Jim Scharrer, a second-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 MLB Draft who turned in his bat for an All-American football career at Duke, died on March 30. He was 49.
Scharrer had been undergoing treatment for cancer, according to GoErie.com.
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A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Scharrer was drafted out of Cathedral Prep High School with the 56th overall pick in 1995 — ahead of several future big leaguers, and seven picks after future Hall of Famer Carlos Beltran.
Scharrer signed with the Braves despite being named a USA Today All-American honorable mention selection as a linebacker, and being offered a full baseball scholarship to Clemson University.
Scharrer played six seasons in the minor leagues, topping out at Double-A. In his best season, 1997, Scharrer hit 20 home runs and batted .306 in 121 games for the Macon Braves of the South Atlantic League.
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After five seasons in the Atlanta organization, Scharrer joined the Anaheim Angels. He played 11 games in the 2000 season with his hometown Erie SeaWolves, the Angels’ Double-A affiliate.
Scharrer played for two future MLB managers (Brian Snitker and Don Wakamatsu), and shared a dugout with dozens of future big leaguers. Yet after the 2000 baseball season, he returned to his other sport — football — when he was offered an athletic scholarship to Duke University.
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With the Blue Devils, Scharrer was a starting linebacker in 2002 and 2003. After the 2001 football season, Scharrer was named to The Sporting News’ 4th team All-American Freshmen team as a linebacker.
In 2009, Scharrer was inducted into the Erie Sports Hall of Fame.
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After graduating from Duke, Scharrer worked as a civilian for the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command while earning his Master’s degree from The George Washington University. He later moved to Pittsburgh, working for Progeny Systems Corporation and General Dynamics Mission Systems.
Scharrer is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their two children, as well as his mother and sister.
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