Called by one sportswriter, the “Bear that walks like a man,” Lynch stood 6-foot-3 and weighed in excess of 230 pounds when he pitched between 1959-1981. During his career, Lynch won 576 games, lost 94, hurled 14 no-hitters, 61 perfect games and 14 games in which he struck out all 21 batters. Between 1965-1969 he hurled for the Aurora, IL Sealmasters and had an unbeaten year (35-0) in his first year. He struck out 477 batters and walked 47, finishing with a 0.24 ERA. In the national tourney, Aurora gave Joe the ball and he responded by allowing only 13 hits in 35 innings in five games, walking 11 and striking out 58 to finish with a 0.29 ERA. Joe also won the tourney MVP award that year and extended his winning streak to 53 games before suffering a loss July 20, 1966. With the national championship, the Sealmasters earned the right to represent the USA in the first ISF Men’s World Championship. They won the gold medal easily and Lynch fanned seven batters in two and two-thirds innings.Repeating as ASA national champ in 1967, Lynch went 3-0 with 28 strikeouts and three walks Aurora again repeated as World champion. In the event Lynch won three games, didn’t allow any runs in 22 innings and struck out 45. Joe joined Clearwater in 1970 and remained through the 1974 season. He returned to play for Clearwater in 1977 before retiring after the 1981 season. In 14 ASA nationals, Lynch had a 24-10 won-loss record. Lynch was born January 22, 1942 in Nashville, TN.
