Year Inducted – 1993

John played his high school baseball at Buchtel and Cuyahoga Falls High before joining the Exchange Chevy’s in the American Legion League. He won two championships, then began playing in the A League with Simpson Markets team. After a couple of seasons with the Markets, Chet Foltz’s National A-C team needed a shortstop, and John handled that spot for several years and three championships. During that time another Maple Valley team was rising to prominence, Marshall Snider’s-Sohio A.C. team. So John and 1985 Hall of Famer Bill Aylward joined that team, taking them to the State finals at Van Wert. Being drafted into the Army prevented John from joining the Boston Braves organization. However, the Fort Hayes Army team made use of his talents. All in all, John spent 15 years in baseball in the Akron area before moving to Florida.