STATE REPRESENTATIVE J.D. SCHOLTEN OF SIOUX CITY HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS OFFICIALLY RETIRING FROM PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AFTER PITCHING THE LAST TWO SUMMERS FOR THE SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION.
JDS4 OC….SPECIAL FOR ME. :17
ON JULY 6 OF 2024, HE PITCHED FOR THE EXPLORERS AS AN EMERGENCY CALL UP WITH LESS THAN THREE HOURS NOTICE, FOR HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL OUTING IN 17 YEARS.
SCHOLTEN EARNED THE WIN PITCHING 6 AND 2/3 INNINGS AT AGE 44.
HE STAYED IN THE ROTATION THE REST OF THE SEASON AND TIED FOR THE TEAM LEAD FOR WINS, GOING 6-2 IN 11 STARTS.
WITH EACH WIN, SCHOLTEN BROKE HIS OWN RECORD OF “OLDEST PERSON IN LEAGUE HISTORY TO EARN A WIN” AND DREW LARGE CROWDS BOTH HOME AND AWAY EACH TIME HE PITCHED:
JDS5 OC…….. WITH THE X’S. :15
IN 2025, SCHOLTEN WENT 1-1 IN 4 STARTS, RETURNING TO THE TEAM AFTER THE IOWA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED ITS SESSION.
HE PICKED UP HIS FINAL WIN PITCHING FOR THE EXPLORERS LATER IN THE SEASON AT WINNIPEG:
JDS6 OC,………PRETTY SPECIAL. :28
SCHOLTEN IS NOW PREPARING FOR A NEW SESSION REPRESENTING SIOUX CITY AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE IOWA LEGISLATURE IN DES MOINES;
JDS7 OC……….SEE WHAT HAPPENS. :25
AS A RESULT OF BEING THE OLDEST PERSON IN LEAGUE HISTORY TO EARN A WIN AND BEING THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL WHILE ACTIVELY SERVING, THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME IN COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK REQUESTED HIS GAME-WORN JERSEY FROM JULY 6. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2024,
SCHOLTEN HAND DELIVERED THE JERSEY.
HE PITCHED PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS IN 2003, 2004, 2006 AND 2007. HE FINISHES HIS CAREER WITH THEM GOING 19-11.
