Jameson Swain, a junior journalism major, transferred to Columbia during the Fall 2014 semester and joined the Renegades baseball team to play the sport he’s loved his whole life. The Huntington Beach, California, native started playing baseball at 4 years old after watching his older brother take up the sport and after spending time playing catch with his grandfather in their backyard. 

From there, Swain stayed active with baseball throughout his youth and into high school. After suffering multiple injuries during his freshman and junior years, a broken leg  brought his baseball career to a halt during his senior year. After years of hard work and rehabilitation, Swain is back on the field and determined to succeed as a member of the Renegades.

 The Chronicle spoke with Swain about his Columbia expectations, his new role among the Renegades and his lasting love for the game. 

THE CHRONICLE: What position do you play? 

JAMESON SWAIN: I played center field and first base last fall, but I will play wherever I’m needed. 

Did you have a favorite baseball memory of when you were little?

JS: I remember in T-ball my first or second year playing organized Little League. I was playing second base and there was a ball hit to me that I caught in the air. I tagged the runner that was passing and then I tagged the base. So I had an unassisted triple play, which was very unique.  That’s something I haven’t forgotten about.

What is your favorite thing about attending professional baseball games?

JS: The respect that I have for professional players and seeing what they do 162 games straight across six, seven months a year. It’s a grind. I like going with my family and being in the seats and talking with my dad about the game. Even now, I will give him a call. It’s very common ground between my family and myself.

What do you love about baseball?

JS: I love everything about baseball. I dedicated my life to it. It’s a team-oriented sport. It’s difficult, it challenges me and I love being out there on the field with the guys. There’s no real feeling, for me, quite like being out there, coming into the dugout, scoring a run or just getting pumped up with my teammates. It’s a good time.

Why did you major in journalism and not pursue baseball professionally? 

JS: Baseball on a professional level is very difficult. It was the last game of my senior year and my good friend hit the ball really hard up the third base line and [the player] caught it and tagged out the runner. My senior year I broke my leg pretty badly and had to have surgery on it. I rehabbed really hard to try and make it back for one more game because I thought that was going to be it for me. It was a very emotional time for me. My heart never left the game, though. That is why I want to do journalism. I want to be involved with sports some way, and I figured that was my way in. I came to Columbia and found out they have a club team and now here I am.

What would you like to get out of your time here at Columbia?

JS: I’d like to get more experience in the journalism field. I feel like this is a very good sports market as far as [there being] plenty of teams— pro, college, whatever you name it. I feel like there’s a lot of a good options as far as career and getting aligned with something that may turn out to be a job.

What is it like being on the Renegades baseball team?

JS: It’s awesome. The first game last fall was somewhat surreal. When I broke my leg, I thought that was it. I didn’t think I would be stepping back onto a field, especially into a team aspect. It is very fun. All the guys are really cool and some of my best friends are on the team now. It has given me a lot and I am very glad to be a part of it.