John Joseph Podres (September 30, 1932 – January 13, 2008) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).

[2][3] Podres was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season.

[1] He started his professional baseball career that year with the Hazard Bombers of the Mountain States League.

[5] After spending one more season in the minors in 1952, Podres made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1953.

He also won the Babe Ruth Award and was later named the Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

[1] He spent 1968 in the minors and then came back for one season with the San Diego Padres in 1969 before retiring as a player.

[1] After his playing career ended, Podres served as the pitching coach for the Padres, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Philadelphia Phillies for 23 seasons between 1973 and 1996.

He died in Glens Falls, New York, in 2008 at age 75 after being hospitalized for heart and kidney ailments and a leg infection.

[6] Podres was survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Joni Taylor of Ice Follies fame, and his two sons, Joe and John Jr.