Foreword: Can He Play? A Look at Baseball Scouts and Their Profession
This article was written by Roland Hemond
This article was published in Can He Play? A Look at Baseball Scouts and Their Profession
Jim Sandoval and Rod Nelson have spent several years in compiling the “Who Signed Who” database for SABR to document the incredible contributions of baseball scouts since the pioneering years of baseball history.
I am fortunate to have enjoyed more than 60 years in baseball. Having been in the game since 1951, I realize that organizations will fail without competent scouts who possess the ability to not only sign players, but to project the eventual development of their candidates.
It would take forever for me to cite the many cases which validate my sentiments. However, I will offer a prime example of a key scout who played a major role in helping the 1957 Milwaukee Braves to become crowned World Series champions over the New York Yankees. Former major-league center fielder Johnny Moore scouted for the Braves in California. He signed third baseman Eddie Mathews, from Santa Barbara High School, and catcher Del Crandall, from Fullerton High School. Moore also recommended that the Braves GM acquire right-handed pitcher Lew Burdette, a Yankees farm hand, in a trade for seasoned veteran Johnny Sain. Burdette won over 200 games for the Braves, including three complete games in the 1957 World Series. His third verdict was a complete-game shutout – on only two days’ rest.
This taught me a good lesson: you are only as good as your scouts; not only in their signing of players, but in their trade recommendations as well. Johnny Moore will forever live in my baseball memory bank.
I still marvel and respect members of the scouting profession. Baseball would not have prospered without scouts. Everyone in baseball, and fans all over the world, must not forget the scouts, and should shower them with praise and recognition.
The advancement in technology and video has provided additional tools, but the eyes and intelligence of scouts should never be demeaned.
I commend the work of SABR’s Scouts Committee in helping enlighten the baseball world through this work, and firmly believe that scouts will continue to play an essential role in the future of this great game of baseball.
ROLAND HEMOND (1929-2021) was the recipient of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and a longtime SABR member. He was a three-time winner of MLB’s Executive of the Year Award and the namesake of a SABR Scouts Committee award honoring baseball executives’ contributions to the scouting industry.