Al LaMacchia
Encyclopedia
Alfred Anthony LaMacchia (July 22, 1921 – September 15, 2010) was a professional baseball
player and scout. He was a right-handed pitcher
who spent 14 years in the minor leagues
where he accumulated a record of 159–117 and spent parts of three seasons (1943, 1945–46) with the St. Louis Browns
and Washington Senators
compiling a 2–2 record. After his playing career ended, LaMacchia spent six decades as a scout
with the Philadelphia Phillies
, Atlanta Braves
, Toronto Blue Jays
, Tampa Bay Rays
, and Los Angeles Dodgers
, during which time he discovered dozens of players who made it to the major leagues.
He was born on September 15, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri
and served with the United States Army
during World War II
. LaMacchia started his pitching career in the St. Louis Browns organization with the Class D Paragould Browns in 1940, where he had a 16–7 record and worked his way up to the majors with a 15–5 record with the Class C St. Joseph Autos in 1941 and a 15–16 record with the Class A1 San Antonio Missions
in 1942. LaMacchia made his major league debut on September 27, 1943 with the Browns, pitching portions of three seasons (1943, 1945–46) as a relief pitcher
with the Browns and Washington Senators, with a 2–2 career record, 6.46 earned run average
and seven strikeout
s in 30⅔ innings pitched. He returned to the minor leagues, playing for various teams and organizations until 1954.
, Dale Murphy
, Dave Stieb
, Rocco Baldelli
, and David Wells
. He convinced Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti
to pursue outfielder Andre Ethier
, who had been playing in the Oakland A's
organization. While with the Blue Jays he was a vice president when the team won back-to-back championships in the 1992 World Series
and 1993 World Series
.
Pat Gillick, who as a scout for the New York Yankees competed against him for players in South Texas, mentioned LaMacchia during his induction speech at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2011. Gillick also hired LaMacchia to work for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976.
LaMacchia died at age 89 on September 15, 2010, at his home in San Antonio, Texas after having experienced a stroke
in the weeks before his death. He was survived by his wife, Ann, as well as by a daughter, a son and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and scout. He was a right-handed 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...
who spent 14 years in the minor leagues
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...
where he accumulated a record of 159–117 and spent parts of three seasons (1943, 1945–46) with the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
compiling a 2–2 record. After his playing career ended, LaMacchia spent six decades as a scout
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...
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, during which time he discovered dozens of players who made it to the major leagues.
He was born on September 15, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and served with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. LaMacchia started his pitching career in the St. Louis Browns organization with the Class D Paragould Browns in 1940, where he had a 16–7 record and worked his way up to the majors with a 15–5 record with the Class C St. Joseph Autos in 1941 and a 15–16 record with the Class A1 San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
in 1942. LaMacchia made his major league debut on September 27, 1943 with the Browns, pitching portions of three seasons (1943, 1945–46) as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
with the Browns and Washington Senators, with a 2–2 career record, 6.46 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and seven strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 30⅔ innings pitched. He returned to the minor leagues, playing for various teams and organizations until 1954.
Scouting
After completing his playing career, LaMacchia became a scout with the Phillies, Braves, Blue Jays, Devil Rays and Dodgers. LaMacchia eschewed the use of computers, radar guns and stop watches as scouting tools, saying "I trust my eyes... Been good so far". He is credited with having scouted players including George Bell, Cito GastonCito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
, Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy
Dale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
, Dave Stieb
Dave Stieb
David Andrew Stieb [STEEB] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.-Playing career:Born in Santa Ana, California, Stieb played varsity baseball at Southern Illinois University as an outfielder...
, Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Baldelli
Rocco Dan Baldelli is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. Because of his excellent size and speed, and in reference to his hometown, he was nicknamed, "The Woonsocket Rocket," early in his professional career...
, and David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
. He convinced Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti
Ned Colletti
Ned Louis Colletti, Jr. is the General Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He previously served as Assistant General Manager for the San Francisco Giants....
to pursue outfielder Andre Ethier
Andre Ethier
Andre Everett Ethier , is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 2009, Ethier hit six walk off hits , which was the most by any player in the Major Leagues since 1974. His four walk-off home runs tied the Major League record for most in a season...
, who had been playing in the Oakland A's
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
organization. While with the Blue Jays he was a vice president when the team won back-to-back championships in the 1992 World Series
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
and 1993 World Series
1993 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
.
Pat Gillick, who as a scout for the New York Yankees competed against him for players in South Texas, mentioned LaMacchia during his induction speech at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2011. Gillick also hired LaMacchia to work for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976.
LaMacchia died at age 89 on September 15, 2010, at his home in San Antonio, Texas after having experienced a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in the weeks before his death. He was survived by his wife, Ann, as well as by a daughter, a son and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.