John Thomas Matchick

John “Tom" Matchick, age 78, of Holland, Ohio, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2022. Tom was born September 7, 1943 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania to John and Anna Matchick, where he attended Hazleton-Freeland high school. After graduating in 1961, his talent for baseball was discovered by scout Ollie Vanek while playing for the Junior American League. He began his professional baseball career in 1962, joining the Brunswick Cardinals farm-team after signing a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. For the next five years he developed his skills with various minor league organizations, including the Toledo Mud Hens, where he was a Triple A all-star and won a Rawlings Silver Glove Award. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1964-1970. In September 1967 Tom started his major league career after being called up to the Detroit Tigers. There he stayed for 3 years and was a valued member of the 1968 World Series championship team, most notably hitting a bottom-of-the-ninth walk-off home run on July 19, 1968, against the Baltimore Orioles. This gave the Tigers a 5–4 victory, all but assuring the team would enter the 1968 World Series, which they later won. In 1970 Tom was traded to the Boston Red Sox and during the remainder of his career also played for Kansas City and Milwaukee, closing his career in 1976 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. Tom’s passion for baseball was only surpassed by his enduring love for his family, close friends and his beloved grandchildren. Tom and his wife Linda met while Tom was playing for the Toledo Mud Hens and they married on October 14th, 1967, ultimately settling down in Maumee, Ohio to raise their family. Knowing there was never too much love to go around, the Matchicks' opened their hearts and home to more than 30 foster children during the ‘80s and ‘90s. As a coach and advocate for local kids in the Toledo area, Tom donated his time mentoring many youth organizations and was always eager to share his love and knowledge of baseball. Tom also enjoyed vacationing and hunting in the hills of the Allegheny National Forest of Pennsylvania as well as becoming a golf enthusiast in his later years. Active and free spirited until his passing, Tom would spend weekends at the family Lakehouse riding jet-skis and pontoon boating with his grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Melvin and Mae Lang; and sister, Mary Ann Kmetz. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Linda; son, Brian; daughters, Heather (Jim) Sutphin, Amanda (James) O’Hearn; sister, Anna Mae (Jerome) Balas; grandchildren James (Rosa), Nichole, (Sidney II), Brandon, Caleb, Jared, Luke and Gabriel; great grandchildren, Colt, Cavan, Archer and Sidney III; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; his baseball family; and close family friends “Uncle Al” Alan Seeger and Mike Tyree. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. To honor Tom’s memory, in lieu of donations the family has asked that you “pay it forward.” It’s amazing how one person’s acts of kindness can change the course of another person’s life. Please open your heart and follow Tom’s lead, no matter what your passion.