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Two things set Jared Mathis apart from other ordinary players.

Jared was more than just a role player in Huntsville. You could call him something of a cult figure. He had profoundly boyish, good-looking, Huck Finn charm, which endeared him to the female fans who came to see him, not caring less what those numbers on the scoreboard meant. The darling of the Booster Club. Active in the Stars' chapel program. You simply couldn't boo this guy, no matter how many times he failed to hit, you kept cheering for him.

His best moments at the Joe were surprisingly few, and all five of his four-hit games were on the road, but fans can still remember a 2-run pinch-double that gave the Stars a lead that would put them in 1st place in June 2001, or his grand-slam HR in a 5-0 whitewash over Chattanooga, June 2, 2002, and let's not forget his strike 'em out, pick 'em off second double-play that closed the 9th in a rare mound appearance against the Diamond Jaxx, August 11, 2001. But this one moment was the one fans really remember.

Jared played six different positions in 1999, his first season, and did it again in 2000..... The joke was when you came to the park, Jared would take your ticket, he'd pour your coke and hand you your hot dog, usher you to your seat, sing the Star Spangled Banner, and then take the field somewhere.

His versatility didn't go unnoticed on the last day of the 2000 season. On a hot, slightly breezy 89° Monday afternooon at the Joe, manager Carlos Lezcano announced it would be Jared Mathis Day. With nothing to lose (the Stars were 32-36, 11½ back of 1st), Lezcano announced Jared Mathis as his starting pitcher, and then would rotate him around the field, making him the first Huntsville Star to play all nine positions in a game.

Mathis began with a three-pitch strikeout of John Powers, paralyzing the Bay Bear with an 81-mph sidearm fastball. He even had the gall to shake off Brian Moon, whose prided himself on his ability to handle pitchers, to get that third strike.

"He came into the dugout yelling at me," Mathis said with a laugh.

After giving up a hit to center to Julius Matos, he was yanked, and moved to left field. Jose Garcia, who started the game in left, became the new pitcher, and he was able to hold a 1-0 lead through 7 innings.

And who drove in the run that gave the Stars a 1-0 lead?

Yawn! Jared Mathis, of course. It was a one-out single to center to score Mickey Lopez, set up by Mark Ernster's fielder's choice grounder.

Mathis would give the fans a scary moment when he was plunked in the helmet by Ricky Guttormson in the 3rd inning, but he would have two more hits. after A.J. Leday's 2-run homer put the Bay Bears ahead in the 8th inning, the Stars would come back to tie it in the 9th on an RBI-double by Mark Ernster.

It was altogether fitting then, on the last day of the season, on Jared Mathis Day, that Jared Mathis would lead off the 12th inning with a sinking double to center, and score on Toby Kominek's single off the third base bag.

After the game, Mathis was full of praise for his manager, Carlos Lezcano, who had this idea as far back as spring training.

"It means a lot. It was a headache for organizing everything and my teammates for putting up with it, for supporting it... I'm thankful they let me have today."

After the game, Jared signed autographs for 15 minutes, covered head-to-toe in dirt like Pigpen, the Peanuts character.

Jared's baseball journey ended on a sour note. He was sent down to High Desert on July 31, 2002, despite hitting .317 for the month. He refused the assignment and later just decided to quit, instead. Joltin' Jared had gone away. Hey, hey, hey.

Today, he's working in pharmaceutical sales in Port Orange, Fla.
Jared is married and has a daughter close to one year old.

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