Eastern Connecticut State University

James A. Silva parlayed the rare combination of speed and power into a four-year baseball career which netted him the New England Division III career record for hits and culminated in first-team NCAA Division III All-America honors in his senior season. The Plainville native was a four-year starter in center field and a member of four NCAA Division III tournament qualifiers under Hall of Fame coach Bill Holowaty. In a 176-game career which produced a .323 average, Silva amassed program records of 223 hits, 67 stolen bases, 159 runs and 691 at-bats and tied the record for games played. Through 1998, Silva’s program records for hits and at-bats have not been equaled, while his New England record for hits stood through 1992. In becoming the program’s third first team All-America selection in 1981, the 5-foot-10 inch, 160-pound right-handed hitter batted a career-high .337, led the team with 20 stolen bases and shared the team lead with nine home runs. In 1978, the Silva brothers constituted two-thirds of the team’s starting outfield, with older brother Buddy alongside Jim in left field. Today, that brother combination remains the only All-America one in program history.