John Ellis Temple (August 8, 1927 – January 9, 1994) was an American professional baseball player and coach.

[1] A six-time All-Star player, Temple had a .300-plus batting average three times with the Reds and was one of the top defensive second basemen of his era.

[3] He then joined the United States Navy and served on the aircraft carrier USS Randolph toward the end of the Second World War.

He was assigned to play for the Morganton Aggies of the Western Carolina League where he produced a .316 batting average in 59 games.

[4] By the 1951 season, he had progressed to the top of the minor league ladder with the Tulsa Oilers where the presence of the superb-fielding shortstop Roy McMillan forced Temple to convert to playing as a second baseman.

[7] When Fred Hutchinson had to leave the Reds due to his health, Cincinnati management decided to go with only two coaches and not reinstate Temple.

[8] After his baseball career was over, Temple worked as a television newsman in Houston, Texas and got involved with a business that sold boats and RVs.

[10] Through the efforts of his wife, who wrote a public letter to The Sporting News, Temple got legal assistance.