SPORTS Chisholm remembers those who helped him

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Jasrado “Jazz”

Chisholm clearly remembers the days he spent with the late Franklyn Simmons at Freedom Farm.

Simmons, the first coach to work with Chisholm, passed away on Friday, January 20. He used to teach young players the game in the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at Southern Recreation Grounds.

Chisholm, home to celebrate his 25th birthday on Wednesday, said it was one of the hardest losses he experienced in his life.

“You guys know, he literally begged my grandmother (Patricia Coakley) for me to play on his team,” Chisholm recalled in an interview with the media during his birthday celebrations at Fusion Superplex.

“He begged my grandmother to come from her softball camp to come and play on his team. That was the first time I ever played at Freedom Farm. That’s who Frankie Simmons was. He picked me every Sunday, Saturday, Friday to come to practice, to games.

I didn’t miss a game at Freedom Farm because of one person.”

What’s even more interesting is that Chisholm, who is now the face of The Show video game for Major [League Baseball, said the first time he actually played the game, it was at Simmons’ house.

“That’s so crazy to me,” said Chisholm, who remembers playing the game with Simmons’ son.

I was holding back to show him I was on the cover and then I heard what happened to him. It really hurt me.”

After he was introduced to baseball at Freedom Farm by Simmons, Chisholm said he met coach Geron Sands about 6-7 years ago.

As one of the smallest players around the park, Chisholm said Sands invited him to try out a drill. “So I started doing it and it just happened more and more when I was out there hitting,” Chisholm said. “He would come over