Mike Pittman attended Kaskaskia College from 1977-1979 and was an integral member of the Blue Devils Baseball team.   Mike was an All Conference Player in 1978 and was selected for the Illinois State All Star game hosted at Wrigley Field in 1979.   Mike’s record at Kaskaskia College stands at eleven wins, five loses with a 3.98 ERA; he pitched 126.2 innings with 112 strike outs. His opponents batting average against him was only .200. 

After graduation, Mike signed with the St Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent and was the only player signed out of 300 from the camp at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri. Mike pitched for the Cardinal Organization from 1979 to 1984. He also played in the Florida Winter Instructional League for legendary Cardinal coach, George Kissell.  

After his baseball career, Mike attended the University of Illinois at Springfield, earning his Bachelor Degree in Labor Relations.  Mike took a position in Illinois State government for twelve years.  Mike displayed great entrepreneurial skills through his development of numerous companies benefitting economically depressed areas of Springfield and inspired other sports icons, like NBA basketball player Kevin Gamble, into the business of giving back to the community.  This endeavor resulted in the investment of millions of dollars in economic development projects for Springfield.

Mike developed both a popular radio talk show and independent newspaper, his Voice America radio and Capital City Courier newspaper are enjoyed by many in Illinois; his newspaper is also distributed nationally and internationally via an associated website. The Capital City Courier was also featured in Editor and Publisher Magazine, a 150 year old trade publication for the newspaper industry. 

Mike has received numerous community awards to include the NAACP Community Service award, the Springfield Urban League Community Service award and the Springfield Chamber of Commerce Minority Small Business of the Year award.  Mike was named one of the ten most influential people in Springfield by Springfield Magazine and was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Illinois Times.

Mike continues to serve his community through active involvement as a member of the Governor’s Council on Health and Physical Fitness and the Judicial Inquiry Board and the Health Care Cost Containment Council; appointments bestowed by three separate governors.  Mike also served as the Vice Chairman of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and is the current President of the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce.  Tireless in his dedication to the community, MIke has served on the board for the Salvation Army, the VIA Literacy Board, the Central Illinois Light Company Advisory Board, the Springfield YMCA Board of Directors, Contact Ministries, Mercy Community and the Hope School.