|
George wasn’t the only Genovese that made
his mark in signing players with the Giants. His Brother Frank
“Chick” Genovese signed Juan
Maricial, Manny
Mota, Tito
Fuentes, and the three Alou brothers - Jesus,
Matty, and
Felipe.
Frank was also Willie
Mays first minor league manager and taught the Hall of Famer his signature
basket catch.
George helped set the standard on how to evaluate talent, but most of all he gave
so much to the game, and to the kids he signed. He saw things in kids that very few
other scouts could see. With George, it wasn't just about being First Round Draft
picks, it was about finding players, no matter how crude their skill set was. He
found players that rarely played on their high school or junior college teams, and
worked with them to help them realize their dreams. When their parents called,
George would always give them his honest evaluation. Some succeeded and others
didn't, but in all cases George provided them life lessons on what it took to be
successful in life, within baseball and also outside of baseball.
In 2004 the Professional Baseball Scouts
Foundation gave George the highest honor accorded a member of his profession.
The organization recognized his place in baseball history by naming the award
for Professional Excellence the George Genovese Award.
On January 28, 2012 DeWayne
Buice had a surprise party for George at Santa Anita Race Track to celebrate
his 90th Birthday and many of his former players came to this event, which is a
testimonial to George as a person.
The legacy of George
Genovese will continue on, no different than it did with Branch Rickey.
George's teachings learned under Branch Rickey, have been
passed on to his players, scouts, coaches, and parents.
On May 3, at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. opened a
scouting exhibit called "Diamond Mines,'' at the entrance of
the Today's Game gallery.
Pat Gillick and Roland Hemond long time General Managers, "say they hope
that the scouting exhibit becomes a permanent place in Cooperstown. One day,
scouts may even become inductees into the Hall of Fame".
It is truly time that scouts can take
their rightful place in the Baseball Hall Fame, and that should start with
George
Genovese.
Unfortunately today, they are not eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of
Fame!
George Genovese is a Hall of Fame Scout!
|
George's position players
career statistics:
|
|
G
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
|
24,556
|
82,933
|
11,736
|
21,760
|
3,726
|
514
|
3,335
|
12,226
|
1,780
|
written
by:
Robbie Henderson
Thank you for reading this article
on George
Genovese!
"Remember it is always about the story behind the
story"
|
