George Digby (baseball scout)
George J. Digby (August 31, 1917[1] – May 2, 2014) was an American baseball scout and consultant in Major League Baseball.
Biography
A native of
After that, Digby worked in the Boston organization for more than 60 years, half a century as a scout, 14 more as a consultant. Throughout the years, he traveled
In 1948, one year after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball barrier in the Majors, the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association were an affiliate team of the Red Sox who played at Rickwood Field in Alabama. The Barons, an all-white squad, shared the same field with the Birmingham Black Barons, an all-black team of the Negro leagues. At that time Digby spotted Willie Mays, by then a 17-year-old outfielder. Boston signed the Barons' player/manager Lorenzo ″Piper″ Davis for $15,000.[6]
Digby has served as role model, inspiration, catalyst and friend for many young scouts. The George Digby Award was created by the Red Sox in honour of Digby, to recognize annually the scout that has provided outstanding services for the organization.
In 2008 Digby was selected for induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, becoming the first scout to gain the honors.[7] Digby is also in the Florida Scouts Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2000 and his plaque is near the press box at Tropicana Field. The plaque shows that he has signed 53 Major League players.
Digby died on May 2, 2014, aged 96.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Louisiana, First Registration Draft Cards, 1940–1945". FamilySearch. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ BaseballReferenceMinorLeagues.com
- ^ Martin Fennelly (2005-07-27). "A Man With A Vision". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
- ^ "George Digby Scouting Profile". TheBaseballCube.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-06.
- ^ BaseballReference.com
- ^ Two Finger Carney (2001-02-24). "Notes from the Shadows of Cooperstown: Observations from Outside the Lines". Baseball1.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25.
- ^ "Long-time Red Sox baseball official Edward Kenney, Sr. passes away at the age of 85". MLB.com. 2006-10-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.
- ^ "Digby leaves lasting legacy with Red Sox". MLB.com. 2014-05-03. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04.
- ^ Tony Lee (2014-05-03). "Longtime Red Sox scout George Digby dies". Espn.go.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04.