Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1999
John Orton is one of four former Cal Poly baseball standouts to have his uniform number retired as one of the top defensive catchers in school history.
From 1985-87, Orton not only gave the Mustangs a great presence behind the plate, but offensively developed into one of the premier hitters in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Today, Orton is seventh on the school's all-time career home run list with 16 and became the highest major league draft pick in school history.
In 1987, Orton was selected in the first round by the California Angels. He spent five major-league seasons with the Angels and hit four home runs and 29 RBIs in 156 career games, batting .200.
After his playing career ended, Orton was a coach for the Lake Elsinore Storm in 1999-2000 and spent five years as a minor league manager in the Chicago White Sox organization. In 1998, he guided Advanced Rookie Bristol to a 38-26 record and second place in the Appalachian League in his first season as manager. Orton led Great Falls to a second-half league title in 2004. In 2006, he became roving minor league catching coordinator for the Chicago White Sox, a position he has held the last 15 years (through 2020).
A Soquel High School graduate, Orton and his wife Patricia reside in Gilbert, Arizona and they have two children.
