John “Jack” Titus was born February 21, 1876 in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. His major league baseball career spanned the years 1903 to 1913, most of which he spent as an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. His last two years were spent with the Boston Braves of the National League.
The following is from the Mighty Casey Baseball web site:
[Silent John Titus] was mobile afield and on the bases; patient and keen at the plate (though with little real power), befitting a quiet and distinguished gentleman…
He was among the last of the handlebar mustached guys…. He had a toothpick in his mouth from batting practice until the last putout of each game…
Titus spent time in the Spanish American War, learned baseball while in basic training, and came out of the war ready to play. A broken ankle in 1911 took away some of his mobility, a beaning in 1914 nearly killed him (Bill Burns hit him on the temple, cracking his skull – he not only survived but finished two seasons). A year later, he was out of baseball. Soon after, he married Ethyl Stone – she was twenty years younger than he was. A stroke left him paralyzed in the fall of 1942….
For further information on Jack Titus, see:
John Titus died on January 8, 1943 in St. Clair and is buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery at that place.
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Photo from Baseball Reference.
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