In major league baseball, the number 42 bears great significance. Forty-two was the number of the legendary Jackie Robinson, famous for a hall of fame career and notable moments like stealing home against the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series. The number has been retired across major league baseball teams throughout the league to pay homage to a legend.
In Greene County baseball history, 42 is the number of seasons that Jefferson-Morgan Head Coach, John Curtis, has spent at the helm of the Rocket baseball program. Forty-two years, now that’s a career! In a day and age where the tenure of a high school baseball coach is probably closer to five years, Curtis has done what few have ever done. And that is to endure. To outlast. To adapt and change with the times.
Along the way he has accomplished more than most and experienced a prolific ride along the way. Curtis has enjoyed more seasons than nearly all of his compatriots in the WPIAL, leaving him as one of the deans of high school baseball as he makes his exit at the end of this season.
Truth be told, he has probably coached more seasons than all the active county high school coaches combined. John has enjoyed coaching through six decades of baseball in one capacity or another; five decades at Jefferson-Morgan. At the beginning of this season, he is a 400 plus game winner (411 to be exact) at J-M with a lifetime winning percentage of .587.
That total will be added to as well, this season. Curtis is approaching the career win mark of Peters Township great and fellow Greene County native, Joe Maize, who sits atop the heap at 422 wins over 35 seasons.
Curtis is likely the all-time wins leader in Greene County baseball lore, for sure in recent times. The Rocket skipper has coached over 600 players in his tenure and assisted well over two dozen players in reaching the college ranks.
John has also coached one professional pitcher in Adam Dukate, who played in Australia during the mid-2000’s. Dukate had this to say about Curtis’ impact on him as a little league player, a high school player, an assistant coach on the JM staff and most recently as the head baseball coach at LaRoche College. “Most of all, Curty held us accountable. He built strong relationships with his players. He could correct you without burying you when you made a mistake, and he was always willing to spend the extra time with you as one of his players. He threw a lot of extra batting practice to me as a Dry Tavern Red!”
In addition, Curtis has ridden tens of thousands of miles on school buses (and the rare, much- appreciated charter coach,) raked miles of turf, and hit approximately a billion fungoes in his baseball life, earning approximately $126,000.00 before taxes in his career. That adds up to about .32 cents per hour for time served.
*The fungoe total will only increase as he expects to winter in Florida following his retirement from the game. His grandkids will require more of the same old form.
What keeps a guy in the game for 42 seasons? Curtis has no idea. “I’d have never believed I’d last 42 seasons”, offers Curtis. “Certainly, it was never about the money. We were called to the district office and told that we couldn’t be paid if we didn’t sign our contracts. We thought, they’re paying us to coach? We’d have done it for free!”
At 74, Curtis still enjoys the long days and the long bus rides – in essence, the grind. “It gets harder and harder with each season,” remarks Curtis. While he still enjoys teaching the game, teaching life is what he seems to enjoy most. And that is what his former players recall most fondly.
Former J.M. shortstop Kirt Virgin shared this about his time as a player on Curtis’ squads. “Treat your players well. John cared about us. I enjoyed my relationship with him as a friend as well as a coach. I loved playing for Curtis. I have some great relationships with my former players, and I attribute them to my relationship with John as my coach.”
Chuck Coles, who may have hit the longest tape measure shot in the history of JM baseball according to Curtis during his tenure as head coach had this to say about his former mentor. “Coach made me want to do my best. I always wanted to please him, and he made me a better man for that. Disappointing Coach was never an option.”
Curtis allowed his players to be individuals and gave them the freedom to be themselves. He was a true player’s coach. “I’ve always loved preparing for an opponent,” says Curtis. “The X’s and O’s of the game have been great, but it’s the personal relationships that mean the most to me. That’s what I’ll miss most about the game.”
Former Carmichaels Mikes baseball head coach and J.M. grad Dave Bates had this to say about his best friend and high school coach. “The first words I remember John Curtis ever speaking to me were in my sophomore year on the breezeway of the high school overpass.
“It was early January on a bitterly cold day, well in advance of baseball season. I said hello to coach as we passed in the halls and he responded, ‘Batsey; better get that first baseman’s mit oiled up, Chuckie Coles graduated.’ I didn’t realize that he even knew who I was, but I figured if Coach Curtis knew me, then I must be pretty special. For a kid that had just lost his dad a short time before, those were important words. But that’s how he makes everybody feel. That’s the legacy he’ll leave behind.”
A baseball gathering is being planned for Saturday, July 25th. Location, time and other details are soon to be released. If you would like to be a part of the Curtis Men 42nd Baseball Reunion contact Dave Bates at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com or Cindy Curtis at ccurtis58@outlook.com as soon as possible.
