John D’Acquisto’s book reveals the man behind the fastball

Written by: Bill Francis

Armed with an ability to throw a baseball at extraordinary speeds, John D’Acquisto’s big league career was somewhat diminished by injuries. But in a new memoir, “Fastball John”, he writes about his successes and failures, both on and off the field, to give the reader a behind-the-scenes picture of a compelling life.

D’Acquisto, along with co-author Dave Jordan, appeared at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on July 19 as part of the 2017 Author Series. The pair talked about “Fastball John” during an enthusiastic storytelling program inside the Bullpen Theater before a book signing at the Library Atrium.

A right-handed pitcher, D’Acquisto was selected by the San Francisco Giants in first round, 17th overall, of the 1970 MLB June Amateur Draft from his San Diego high school. A big league hurler for 10 seasons, from 1973 to 1982, he spent most of his career with the Giants and San Diego Padres, with shorter stints with the California Angels, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland A’s.

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While his career ended with a 35-41 won-loss record and a 4.56 ERA, striking out 600 batters in 779.2 innings, the 65-year-old D’Acquisto looks back on what could be described as a journeyman’s career with fond memories.

“I’m happy I was able to make it to the big leagues and sustain a long career but I had a lot of injuries,” D’Acquisto said. “I did the best that I could so I wouldn’t change anything. I learned a lot along the way and overcame a lot of obstacles and that made me a better person.”

One of the main obstacles was a 1975 elbow injury that resulted in one of the game’s earliest “Tommy John” surgeries. Prior to the setback, though, he was considered, along with Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, one of the hardest throwers of his era.

“It was mostly a God-given ability that I made better by doing the things I did, but not really knowing what I was doing. It was not done on purpose,” he said. “I used to go down into the canyon in our backyard and get rocks the size of baseballs and I’d put them in a bucket and I’d bring them back up the hill. Then I’d try and throw the rocks across the crevasse and try and reach the other side.”

John D'Acquisto pitched in the big leagues from 1973-1982 and spent most of his career with the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. (Milo Stewart Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

According to D’Acquisto, his fastball back in 1974 was clocked at 102.4 miles per hour.

Career highlights along the way included a 12-win rookie season with the Giants in 1974 as well as a 1978 campaign with the Padres in which he appeared in 45 games, saved 10, struck out 104 batters in 93 innings and finished with a 2.13 ERA.

No stranger to Cooperstown, D’Acquisto accompanied two teams to the Hall of Fame Game. Along the way, his teammates included future Hall of Famers Tim Raines, Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Reggie Jackson, Rod Carew, Rickey Henderson and Rollie Fingers.

“Being able to see the guys I played with and against here at the Hall of Fame really gives you goosebumps,” D’Acquisto said. “It makes you realize you are part of something very special, to be a big league baseball player.”

A candid and colorful 27-chapter book, “Fastball John” – released in September 2016 and totaling more than 500 pages – has been compared to the iconic “Ball Four” and called a love story of a man and his profession.

(From left to right): Dave Jordan, Hall of Fame manager of digital & outreach learning Bruce Markusen and former major league pitcher John D’Acquisto discuss D'Acquisto's new memoir, "Fastball John." D'Acquisto and Jordan were co-authors for the book. (Milo Stewart Jr. / National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

“There’s a message in the book, which is to overcome obstacles,” D’Acquisto said. “It shows what baseball was all about in the 1970s and ‘80s. And when you go into something you better go in there with your eyes open.

“It’s a great book for a young player coming up, so if they read the book it’s a good blueprint for them to go by.”

Currently, D’Acquisto works as a Replay Tech and Field Timing Coordinator for Major League Baseball's FTC and Replay Tech programs for MLB.com and MLB Network near his home in Phoenix, Ariz.


Bill Francis is a Library Associate at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

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