Johnny Turco
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
| name = Johnny Turco
| position = Halfback
| school=Holy Cross Crusaders
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|1|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Walpole, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1960|3|24|1932|5|22}}
| death_place = Walpole, Massachusetts, U.S.
| pastschools=Holy Cross (1949–1951)
| CFBHOF_year=
| weight_lb=170
| height_ft=5
| height_in=10
| highlights=
- Second-team All-Eastern (1951)
| module = {{Infobox baseball biography |embed=yes
| position = Outfield
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| teams =
- Evansville Braves (1953–1954)
- Jacksonville Braves (1953–1954)
- Atlanta Crackers (1955)
| highlights =
- College World Series champion (1952)
}}
}}
John Baptist Turco (January 28, 1930 – March 24, 1960) was an American athlete who played football and baseball at the College of the Holy Cross. He was a member of the Holy Cross Crusaders baseball team that won the 1952 College World Series.
High School
Turco was a standout athlete at Walpole High School. The Boston Globe named him to their all-scholastic third team in football baseball his junior year and he was an honorable mention in baseball his sophomore and senior seasons.{{cite news |title=Globe's 1946 All Scholastic Team |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 8, 1946}}{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=Ernest |title=Globe All-Scholastic |work=The Boston Globe |date=June 13, 1947}}{{cite news |title=Globe's 1945 All-Scholastic Nine |work=The Boston Globe |date=June 17, 1945}}{{cite news |title=Globe All-Scholastic |work=The Boston Globe |date=June 27, 1948}}
Football
On October 7, 1950, he scored five touchdowns in a 41–21 victory over Brown.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Ernie |title=Turco Runs Wild as Holy Cross Ruins Brown, 41-21 |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 8, 1950}} His three receiving touchdowns against Brown was a school record until 1993. He ran for a then school-record 169 yards and scored four touchdowns in that year's Boston College–Holy Cross game. He was awarded the Captain Edward T. O'Melia Trophy as the contest's most outstanding player.{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Tom |title=Turco, Holy Cross, Gets Capt. O'Melia Trophy |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 19, 1951}} He led the team in all-purpose yards (1305), kick return yards (329), punt return yards (174), and receptions (23) and set a school record for most touchdowns (17), receiving touchdowns (9), and points scored in a season (106). His 27.4 yards per kickoff return was the highest average in major college football that year.{{cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2021/FBS.pdf |title=2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records |publisher=NCAA |pages=77–79 |accessdate=January 19, 2022}}
In 1951, Turco again led the team in all-purpose yards (993) and 10 touchdowns. He and teammate Mel Massucco played for the North team in the 1951 North–South Shrine Game.{{cite news |title=H. C. Aces Divide Duties in All-North Backfield |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 19, 1951}} Turco scored the North's only touchdown in a 35 to 7 loss. He finished his career with 15 receiving touchdowns and 29 touchdowns, both school records until they were broken by Gordie Lockbaum.{{cite web |title=Records & History |url=https://static.goholycross.com/custompages/oldsite/sports/m-footbl/2009-10/files/09fb-records.pdf |website=Holy Cross}}
Turco was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 22nd round of the 1952 NFL draft, but opted to pursue a career in baseball.{{cite web |title=1952 NFL Draft |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1952/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=4 June 2023}}
Baseball
In 1952, Turco helped lead the Crusaders baseball team to its first College World Series championship.{{cite web |title=1952 National Champions |url=https://static.goholycross.com/custompages/sports/baseball/1952_champions.pdf |website=Holy Cross |access-date=4 June 2023}} He led the team in batting average (.385), hits (37), runs (29), walks (23), and stolen bases (9) and was a named to the second 1952 College Baseball All-America Team. He finished his career at Holy Cross with a .373 batting average.{{cite news |title=Holy Cross' O'Neil All-America Pitcher; Turco on 2d Team |work=The Boston Globe |date=July 2, 1952}}
On August 30, 1952, Turco signed with the Milwaukee Braves.{{cite news |title=Turco Signs Braves' Contract |work=The New York Times |date=August 31, 1952}} He split the 1953 and 1954 seasons with the Jacksonville Braves and Evansville Braves and played for the Atlanta Crackers in 1955. In 326 minor league games he batted .297 with 13 home runs and 126 RBI.{{cite web |title=Johnny Turco |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=turco-001joh |website=Baseball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC |access-date=4 June 2023}} An arm injury from his football days hindered his abilities as an outfielder.{{cite news |last1=Kaese |first1=Harold |title=Turco Lived Up To Prophecy of Coach on TD's |work=The Boston Globe |date=March 25, 1960}}
Later life
After his baseball career ended, Turco returned to Walpole, Massachusetts, where he worked in the insurance business. He died on March 24, 1960, from cancer. He was survived by his wife and son.{{cite news |title=John B. Turco, Ex-Holy Cross Fullback, Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/28859167/john_b_turco_died_1960/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |work=The Boston Globe |date=March 24, 1960}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Eagles1952DraftPicks}}
{{1952 Holy Cross Crusaders baseball}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turco, Johnny}}
Category:Atlanta Crackers players
Category:Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts
Category:Holy Cross Crusaders baseball players
Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football players
Category:Evansville Braves players
Category:Jacksonville Braves players