Fulton resident Charlie James, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1960s, was honored Saturday at a “Legends Luncheon” at 1851 Underground Tap & Grill.
During the luncheon, James showed his 1964 World Series bat and other memorabilia to area youth.
James signed with the Cardinals in 1958 for $15,000 and made his Major League Baseball debut on Aug. 2, 1960. He played in 484 games in five seasons with St. Louis before finishing his career with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1965 season.
The Fulton Sting baseball team, which is for players younger than 10 years old, invited James to speak at the event.
“We just wanted an opportunity for our young ones to interact with him and hear his story, and be inspired by him,” said Melanie Czeschin, administrator for the Fulton Sting.
Nine of the children on the team are from Fulton, one from Jefferson City and three attend school at South Callaway, Czeschin said.
“You don’t get to meet a World Series champion everyday, that’s pretty special,” she said.
James did a lot in his career as a player, but has also been part of the Fulton community for 50 years. James is originally from the St. Louis area, where he graduated from Webster Groves High School.
After the luncheon, the Fulton Sting and others had the chance to take photos and receive autographs on baseball cards.
“I hope they will be able to take away some of the things I talked about,” James said, “like trying to improve their outlook on the game and what they want to do with their life.”
After retiring before the 1966 season, James eventually became CEO of Fulton-based Central Electric Company, a power equipment manufacturing company.