Comments on: The guy who "discovered" Derek Jeter

By: Craig Calcaterra

Craig Calcaterra — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:16:34 +0000

You’re right, Church. In fact, the scout was actually Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser. When the Astros wouldn’t listen to him about Jeter, he quit.

By: Church of the Perpetually Outraged

Church of the Perpetually Outraged — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:35:30 +0000

IIRC a Houston scout was really high on Jeter and did everything possible to get the ‘Stros to draft him that year, thinking that Jeter would be one of the greatest players ever*. When the Astros decided against drafting him, the scout decided to quit since he figured if he couldn’t convince them to draft this future HoFer than what good is he.
* – from Olney’s book, The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty

By: Will

Will — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:11:13 +0000

Since Jeter was a first rounder, it does seem like other people besides Dick Groch was onto him (if not, why not take Jeter later in the draft?)
On the other end, Albert Pujols was drafted in the 13th round. The scout who found and convinced the Cardinals to draft him does deserve some credit.

By: Travis M. Nelson

Travis M. Nelson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:45:56 +0000

I’m reading Posnanski’s book on the Big Red machine and he describes Johnny Bench as the kind of kid who was always great at baseball and who always wanted to be and expected to be a star, like Jeter. It made me think how many kids there are just like that who end up in the major leagues.
I mean, how many times do you hear story about someone who just stumbled upon a major league career? Most of the guys in the majors had been planning to be there their whole lives. Recognizing the players who have both the talent and the demeanor to succeed, not just the plan, is the trick, I suppose.