When John Thoits, the side-wheeling right-hander, took the mound, he went with the mindset “I’m the king of the Hill!” It was the other teams job to knock him off it if they could. Seldom, they could. John would be first to congratulate them if they could.
John’s starry career spanned the 1950’s through the 1960's. John pitched and played outfield for four years for Falmouth High and Falmouth Legion. He was chosen to the combined Triple C and Telegram All-Star team in 1955.
In 1955 he joined the U.S. Army where he pitched for the military. He was chosen during that time to represent the Alaska All-Stars. He left the military in 1958. The legendary Charlie Turner of the Yarmouth Townies came Knocking on his door that winter.
John became the prominent Twilight League pitcher of the Late 1950's and early 1960’s. As captain, his team won numerous Twilight League Championships. John pitched two no hitters and several one hitters during this span. In 1963 John pitched the Yarmouth Townies to the Carlton Willey Semi Pro State Invitational Tournament and was presented with the trophy.
Today John Thoits is joining nearly twenty other members of the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame that wore the storied Yarmouth Townies uniform. Long time great umpire and Maine Baseball Hall of Fame member , Ed Ainsworth, calls John “The best right-hander I ever saw in these parts. He owned the inside corner.’
THOITS, JOHN D. - 76. of Gray, at Togus VA Hospice, Nov.14, 2012.
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