MLB Pitcher, North Jersey Baseball Icon Tom Acker Dies At 90

NARVON, PA — North Jersey baseball legend Tom Acker, who pitched for four seasons with the Cincinnati Redlegs — now the Reds — died at his home in Narvon, Pennsylvania Jan. 4.

He was 90 years old.

Acker was a star at Fair Lawn High School, where, in 2006, he was inducted into the Fair Lawn Athletics Hall of Fame.

He was well on his way to a career in the big leagues, when, in 1951, he was drafted into the United States Army.

Acker eventually made it to professional baseball, pitching for four seasons in Cincinnati.

According to Baseball-Reference, he appeared in 153 games throughout the course of his career, acquiring 19 wins while appearing mostly out of the bullpen. He finished his career with a 4.12 ERA.

Acker later returned to Bergen County, where, according to Northjersey.com, he built a home in Wyckoff while playing semi-pro ball for the Paterson Phillies and Emerson-Westwood Merchants.

Born in Paterson, but raised in Fair Lawn, Acker also lived in Wyckoff and Mahwah.

After his pro days he worked as a pari-mutuel clerk before becoming a supervisor with the NJ Sports & Exposition Authority and Meadowlands Racetrack, according to an obituary.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two children, Nancy Acker and Janice Crowther; three step-children, Kenneth Okken, Dwayne Okken and Glenn Okken; two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

All in-person services are private, but the family has listed a Zoom link to join virtually.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Fair Lawn Police Department.