Baseball is a game of patience, perseverance, and sometimes, a paycheck from a totally unrelated day job. Not every MLB star had a smooth path to the big leagues—many of them had to grind it out with real-world gigs before making their dreams a reality. From truck drivers to janitors, these players proved that the hustle doesn’t stop when the final out is recorded.
Here are 10 MLB players who worked regular jobs before making it big, ranked from inspiring to downright unbelievable.
10. Jim Morris – High School Teacher Turned MLB Rookie
Jim Morris’ story is so legendary that it became a Disney movie (The Rookie). Before making his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 35, Morris was a high school science teacher and baseball coach in Texas. His students convinced him to try out for the majors, and thanks to a 98-mph fastball, he got signed and made it to the show. Not many people can say they went from grading chemistry tests to striking out MLB hitters!
9. Randy Johnson – Photographer in College
Before becoming one of the most intimidating pitchers in MLB history, Randy Johnson had a passion for photography. While attending USC, he worked as a freelance sports photographer, snapping shots instead of throwing fastballs. Even after retirement, Johnson stuck with photography, capturing concerts and sporting events with the same intensity he brought to the mound.
8. Adam Ottavino – Father’s Deli Employee
Every aspiring baseball player needs a good side hustle, and for Adam Ottavino, that meant working at his father’s deli in Brooklyn. The future Yankees and Red Sox reliever sliced meats and made sandwiches while chasing his baseball dreams. Ottavino credits the job for teaching him discipline, though we’re pretty sure he wasn’t throwing 90-mph sliders at the cold cuts.
7. Jackie Robinson – Coffee Shop Worker & Military Serviceman
Before breaking baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson worked at a coffee shop and served in the U.S. Army. His journey to MLB wasn’t just about baseball—it was about breaking barriers in life. He was court-martialed (and later acquitted) for refusing to sit in the back of a military bus, proving that his fight for equality started long before his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
6. Wade Boggs – Window Installer
Wade Boggs, one of the greatest hitters of all time, used to install windows to make ends meet before his MLB career took off. It might not have been glamorous, but handling glass and swinging a hammer probably helped him develop the precision needed to rack up over 3,000 hits in his career.
5. Chris Coste – Bookstore Clerk
Chris Coste’s journey to MLB was anything but conventional. Before finally making his debut with the Phillies at age 33, he spent years working at a bookstore while playing independent league baseball. He even wrote a book about his struggle called The 33-Year-Old Rookie. From shelving paperbacks to hoisting the 2008 World Series trophy, Coste’s story is one for the ages.
4. José Bautista – Office Worker in the Dominican Republic
Before launching epic bat flips in MLB, José Bautista had a much more buttoned-up job. He worked an office gig in the Dominican Republic while trying to get noticed by scouts. That persistence paid off, as he went from overlooked prospect to one of the most feared sluggers of his era.
3. Daniel Nava – Equipment Manager
Before cracking an MLB roster, Daniel Nava was an equipment manager for Santa Clara University’s baseball team—because he wasn’t good enough to make the roster as a player. Undeterred, he worked his way into junior college, eventually earning a shot in the pros. He later hit a grand slam on his very first MLB pitch with the Boston Red Sox. Not bad for a former team water boy!
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2. Jim Eisenreich – Grocery Store Stocker
Jim Eisenreich’s battle with Tourette’s syndrome made his baseball journey incredibly challenging. After briefly playing in MLB, he had to step away due to symptoms. To support himself, he worked stocking shelves at a grocery store before making a triumphant return to baseball. He went on to have a solid career, even winning a World Series with the Marlins in 1997.
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1. Curt Schilling – Warehouse Worker for a Clothing Company
Before becoming a World Series hero, Curt Schilling was just another guy loading boxes in a clothing warehouse. He worked the graveyard shift to make ends meet while chasing his baseball dreams. Eventually, he traded in packing crates for pitching gems, winning multiple championships and etching his name in postseason history.
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