Wayne Twitchell (March 10, 1948 – September 16, 2010) was a standout athlete at Wilson High School in Portland, where he earned nine varsity letters across three sports: baseball, football, and basketball. His achievements included first-team all-city honors, PIL MVP, and second-team all-state selection in football, which earned him a spot in the Shrine Game. He was also named second-team all-city in basketball. The University of Arizona offered him a partial scholarship to play quarterback, but Twitchell chose baseball when the Houston Astros selected him as the third overall pick in the 1966 Major League Baseball draft. Twitchell spent four seasons in the Houston Astros' farm system, where he went 21-26 with a 3.53 earned run average and 402 strikeouts, primarily as a starting pitcher. Before relocating and becoming the Milwaukee Brewers, the Seattle Pilots purchased Twitchell after the 1969 season. With the 1970 Portland Beavers, he went 9-12 with a 5.44 ERA and 103 strikeouts.
In September 1970, Twitchell made his major league debut with the Brewers, striking out the side against the Minnesota Twins, including Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and Harmon Killebrew.
In Spring Training 1971, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor league outfielder Pat Skrable. Twitchell spent the 1971 season in Triple-A before being called up to the majors in September. He spent several seasons with the Phillies, both as a starter and reliever. 1973 was a particularly strong year for Twitchell. He pitched five complete-game shutouts, was twice named National League Pitcher of the Week, and was selected as the Phillies' sole representative at the 1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
During his MLB career, Twitchell also played for the Montreal Expos (1977-1978) and the New York Mets (1979). He concluded his major league career with the Seattle Mariners in 1979. He retired with a career ERA of 3.98.
After retiring from professional baseball, Twitchell returned to Portland, where he embarked on a career as a commercial real estate broker. However, his passion for baseball remained strong. He served as a pitching coach for his alma mater, Wilson High School, mentoring young pitchers. In 1982, Wilson High School retired his jersey, number 36. He also served several years as the Treasurer for the Active and Oldtimers Baseball Association.
Wayne Twitchell was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2001, he received the Order of the Golden W from Wilson High School for his dedicated service to the school.
