Heart problems haven't dimmed coach's love of baseball
Transplant a decade ago has kept him in the game
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
He's been the quiet man behind the scenes.

But Jeff Thompson has been an integral part in the success of Ray Mannon's Brick American Cal Ripken All-Star teams.

Thompson, a coach who works on fielding and hitting with the 12-year-old Majors All-Stars, has been Mannon's sidekick for 10 years of all-star play.

"Without him, I don't manage," Mannon said. "He helps me with everything. A huge help. He's one of my best friends."

"There's not a better guy to coach with," said Thompson, who is joined in the dugout by coach Gene Carafa to complete the staff.

And the past two years have been gratifying for all three men. Brick American is still alive in Mid-Atlantic region play, which it won last year after finishing first in District 2 and second in the state in the 11-year-old division. This year's team won district and state honors.

But what many people don't know is that Thompson had a heart transplant about 10 years ago.

He and Mannon have been coaching together for 18 years. But 11 years ago, Thompson was in a struggle for survival when he suffered a heart attack during a practice. His good friend Mannon rushed to help his friend.

Thompson, only 34 years old, needed a bypass operation, which was performed at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

"When it happened, I had three young kids of my own playing baseball," Thompson said. "While I was in the hospital, I made some goals, and one was to come back and keep on coaching and to coach my kids again."

But just six months after he came back, Thompson had another heart attack.

"My heart sustained a lot of damage from the first heart attack," he said.

Thompson was told he would need a heart transplant. He was referred to the renowned medical center at the University of Pennsylvania.

"I had an evaluation, and I was put on a waiting list for a year and a half," Thompson said. "I was in and out of the hospital, and then I was told it was the last time I was going there and they would have to get it for me in two months. I stayed in the hospital, and then I got it."

Thompson said there was only one episode of organ rejection, during the first year after the operation. He was given medication that solved the problem.

"Afterwards, the guys at Brick American really helped us out," said Thompson.

Thompson goes back to the hospital periodically for tests to keep track of his health. But he's happy to report that there have been no serious problems. He realizes the importance of making the most of every minute.

But Thompson also knows his physical limitations. He can't do things like he did when he was a young catcher at Brick Township High School. He also played for Brick National on the other side of town as a youngster when the program was affiliated with Little League. The program has since moved over to Cal Ripken.

This past season, Thompson managed the Rangers, who made it to the first round of the Brick American Majors tournament for 12-year-olds, where they lost, 6-5. The team was 10-8.

Although he has had some great memories managing in Brick American, Thompson said he has never been involved with a team that hit like this one does.

"This is probably the most power I've seen in a team," Thompson said. "Playing at this distance [4 feet farther from the mound to home plate than under Little League rules] lets them see the ball longer, which helps a lot. It helps their swing and bat quickness."

Although his sons have long grown out of the program, Thompson said he enjoys coaching this all-star group.

"I love baseball and coaching the kids," he said. "As far as the personality of this team, they're a very easy-going group of kids that always spend time together and get along and goof around. I'm amazed how these kids don't quit. They want to win."