John "Shrimp" Foor

When Shrimp promising pro baseball career was ended in 1935 by a sore arm, Bedford County baseball gained a lifetime of teaching and guiding young players how to play the game.

John graduated from Everett High School in 1935. In high school he played every game in a four-year career, and he takes special pride in one game. Cumberland , Md. came to Everett sporting a 20 game winning streak. Foor pitched a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and helped his own cause by getting two hits and scoring two runs in leading Everett to a 3-1 victory.team was formed, and Shrimp managed the team from 1951 to 1960.

After graduation, the 17 year-old Foor signed with the New York Yankees and was assigned to Washington, Pa. In his first start, Foor went the distance giving up three walks, seven hits, and two runs in winning 10-2.

In an exhibition game against the Yankees, he pitched the eighth inning and retired the side in order. According to Foor this was the highlight of his pro career.

Shrimp ended the season and his pro career with a 3-2 record and a sore arm. It did not help that he pitched three complete games, one extra innings, in five days with a sprained ankle at Everett . He still believes he could have made it in pro ball, but the injured arm ended his chance.

Until he joined the US Navy in 1943, Foor played a lot of baseball. In the 30s, Foor was tearing the hide off the ball at Centerville , old-timers told the Bedford Gazette years later.
He hit .355, third highest in the league, and once pitched 13 innings to beat Ellerslie, 3-2. Foor also played for Cumberland in the Tri-State League and for Everett in the Bi-State League from 1938 on. In 1941, he played for Huntington of the Tw-Light City League and Everett on weekends.

In 1945, he played for the Navy at Fort Pierce , Fla , against several Navy teams well-stocked with pros, including Ted Williams and Charlie Gehringer. He pitched and played first base. After the war and in his 30s, he began managing and teaching others what he had learned in half of his life, playing good sound fundamental baseball.
Shrimp brought a command presence and discipline to the job of managing baseball teams. He communicated a respect for it, and got satisfaction from teaching the game - the proper game - the theory - the head part of the game.

"He broke them in," son Bob said.

"They go along with you if they recognize you know your stuff," Shrimp added.

Hours and hours of work were involved. Manager had to get the field prepared, make sure all the bats and balls and equipment were on hand, drive kids to away games, and teach the young athlete before, during and after the game things such as how to bunt, lead off, watch for signs, hit the relay man, and back up the throws to a base.
Starting in 1950, he managed the Everett American Legion team. He also managed an adult team that played in the Greater Bedford County League, and which also played in the Bi-State and Tri-States leagues. The adult's leagues folded in the 60s. In 1951 the Everett Junior Legion







Class of 2006
Class of 2006

Bedford County Sports
Hall of Fame

Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania