John Stuper

John Anton Stuper

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School Butler County Community College, Point Park College
• High School Butler (PA) High School
• Debut June 1, 1982
• Final Game October 4, 1985
• Born May 9, 1957 in Butler, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher John Stuper pitched four seasons in the majors, starring for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 postseason, and more recently has been the head coach for the Yale University Bulldogs.

Stuper played two seasons at Butler County Community College, where he also starred in basketball. He then spent a year at Point Park College, helping to lead the squad to the 1978 NAIA College World Series. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of the 1978 amateur draft but was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals early the next year.

Stuper reached the majors with the Cardinals in 1982, going 9-7 with a 3.36 ERA primarily as a member of the team's starting rotation. Manager Whitey Herzog would slot him, Kurt Kepshire and Dave LaPoint in the starting rotation at various times to ensure that staff leaders Joaquin Andujar and Bob Forsch always pitched on a regular schedule. In Game 6 of that year's World Series, he threw a four-hit complete game win against the Milwaukee Brewers to even the Series at three games apiece. The Cardinals went on to win the following contest to capture the crown.

Stuper pitched two more seasons for St. Louis before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Paul Householder. After one year with the Reds in 1985, he was sent to the Montreal Expos as part of the deal that brought Bill Gullickson to the Reds, but was released before the start of the 1986 season.

Stuper returned to Butler County Community College as coach and administrator for 5 years, then was a coach for the Savannah Cardinals in 1991 and St. Petersburg Cardinals in 1992. In 1993, Stuper became head coach for Yale University for 30 years, where he led future big league pitcher Craig Breslow. He is also featured prominently in the book Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit, written by Matt McCarthy, a former Yale pitcher who wrote about his one minor league season. On January 18, 2022 Stuper announced 2022 would be his last season before retiring.

In 2000, Stuper was inducted into the Point Park University athletic Hall of Fame.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982

Related Sites

• John Stuper Yale biography