John Philip Tsitouris (May 4, 1936 – October 22, 2015) was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957–60 and 1962–68. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).
Tsitouris had trials with the Athletics in both 1958 and 1959. He appeared in 14 games and 33 innings pitched in 1960. On May 4 of that year, Tsitouris' jaw was broken when he was hit by a line drive in batting practice.[3] After the 1960 season, Tsitouris was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with John Briggs for left-handed pitcher Joe Nuxhall.[4] He spent almost two full seasons in minor league baseball before getting his chance with Cincinnati in September 1962. Tsitouris made the most of it, giving up only two earned runs in 21⅓ innings and hurling a complete game, five-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 30.
For the next three seasons, Tsitouris was a full-time member of the Reds' pitching staff, winning 12 (1963), nine (1964), and six (1965) games, mostly as a starting pitcher. On September 21, 1964, he shut out the Phillies 1–0 on six hits at Connie Mack Stadium, starting the ten-game Philadelphia losing streak that knocked the Phillies out of first place.[5] However, with his effectiveness diminishing year-by-year, Tsitouris was sent to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in 1966 and, despite brief trials with Cincinnati in 1967–68, spent the rest of his career in the minors.
Tsitouris' Major League record included 149 games pitched, 34 wins, 18 complete games, five shutouts, three saves and 432 strikeouts in 663 innings. He surrendered 653 hits and 260 bases on balls.
^"Cincinnati Reds 1, Philadelphia Phillies 0". retrosheet.org. September 21, 1964. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
^"John Tsitouris Obituary". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
December 15, 2023
john, tsitouris, john, philip, tsitouris, 1936, october, 2015, american, professional, baseball, player, pitched, major, leagues, from, 1957, 1962, threw, batted, right, handed, stood, feet, tall, weighed, pounds, pitcherborn, 1936, 1936monroe, north, carolina. John Philip Tsitouris May 4 1936 October 22 2015 was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957 60 and 1962 68 He threw and batted right handed stood 6 feet 1 8 m tall and weighed 175 pounds 79 kg John TsitourisPitcherBorn 1936 05 05 May 5 1936Monroe North Carolina U S Died October 22 2015 2015 10 22 aged 79 Monroe North Carolina U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutJune 13 1957 for the Detroit TigersLast MLB appearanceApril 24 1968 for the Cincinnati RedsMLB statisticsWin loss record34 38Earned run average4 13Strikeouts432TeamsDetroit Tigers 1957 Kansas City Athletics 1958 1960 Cincinnati Reds 1962 1968 Tsitouris graduated from Benton Heights High School in Monroe North Carolina 1 He signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1954 and made his MLB debut with the Tigers on June 13 1957 Coming into a scoreless tie in relief of Steve Gromek in the fifth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles Tsitouris had an adventurous top half of the sixth frame surrendering two hits and a stolen base but emerged unscathed when Oriole baserunners Joe Durham and Dick Williams were both thrown out at home plate Then in Detroit s half of the sixth inning the Tigers scored two runs on a home run by Charlie Maxwell and an RBI double by J W Porter Tsitouris pitched 12 3 innings that day and gave up one earned run three hits and two bases on balls but ended up getting credit for a 2 1 victory 2 During that offseason he was part of a 13 player trade that sent among others Billy Martin to the Tigers from the Kansas City Athletics Tsitouris had trials with the Athletics in both 1958 and 1959 He appeared in 14 games and 33 innings pitched in 1960 On May 4 of that year Tsitouris jaw was broken when he was hit by a line drive in batting practice 3 After the 1960 season Tsitouris was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with John Briggs for left handed pitcher Joe Nuxhall 4 He spent almost two full seasons in minor league baseball before getting his chance with Cincinnati in September 1962 Tsitouris made the most of it giving up only two earned runs in 21 innings and hurling a complete game five hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 30 For the next three seasons Tsitouris was a full time member of the Reds pitching staff winning 12 1963 nine 1964 and six 1965 games mostly as a starting pitcher On September 21 1964 he shut out the Phillies 1 0 on six hits at Connie Mack Stadium starting the ten game Philadelphia losing streak that knocked the Phillies out of first place 5 However with his effectiveness diminishing year by year Tsitouris was sent to the Triple A Buffalo Bisons in 1966 and despite brief trials with Cincinnati in 1967 68 spent the rest of his career in the minors Tsitouris Major League record included 149 games pitched 34 wins 18 complete games five shutouts three saves and 432 strikeouts in 663 innings He surrendered 653 hits and 260 bases on balls Tsitouris died in Monroe on October 22 2015 6 References edit John Tsitouris Statistics and History baseball reference com sport reference com Retrieved October 10 2015 Detroit Tigers 2 Baltimore Orioles 1 retrosheet org June 13 1957 Retrieved October 10 2015 Larsen back in minors K City swaps for vet hurler Cincinnati Reds 1 Philadelphia Phillies 0 retrosheet org September 21 1964 Retrieved October 10 2015 John Tsitouris Obituary Charlotte Observer Retrieved October 25 2015 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Tsitouris amp oldid 1167946519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
