Year Inducted – 1988

A native from Pittsburgh, John is being inducted into his second Baseball Hall of Fame. He received similar honors from his former school, Pittsburgh Baldwin Wallace High in 1982. He began his career as a rugged right-handed pitcher and outfielder in the Pittsburgh Whitehall Little League, where his team won two titles in three years, and then with pennant winning teams in Whitehall Class E, and American Legion teams, where he was named to two All-Star teams. He then went to Parsons College in Iowa, where he pitched his teams to one League title and two District Tournament championships. John moved to Akron in 1969 and played with Nino’s Lounge for two years. After winning the Frank Garcia Memorial Award while with Eaton Sports Pride in 1971, he went into pro ball in the Minnesota system. John had three outstanding years with the Lynchburg Twins, Charlotte and Orlando, pitching a pair of no-hitters and making the All-Star team twice. However, a back injury, plus the fact that “Bonus Babies” were being moved up to the big club, curtailed his pro stint. John returned to Akron to lead Acme Ash to the 1976 League Title and the Akron Insulating teams to three other pennants. In those four years he posted a 44-3 record and a 1.77 ERA. John also played for Oakwood Grill and Genessee Beer, and managed Tallmadge Dineen Electric to the Class D title in 1983. John was name to ten AA All-Star teams and had a AA career record of 101-17.