Topps Producing Cards of Professional Scouts
Twelve veteran baseball scouts have been named to the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame for 2009.
This is the second year of honorees, with the selections announced by The Goldklang Group and sponsored by Topps, which will also include eight additional scouts in a trading card set paired with star players they scouted.
This year’s honorees include Tom Greenwade, the only inductee who is deceased. Greenwade had a long scouting career for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees and is best remembered for his signing of Mickey Mantle and later, Bobby Murcer. Greenwade, who died in 1986, also gave Branch Rickey the definitive scouting report that made him decide that Jackie Robinson was the player best suited to integrate the Major Leagues.
Other inductees include the Marti Wolever (Philadelphia), Joe McIlvane (Minnesota), Joe Rigoli (St. Louis), Rene Mons (Milwaukee), Roland Johnson (New York Mets), Al Goldis (long-time scout), John Barr (San Francisco), Bob Fontaine (Toronto), Gary Hughes (Chicago Cubs), Tom Burns (Toronto) and Howard McCullough (Arizona). Their formal inductions will take place on dates to be announced.
The scouts selected for inclusion on Topps cards in 2009, paired with a prominent player they have signed, are: Paul Cogan, now a scout for Cleveland (paired with his “find,” C.C. Sabathia), Clarence Johns, Houston (Russell Martin), Mark Wilson, Minnesota (Joe Mauer), Pat Daugherty, Colorado (Matt Holliday), Larry Pardo, Milwaukee (Ryan Braun), Fred Repke, Tampa Bay (Evan Longoria), Matt Lundin, Philadelphia (Chase Utley) and Darrell Conner, Philadelphia (Cole Hamels).
The criteria for induction includes a minimum of 20 years of pro scouting experience, with selection based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly, their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.
