first, second, what’s going on in the box. With police work it’s kind of the same way.
Using his baseball background to handle the major league task of protecting a community.
“I can’t honestly say I’d rather be anywhere else”.
Taschner pitched for the Sheboygan A’s in 1997.
Click here for a link to the origional story.
Story by WFRV Channel 5
The Sheboygan A's are members of the Wisconsin State League and Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League. The A's have helped develop more than 43 players that have reached professional baseball, including 2002 World Series Champion Jarrod Washburn (Anaheim Angels). All Sheboygan A's home games are played at Wildwood Baseball Park in Sheboygan. Connect with the A's on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
