Eye for Talent - by P J Dragseth (Paperback)

About the Book

Baseball scouts are often unseen, seldom recognized, and almost always underappreciated by fans, but they have contributed enormously to the development and evolution of baseball at all levels, from the players they signed to the changing business climate of the game. This book presents original interviews with 19 baseball scouts. In many cases, these veterans are a vanishing breed; among the most respected baseball men in the business, most have a minimum of 40 years experience in scouting. They share their experiences as players, their development as scouts while the business and the game continually evolved, the players they signed and the ones that got away. Along with each interview is a list of the scouts signed players that made it to the major leagues.

Book Synopsis

Baseball scouts are often unseen, seldom recognized, and usually underappreciated by fans, but they have contributed enormously to the development and evolution of baseball at all levels, from the players they signed to the changes in the business climate of the game. This book presents original interviews with 19 baseball scouts.

In many cases, these veterans are a vanishing breed; among the most respected baseball men in the business, most have a minimum of forty years' experience in scouting. They share their experiences as players, their development as scouts while the business and the game continually evolved, the players they signed and the ones that got away. Along with each interview is a list of the scout's signed players who made it to the major leagues.

Review Quotes

"these scouts are great company, and in Dragseth's pages their humanity and optimism as well as their hard-headed realism shine through"-Nine; "17 skillfully-presented monologues...anyone who thinks scouts...are the unsung heroes of the game will treasure this book"--Spitball; "a great introduction"-Reference & Research Book News.

About the Author

P.J. Dragseth is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), a former secondary school teacher, and writer for a small local newspaper. She lives in Rogue River, Oregon.