John Jay (J.J.) Thomas (2019) - Hall of Fame - University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics

Hall of Fame

Back To Hall of Fame Back To Hall of Fame

John Jay (J.J.) Thomas

Class

2002
Induction

2019
Sport(s)

Baseball

        After transferring to Pitt-Johnstown from NCAA Division I Marshall University prior to the 1999-2000 school year, John Jay Thomas, better known as J.J. Thomas, proved to be another key component in turning the Mountain Cat baseball program into one of the top teams in the region. Mr. Thomas led the Pitt-Johnstown pitching staff on the field and in the classroom on his way be being named First-Team All-Region and Second-Team Verizon Academic All-District II.
        Mr. Thomas made an immediate impact and earned a spot on the 2000 All-North Atlantic Region First Team after posting a 10-3 record with one save and a 3.15 earned run average (ERA) in 17 appearances. He also struck out 60 opposing hitters in 71 1/3 innings and helped Pitt-Johnstown finish 14^th in NCAA Division II in ERA.
        As a junior in 2001, Mr. Thomas had a team-best 8-3 record and three saves. He also paced the Mountain Cats in ERA (2.79), strikeouts (66), innings-pitched (77.1), appearances (14), and batting average against (.235).
        Mr. Thomas, who also played in the prestigious Valley League in Virginia for the New Market Rebels in the summer of 2001, closed out his Pitt-Johnstown career in 2002 with a 8-3 record including six complete games and one shutout. He also had 46 strikeouts. Following the season, Mr. Thomas was named Second-Team Verizon Academic All-District II Baseball with a 3.57 GPA and was invited to play on Team USA Athletes' Team that toured Germany.
        Mr. Thomas' three-year statistics still rank among the best in Pitt-Johnstown baseball history. His 26 career victories continue to sit atop the all-time wins list. He also set Mountain Cat records for career strikeouts (172) and career earned run average (3.26). Mr. Thomas is currently ranked third in ERA, fourth in strikeouts, tied for fifth in saves (4), and eighth in appearances (44).
        In one season at Marshall, Mr. Thomas recorded three of the team's eight victories and collected three saves.
        A native of Johnstown and a graduate of Greater Johnstown High School, Mr. Thomas earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Pitt-Johnstown in 2002. He graduated Magna Cum Laude.
        After graduating, Mr. Thomas spent six years at Therapeutic Support Staff working with children with behavioral or developmental disabilities. For the past eight years, he has been working for the Cambria County Association for the Blind and Handicapped as a Program Specialist working with adults with mental, visual or physical disabilities to achieve success with employment at their agency.
        Mr. Thomas won the 1999 Point Stadium Award after pitching 22 innings and striking out 34 for Seward VFW in one AAABA League playoff series. However, he suffered a loss after allowing two unearned runs on just four hits.
        In 2000, Mr. Thomas was a pick-up player by Galliker Dairy for the AAABA Tournament, where he pitched in the first three games and recorded one win and one save.
        Mr. Thomas, who coaches Tee-Ball at V.E. Erickson/Arbutus Youth Baseball League and soccer at Richland AYSO, and his wife Marsha reside in Richland Township with their two sons, Easton and Parker.
        "With all of the amazing athletes and coaches who are part of the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame, it is of great honor to be selected," Mr. Thomas said. "Since I was a child, baseball has been very important to me. It was one of the best decisions of my life to transfer from Marshall University to Pitt-Johnstown. I had amazing teammates and coaches. I'm thankful that Todd Williams let me join the team, especially since the fall season already started. He also had so much confidence in pitching me so much. It is such an honor to be in the Hall of Fame with Eric Dinyar, who I always looked up to because he taught me a lot about pitching, especially when I started to throw sidearm like him. I also want to thank my parents, brother, and grandpa, who were at every game sitting on their lawn chairs cheering for me. They helped make this day possible. Finally, I want to thank my wife for coming to my games, being supportive of me playing baseball, and blessing me with two great boys, who hopefully will play lots of baseball in their lives."

Back To Hall of Fame