Needham Police Chief’s Son Makes MLB Debut
July 10, 2025
• Walpole native and Northeastern grad Cam Schlittler pitched for the Yankees as more than two dozen loved ones watched on, including his dad, Needham’s police chief.
In the stands at Yankee Stadium, Needham Police Chief John Schlittler stood with his wife Christine, tears in their eyes, watching their 24-year-old son make his Major League Baseball debut on Wednesday.
Cam Schlittler pitched into the sixth inning, throwing as fast as 100 miles-per-hour, to the astonishment of the New York broadcasters. He struck out seven Seattle Mariners, the first being MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh. Upon his first strikeout, team members rushed out to save the baseball to commemorate the moment.
Schlittler went on to throw a total 75 pitches, and though he walked two batters and gave up two solo home runs, the Yankees held on to win 9-6.
As he walked off the field, the stadium gave Schlittler a standing ovation.
At least two dozen friends and family members cheered him on in New York, decked out in navy blue and holding signs that read “Holy Schlitt! That’s Our Cousin” and “Straight Outta Walpole.” In a post-game interview, a reporter remarked that “half of Walpole was in section 214,” to which Schlittler smiled.
Twenty-three tickets were reserved for his loved ones, he said, and while he mostly kept his head down while on the mound, he still heard the cheers echo through the ballpark.
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“I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet, but again, I think coming out and everyone standing up was definitely a great feeling,” Schlittler said in a post-game interview. “Just happy everyone, family was here to see that.”
Schlittler played for Walpole High School, going on to attend Northeastern University, where he pitched for three seasons and posted a career ERA of 2.67 before being drafted in the seventh round by the Yankees in 2022. Since then, the 6’6” right-hander has played for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, who feed into the Yankees.
After a series of injuries impacted the Yankees’ pitching rotation, Schlittler earned his MLB start.
He follows in the elder Schlittler’s footsteps — while attending Stonehill College, John Schlittler played both baseball and football.
During a WCVB interview prior to the game, John Schlittler called his son’s call-up “a dream come true.”
“I am a Yankee fan for sure. Tonight,” he said. “I’ll always be a Boston fan, but I’m a Yankees fan.”
The Needham Police Department posted about Schlittler’s debut to their social media pages, generating congratulatory messages from locals.
“What an incredible accomplishment and a moment the entire Schlittler family will remember for the rest of their lives. This is a proud time for our whole community, something we can all be proud of,” the post read. “From the baseball fields of Walpole, to the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, your hard work and dedication have paid off. We can’t wait to watch what the future holds.”
Cam Schlittler’s uncles — and John’s brothers — Leo and Michael Schlittler also serve on the Needham force.
And that first strikeout ball against Raleigh? Schlittler said it’ll likely make its way back to Walpole. So, when his parents make the four-hour drive home, they’ll likely have some very precious cargo.
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The story above ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site. |
