John Tsitouris
Encyclopedia
John Philip Tsitouris is an American
former professional baseball
player who pitched
in the Major Leagues
from 1957–1960 and 1962–1968. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Tsitouris signed originally with the Detroit Tigers
in 1954 and made his MLB debut with the Tigers on June 13, . Coming into a scoreless tie in relief
of Steve Gromek
in the fifth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles
, he had an adventurous top 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 1⅔ 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. 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 and and spent all of on the Kansas City roster
, but he appeared in only 14 games and 33 innings pitched
and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
in a waiver deal for left-handed
pitcher Joe Nuxhall
in January . He spent almost two full seasons in minor league baseball
before getting his chance with Cincinnati in September . 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 first-division
Reds' pitching staff, and winning 12 , nine and six 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. 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 –, spent the rest of his career in the minors.
His Major League record included 149 games pitched, 34 wins, three saves, and 432 strikeouts in 663 innings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player who pitched
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1957–1960 and 1962–1968. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Tsitouris signed originally with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1954 and made his MLB debut with the Tigers on June 13, . Coming into a scoreless tie in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
of Steve Gromek
Steve Gromek
Stephen Joseph Gromek was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played seventeen seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers . He was a native of Hamtramck, Michigan.An All-Star in 1945, Gromek posted a 19-9 won-loss record with a 3.26 ERA...
in the fifth inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, he had an adventurous top of the sixth frame, surrendering two hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and a stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, but emerged unscathed when Oriole baserunners Joe Durham
Joe Durham
Joseph Vann Durham was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
and Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
were both thrown out at home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. Then, in Detroit's half of the sixth inning, the Tigers scored two runs on a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
by Charlie Maxwell
Charlie Maxwell
Charles Richard Maxwell , nicknamed "Smokey," "Paw Paw," , "Sunday Punch" and "Sunday Charlie," is a former professional baseball outfielder...
and an RBI double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
by J. W. Porter
Jay Porter
J. W. "Jay" Porter is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals . Porter played in 229 major league games, 91 as a catcher, 62 as an outfielder, 16 as a first baseman, and 3 at...
. Tsitouris pitched 1⅔ innings that day and gave up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
, three hits and two bases on balls, but ended up getting credit for a 2–1 victory. During that offseason, he was part of a 13-player trade that sent, among others, Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
to the Tigers from the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Tsitouris had trials with the Athletics in both and and spent all of on the Kansas City roster
1960 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season involved the A's finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 58 wins and 96 losses.- Offseason :At the 1959 Winter Meetings, Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Joe L. Brown had agreed to trade Dick Groat to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Roger...
, but he appeared in only 14 games and 33 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in a waiver deal for left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher Joe Nuxhall
Joe Nuxhall
Joseph Henry Nuxhall was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, mostly for the Cincinnati Reds. Immediately after retiring as a player, he became a radio broadcaster for the Reds from 1967 through 2004, and continued part-time up until his death in 2007...
in January . He spent almost two full seasons in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
before getting his chance with Cincinnati in September . Tsitouris made the most of it, giving up only two earned runs in 21⅓ innings and hurling a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
, five-hit shutout
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on September 30.
For the next three seasons, Tsitouris was a full-time member of the first-division
First division (baseball)
First division is a term that has had various meanings, at various times, in the sport of baseball, but originally referred to the rankings within a league...
Reds' pitching staff, and winning 12 , nine and six games, mostly as a starting pitcher. On September 21, 1964, he shut out the Phillies 1–0 on six hits at Connie Mack Stadium
Connie Mack Stadium
Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a major league baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When it opened April 12, 1909, it became baseball's first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to "The $100,000 Infield", "The Whiz Kids" and "The 1964 Phold"...
, starting the ten-game Philadelphia losing streak that knocked the Phillies out of first place. However, with his effectiveness diminishing year-by-year, Tsitouris was sent to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
in 1966 and, despite brief trials with Cincinnati in –, spent the rest of his career in the minors.
His Major League record included 149 games pitched, 34 wins, three saves, and 432 strikeouts in 663 innings.