George J. Digby
Encyclopedia
George J. Digby is an American scout
and consultant in Major League Baseball
.
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana
, Digby started his professional career in 1944. He was coaching high school baseball in his homeland when a Boston Red Sox
executive came to sign his best pitcher
, Dick Callahan.
Digby helped young Callahan drive a hard bargain. The Red Sox paid out and, on the way to the train, also offered Digby a job.
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 has tirelessly traveled the South looking raw talent for the Red Sox. Among his finds were Red Sox graduates Tom Bolton
, Steve Curry
, Mike Greenwell
, Jody Reed
and Marc Sullivan
. But Digby put great emphasis on signing future Hall of Famer
Wade Boggs
, after the Red Sox had reports that questioned Boggs' ability to be a Major League player, as he fought hard to convince the team that should draft the young man with the smooth swing. Finally, in 1976 Digby drafted Boggs in the seventh round and signed him for $7,500 and a college scholarship. In , Digby saw Boggs belt a home run
for his 3,000th career-hit, to become the first player in Major League history to enter the 3000 Hit Club
by hitting a home run. Boggs had invited Digby, all expenses paid.
In 1949, two years 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, thinking that he could be the right man to break the color line in Boston. Digby recommended the Red Sox sign Mays for $5,000, but Boston decided to sign the Barons' player/manager Lorenzo "Piper" Davis for $15,000.
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 Digby was selected for induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
, becoming the first scout to gain the honors. 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.
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and consultant in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Digby started his professional career in 1944. He was coaching high school baseball in his homeland when a Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
executive came to sign his best pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, Dick Callahan.
Digby helped young Callahan drive a hard bargain. The Red Sox paid out and, on the way to the train, also offered Digby a job.
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 has tirelessly traveled the South looking raw talent for the Red Sox. Among his finds were Red Sox graduates Tom Bolton
Tom Bolton (baseball)
Thomas Edward Bolton is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles . He batted and threw left-handed...
, Steve Curry
Steve Curry
Stephen Thomas Curry is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 6' 6", 217 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
, Mike Greenwell
Mike Greenwell
Michael Lewis Greenwell is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire MLB career with the Boston Red Sox . He briefly played a few games for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan , before retiring. Greenwell was nicknamed "The Gator." He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, Jody Reed
Jody Reed
Jody Eric Reed is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1987-1997. The 5'9" second baseman played with the Boston Red Sox from 1987–1992, and in 1990 he led the American League with 45 doubles and finished 10th in the AL with 173 hits...
and Marc Sullivan
Marc Sullivan
Marc Cooper Sullivan is an American former college and professional baseball player. Sullivan was a catcher who played for five Major League Baseball seasons with the Boston Red Sox....
. But Digby put great emphasis on signing future Hall of Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, after the Red Sox had reports that questioned Boggs' ability to be a Major League player, as he fought hard to convince the team that should draft the young man with the smooth swing. Finally, in 1976 Digby drafted Boggs in the seventh round and signed him for $7,500 and a college scholarship. In , Digby saw Boggs belt a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
for his 3,000th career-hit, to become the first player in Major League history to enter the 3000 Hit Club
3000 hit club
In Major League Baseball , the 3,000 hit club is a term applied to the group of batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers. Cap Anson was the first to join the club on July 18, 1897, although his precise career hit total is unclear. Two players—Nap Lajoie and...
by hitting a home run. Boggs had invited Digby, all expenses paid.
In 1949, two years after Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
broke the baseball barrier
Baseball color line
The color line in American baseball excluded players of black African descent from Organized Baseball, or the major leagues and affiliated minor leagues, until Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization for the 1946 season...
in the Majors, the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
were an affiliate team of the Red Sox who played at Rickwood Field
Rickwood Field
Rickwood FieldFacility StatisticsLocation1137 2nd Avenue WestBirmingham, AlabamaBroke GroundSpring 1910Cost$75,000OpenedAugust 18, 1910SurfaceGrassOwnerCity of BirminghamTenantsBirmingham Barons 1910-1961...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The Barons, an all-white squad, shared the same field with the Birmingham Black Barons
Birmingham Black Barons
The Birmingham Black Barons played professional baseball for Birmingham, Alabama, in the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1960 when the Major Leagues successfully integrated...
, an all-black team of the Negro leagues
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
. At that time Digby spotted Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, by then a 17-year-old outfielder, thinking that he could be the right man to break the color line in Boston. Digby recommended the Red Sox sign Mays for $5,000, but Boston decided to sign the Barons' player/manager Lorenzo "Piper" Davis for $15,000.
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 Digby was selected for induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
The Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame was instituted in 1995 to recognize the careers of former Boston Red Sox baseball players. A 15-member selection committee of Red Sox broadcasters and executives, past and present media personnel, and representatives from The Sports Museum of New England and the...
, becoming the first scout to gain the honors. 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
Tropicana Field
Tropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
. The plaque shows that he has signed 53 Major League players.