HAGERSTOWN, Md. – With the No. 1 overall pick in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Draft on April 1, the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars selected Vincent Towns, a 53-year-old pitcher.
It was no April Fools’ Day prank.
Towns has spent more than a decade perfecting the art of the knuckleball. After showcasing his talents in front of representatives from all 10 league teams during ALPB Pro Days on March 31 and April 1 at Meritus Park, the Boxcars couldn’t pass up the opportunity to select him. They plan to use him as a reliever.
“He throws a very unique pitch. You don’t see many knuckleballs anymore,” Boxcars manager Mark Minicozzi said. “The majority of our pen throws 93-95 (mph). We have two guys who throw 98-100. To have a bullpen that’s primarily 95-plus and then throw a knuckleball that’s 72, it gives a different look that you don’t see every day.”
Towns, a native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was drafted out of high school in 1991 by the San Francisco Giants in the 36th round. He spent two seasons (1991-92) in rookie ball for the Giants in the Arizona League, appearing in 25 games and going 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings before being released.
“I got released and then I started playing in men’s leagues,” Towns said. “For the past 30 years, that’s what I’ve been doing.”
He never let go of his professional dreams and continued to attend tryouts each year while working as a construction worker.
“I told myself I’d give it until I was 40 to get picked back up into the pros,” he said. “If that didn’t happen, I’d become a knuckleballer and keep trying.”
Towns has been working on his knuckleball for 13 years — 100 throws a day, three days a week — steadily improving while continuing to attend tryouts.
“Most of these tryouts, it was never about the knuckleball. It was always, ‘You’re too old,'” Towns said. “But the knuckleball isn’t about age, and it’s not about speed. It’s about making the ball dance and throwing it for strikes, and you can do that for years.”
Despite his strong showing at ALPB Pro Days, he wasn’t expecting to be drafted — especially not with the No. 1 pick.
“I was surprised, very surprised,” he said. “But it happened, and I’m here, so I’ve got to keep rolling. I just have to throw it over for strikes in a game and keep doing what I’m doing.”
Towns is more than twice the age of most of his new teammates. When he eventually appears in a game, he will become the oldest player in league history to do so.
“What an inspirational story — 53 years old and he’s been working on that,” Minicozzi said. “He threw a bullpen yesterday, and it was really impressive. His knuckleball was dancing all over.
“We’re excited for him to be here and compete with the guys. He came right into the clubhouse and was one of the guys. That’s all you can ask for. We want guys who want to compete and want to be a part of this team. He’s one of the 27 guys here who want to be a part of this and want to win.”
Towns hopes to be back next year.
“I just want to keep playing until I can’t,” he said.
