Matt Sczesny
Encyclopedia
Matthew John Sczesny [says'-nee] (September 7, 1932 – January 3, 2009) was an American infielder
and manager
in minor league baseball
, and a longtime scout for the Boston Red Sox
of the American League
. Sczesny, a native of Flushing, New York, spent 55 years in baseball, all of them in the Red Sox organization.
Sczesny graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
in Brooklyn, and attended St. John's University. He signed with the Red Sox in 1954 and played in their farm system through , except for the 1957 campaign, which he missed while performing military service. He was named a member of the 1955 Sally League
All-Star team as an infielder, while a member of the Montgomery Rebels.
In , Sczesny became a manager in the Boston system with the Waterloo Hawks
of the Class D Midwest League
, and he promptly led the Hawks to the MWL championship — the only league title he would win as a manager. However, he handled many future major leaguers as a skipper of Class A farm clubs in the Red Sox chain, until , his final season in uniform, when he served as the first manager in the history of the Pawtucket Red Sox
, then Boston's Double-A Eastern League affiliate.
In 1971, he became a scout for the Red Sox, based in Deer Park, New York
, on Long Island. Sczesny scouted and signed future Red Sox stars Mo Vaughn
, Bob Stanley
and John Valentin
, among others. In 2003, he switched from being an "area scout" tracking high school and college talent to a member of the Red Sox' professional scouting corps, serving through the campaign.
He died at age 76 from cancer
in West Islip, New York
, on January 3, 2009.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, and a longtime scout for the 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"...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. Sczesny, a native of Flushing, New York, spent 55 years in baseball, all of them in the Red Sox organization.
Sczesny graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School is a Roman Catholic Christian Brothers university-preparatory secondary school serving students in grades 9 through 12 in Brooklyn, New York. The school is under the jurisdiction of the Brooklyn diocese.-History:...
in Brooklyn, and attended St. John's University. He signed with the Red Sox in 1954 and played in their farm system through , except for the 1957 campaign, which he missed while performing military service. He was named a member of the 1955 Sally League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
All-Star team as an infielder, while a member of the Montgomery Rebels.
In , Sczesny became a manager in the Boston system with the Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks (baseball)
The Waterloo Hawks were a minor league team that existed on-and-off from 1922 to 1969. From 1922 to 1932, they played in the Mississippi Valley League and in 1932 they were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They played in the Western League in 1936 and from 1940 to 1942 they played in the...
of the Class D Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, and he promptly led the Hawks to the MWL championship — the only league title he would win as a manager. However, he handled many future major leaguers as a skipper of Class A farm clubs in the Red Sox chain, until , his final season in uniform, when he served as the first manager in the history of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, then Boston's Double-A Eastern League affiliate.
In 1971, he became a scout for the Red Sox, based in Deer Park, New York
Deer Park, New York
Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, on Long Island. Sczesny scouted and signed future Red Sox stars Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn
Maurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn , nicknamed "The Hit Dog", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played from 1991 to 2003...
, Bob Stanley
Bob Stanley
Robert William "Bob" Stanley is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played with the Boston Red Sox.Over his 13-year career, Stanley played only for the Red Sox from 1977-89...
and John Valentin
John Valentin
John William Valentin is a former shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played most of his major league career with the Boston Red Sox, with his final season being for the New York Mets. He batted and threw right-handed...
, among others. In 2003, he switched from being an "area scout" tracking high school and college talent to a member of the Red Sox' professional scouting corps, serving through the campaign.
He died at age 76 from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in West Islip, New York
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
, on January 3, 2009.