John Winkin, the man who defined baseball in Maine for generations died Saturday. He was 94 and had been in poor health after suffering a stroke in December of 2007.

His death was confirmed by the University of Maine, where he coached from 1975 to 1996, taking the Black Bears to six College World Series. He filled his team with players from Maine. His appearances at high school ballfields throughout Maine to scout young talent became the stuff of stories. He had an outsized presence in a 5-foot-6 body that was incredibly fit late in his life — but ultimately betrayed him. He was on one of his power walks around the Husson University campus in Bangor where he last coached baseball when he was stricken. He was 87 at the time and believed to be the oldest active college coach in the United States in any sport.

Additional Images

Dr. John Winken points during a ceremony at Colby College in March 2011, when the school retired Winkin’s No. 5 jersey. Winkin coached the Colby baseball team for 20 years, winning 229 games. He finished his career with more than 1,000 coaching victories. Winkin died Saturday. He was 94. Staff photo by Michael G. Seamans

Dr. John Winkin watches his Bangor American Legion team warm up for a 2008 state tournament game against Monmouth. Winkin, 94, died Saturday. Photo by Jeff Pouland

Winkin lived much of the past seven years in a rehabilitation facility in Waterville. His only son, David, was a frequent visitor and accompanied his father to Omaha, Neb., for more recent College World Series.

“It’s still a shock,” said Ed Flaherty, the University of Southern Maine baseball coach. “He was the toughest man I’ve ever met. I can’t imagine what baseball would have been like here if he hadn’t come to Maine to coach.”

Flaherty played on Winkin’s first team at Maine in 1975. “He’s one of the greatest mentors I’ve ever known. I’m not sure I would have gotten into coaching without him.”

More than 90 men who played for Winkin signed professional contracts to play Major League Basetball. Two in particular, Bill Swift, of South Portland, and Mike Bordick, of Hampden, went on to have successful and long careers in Major League Baseball.

Winkin led a remarkable life. He was born in Englewood, N.J., not far from New York City. After graduating from Duke University where he was a 5-foot-6 center fielder for former Philadelphia A’s pitching star Colby Jack Coombs, Winkin earned his commission as a naval officer.

He served aboard the destroyer USS McCall as part of the USS Enterprize aircraft carrier group that was at sea on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Winkin often spoke of returning to Hawaii to witness the devastation.

He got his masters and doctoral degrees in education from Columbia University. He was involved in the founding of Sport Magazine, which beat Sports Illustrated to the newsstands by several years. He joined Mel Allen, the early radio voice of the New York Yankees, on a pre-game show during the early days of television. He played bridge with Vince Lombardi, whose name is on football’s Super Bowl Trophy. Lombardi, Winkin liked to say, hated to lose.

Baseball was his love. He came to Maine to coach that sport and football at Colby College in Waterville. His success there caught the eye of the University of Maine. He quickly improved the baseball program to the point where it was a consistent contender for regional championships and trips to the College World Series.

He was in the process of building up the Husson program when he suffered his stroke. He also returned to Omaha and the College World Series as a fan in recent years.

Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at:

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