Major League Baseball Player. Born John Ellett Herrnstein, he attended Chillicothe High School in Ohio, where he made his first mark as a multi sports athlete, who participated in baseball, basketball, football and track and field, as he achieved all-State status in each of those sports. He would go on to play collegiate baseball and football at the University of Michigan and while with the Wolverines' football squad, he distinguished himself at the fullback position and was featured in a Sports Illustrated article in 1956. A knee injury eventually ended his collegiate football career, however he would be selected by the Baltimore Colts during the 1959 NFL Draft. Herrnstein chose to pursue a career in professional baseball, as he was previously signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in December 1958. On September 15, 1962, he made his Major League debut with the Phillies and appeared in six games that season. The following year, on September 24, 1963, he hit his first career home run (a pinch-hit) came in the ninth inning off San Francisco Giants' pitcher Don Larsen at Candlestick Park, which gave the Phillies a 5-4 win. In 1964, he earned the starting first baseman position and produced a career high 71 hits in 125 games-played. He had the distinction of playing on the Phillies' squad which squandered a substantial lead late during the 1964 season, which resulted in one of the worst collapses in sports history. After stints with the Chicago Cubs (1966) and Atlanta Braves (1966), he retired. Following his departure from baseball, he worked in the finance industry.
Major League Baseball Player. Born John Ellett Herrnstein, he attended Chillicothe High School in Ohio, where he made his first mark as a multi sports athlete, who participated in baseball, basketball, football and track and field, as he achieved all-State status in each of those sports. He would go on to play collegiate baseball and football at the University of Michigan and while with the Wolverines' football squad, he distinguished himself at the fullback position and was featured in a Sports Illustrated article in 1956. A knee injury eventually ended his collegiate football career, however he would be selected by the Baltimore Colts during the 1959 NFL Draft. Herrnstein chose to pursue a career in professional baseball, as he was previously signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in December 1958. On September 15, 1962, he made his Major League debut with the Phillies and appeared in six games that season. The following year, on September 24, 1963, he hit his first career home run (a pinch-hit) came in the ninth inning off San Francisco Giants' pitcher Don Larsen at Candlestick Park, which gave the Phillies a 5-4 win. In 1964, he earned the starting first baseman position and produced a career high 71 hits in 125 games-played. He had the distinction of playing on the Phillies' squad which squandered a substantial lead late during the 1964 season, which resulted in one of the worst collapses in sports history. After stints with the Chicago Cubs (1966) and Atlanta Braves (1966), he retired. Following his departure from baseball, he worked in the finance industry.
Bio by: C.S.
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