John Tsitouris

Who is John Tsitouris?

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 tall and weighed 175 pounds.

Tsitouris graduated from Benton Heights High School in Monroe, North Carolina. He signed with the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent 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, 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.