Mel Didier
Mel Didier | |
---|---|
Scout | |
Born: Marksville, Louisiana | June 25, 1926|
Died: September 10, 2017 Phoenix, Arizona | (aged 91)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right |
Melvin Joffrion Didier Sr. (June 25, 1926 – September 10, 2017) was an American
Biography
Born in
Didier pitched in 1948 for the
When the expansion
Didier was the running backs/freshman coach at his alma mater, LSU, when the expansion Expos hired him to oversee their player development. He was the director of player development for the
Didier then became a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom he convinced to acquire free agent Kirk Gibson in 1988. As a result, he gained fame for his scouting report on Oakland Athletics ace relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley, which Gibson credited for his dramatic 1988 World Series Game One-winning pinch-hit home run against Eckersley; the Dodgers would go on to win the series in five games.[5]
Didier joined the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks in December 1996 and served with them through October 2000. He then served a second stint in Cleveland, followed by a year with the Baltimore Orioles. After that, he worked for the Texas Rangers as a special assignments scout. In October 2009, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays, whom he served until his death.[5]
In 2003, Didier gained induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.[5] Then in 2014, Aquila Productions made the documentary, Scout's Honor: The Mel Didier Story," which baseball greats, including Gibson, talk about Didier's influence on the game.[1]
His son Bob was a catcher in the Major Leagues from 1969 through 1974, and later had a long post-playing career as a coach, scout and minor league manager.
Didier died on September 10, 2017, in his home in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 91.[6]
References
- ^ a b c At 90, Mel Didier isn't finished helping major league baseball teams win. Article by George Morris. The Advocate, October 15, 2016. Retrieved on September 12, 2017.
- LSU Sports. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Mel Didier Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
- ^ "Baseball America - Executive Database". Baseball America. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame official website. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ Morris, George. "Legendary baseball scout Mel Didier dies at age 90; grew up, coached in Baton Rouge". The Advocate. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Mel Didier at SABR (Baseball BioProject)