Shabidu, Jr., taking one down the lineRice Lake, WISherman Elementary CricketsCurrent Team: Love Army (broomball)
Favorite food: Cadbury eggs
Favorite animal: The one that lays Cadbury eggs
Patronus: Sherman Creek Crickets
Favorite Position *to play in softball*: “Left Field”
Another of the Sea Kittens’ founding members, Jonny Jon Jon Shabidu Hansen, Jr. holds the distinction of being the first Kitten to sustain an in-game bruise, taking a laces-imprinting one-hopper off the chest while playing shortstop in the Cats’ inaugural game May 19, 2010. In that moment- after weeks of convivial happy hour softball- the Sea Kittens realized this softball thing was for realz. Only mildly deterred, Hansen stepped back to center field for the most part after that, but made regular returns to the infield to terrorize Mama Cat O’Brien’s shins & ankles. Jonny Jon Jon went on to play 59 games over the course of the Sea Kittens’ first 6 seasons.
Jonny Jon Jon Shabidu, Hansen, Jr.,, eager to get the ball in play, whatever it takes!
A speedy, underrated hitter renowned for his love of the high pitch and tomahawk swing, his 0.626 career batting average is #6 on the team’s all-time list- 3rd among players with more than 100 career plate appearances- and all that after an 0-4 debut! His achievements include a 2013 summer batting title in which he posted an 0.800 average- tied for #2 all-time in summer league play, and a 2015 summer league batting crown. He is one of only 8 individuals who have collected 20 or more hits in a single season. He is one of only two Sea Kittens to collect 6 hits in a single game- May 16, 2012- and one of only four members of the 5-run club. He’s the only Sea Kitten to be a member of both of those exclusive clubs. In his final appearance with the Sea Kittens (to date), Shabidu went 3-3 with a run scored (9-16-2015).
He’s also remembered for the “Lemur Game,” but no one quite remembers the details of that… perhaps it was running around in 97* heat and high wind three days after the birth of his first child. The Hansen family was eager to be playing softball after Ada’s birth.Earliest softball/baseball memory: Probably something to do with a brother hitting me with a whiffle ball bat
Favorite Sea Kittens moment: Too many to single out… rehashing the games at the Harmony was pretty fantastic.
Favorite thing on the softball diamond: The holes the bases go in
Most annoying thing on the softball diamond:Tom “Seahorse” Cichosz (just kidding Tom, I miss you)
Other memories/ thoughts about Sea Kittens? I miss the Kittens!
Fun fact: One of a handful of Sea Kittens with an in-season birthday, Jon went 1-3 with a double and run scored in his only birthday appearance.
Earliest softball/baseball memory: Probably something to do with a brother hitting me with a whiffle ball bat
Favorite Sea Kittens moment: Too many to single out… rehashing the games at the Harmony was pretty fantastic.
Favorite thing on the softball diamond: The holes the bases go in
Most annoying thing on the softball diamond: Tom “Seahorse” Cichosz (just kidding Tom, I miss you)
Other memories/ thoughts about Sea Kittens? I miss the Kittens!
Fun fact: One of a handful of Sea Kittens with an in-season birthday, Jon went 1-3 with a double and run scored in his only birthday appearance.
