Tom Orton

Thomas Hamilton Orton (Turtle)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.

• School Valparaiso University
• High School Lutheran West High School

• Born July 4, 1938 in Algonac, MI USA
• Died March 15, 2020 in Georgetown, TX USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Tom Orton peaked in AA.

Orton hit .457 in 1958 and .393 for his career (a Valparaiso University record). He was All-Indiana Collegiate Conference at catcher and was ICC Most Oustanding Player twice. In the 1959 Pan American Games, he caught for Team USA when they won a Bronze Medal. He also played basketball in college.

Orton signed with the Detroit Tigers after college. He hit .232/.355/.314 for the 1960 Montgomery Rebels. In '61, he was with both the Decatur Commodores (.293/.372/.328 in 60 G) and Duluth-Superior Dukes (.172/.293/.185 in 48 G). With the Dukes for all of 1962, he hit .205/.308/.230 in 104 games but fielded .991 at catcher. In 1963, he batted .246/.331/.286 and fielded .986 for the Lakeland Tigers and was 0 for 10 with 4 walks for the Knoxville Smokies. He had hit .229/.331/.267 with one homer, 109 runs and 131 RBI in 358 games as a pro; he did walk 158 times while only striking out 88 and fielded .986.

He later coached basketball and won the Little College National Championship in 1983. He has coached and taught at Concordia University Texas.

Sources include Valparaiso Hall of Fame, Obituary