As a two time All-American out of Michigan and a member of the NCAA Hall of Fame, John was selected in the first round of the 1979 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers and immediately traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for two veteran players. John played for the Cardinals from 1980 to 1983, helping win the World Series in 1982. Detroit wanted John back and bought his contract outright in August of 1983 and he played for the Tigers thru 1985.  John suffered a career ending injury in Game 3 of the 1984 World Series, where the Tigers went on to win the World Championship.  John asked for and was released from his contract in 1985.

​

Not ready to leave MLB, John turned to coaching with the Kansas City Royals as an assistant hitting coach. In 1987, John was hired as  the Director of Player development for the Oakland Athletics. In 1989, John received his third World Series ring, this time in charge of coaching for the Athletics with Tony La Russa.  When La Russa became manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002, Tony asked John to join him as Director of Player development. After winning his fourth World Series ring in 2006 and twenty-seven years in the Major Leagues, John retired from baseball.

​

Three years later, John started working with kids. Since 2010, John has helped many boys and girls make their junior high, high school and travel teams.  Many of John's students have received college scholarships at universities throughout the country. This year alone, John's pitching and hitting students, nine boys and eight girls, are playing college level baseball or softball at Division 1 colleges. Overall,  John has helped over 100 boys and girls win college scholarships and is extremely proud of them all.

​

Four World Series rings and over 100 students played or are playing  college ball - need we say more?

​

To contact John, for private lessons, send a text to 708-516-9910