Born November 1, 1945, in Pueblo, Colorado, Jim Pelander spent most of his life playing or coaching baseball.

A three-sport star in high school, Pelander played baseball, football and basketball at Clover Park High School before graduating in 1964. He posted a .400 batting average at Yakima Valley College in 1966 and earned honorable mention all-Pac 8 honors at Washington State University. He also played outfield for the 1966 Cheney Studs, who finished second in the nation.

Pelander coached American Legion baseball and the Tacoma Timbers semi-pro team, and he was a longtime pitching and outfield coach at Charles Wright Academy, where he taught.