Baseball Scouting through the 70’s and 80’s transitioned into more written documentation and follow up utilizing written multiform reports, without eliminating the phone calls. I will never forget seeing my Mom helping my Dad typing these reports and my Brother Joe I did too.

On the Major League level in 1983 it was first reported that the Oakland A’s were advancing the use of computers and the analyzing the data as seen in this attached link from the New York Times in 1984 ( Sports World Specials; Back to Baseball Basics), which has forever changed the life of a scout from the mid 90’s till today.

Today, baseball scouting has been evolving back to the days of the 60’s-80’s, where scouts that can project on players will stack organizations with talent, and change the competitive balance, while still utilizing the new tools of today.

I came from a baseball family and met many scouts through the golden era of baseball. I was very fortunate to have had come from a baseball family; my brother, Ken played in the major leagues, and my younger brother, Joe played professionally too, while my father was a professional scout as well.

At one point in my life in the 90’s, I truly thought about going into scouting full time, as I was an Associate Scout with the San Diego Padres. But I knew I couldn’t make the same commitment and sacrifices that other scouts had to make.

I know that many people would love to have this dream job, being in professional baseball, scouting players. What most people don’t know is that it is a delicate balance for them maintaining a family life and their job. The days are long and the nights can be even longer. The travel can be changed at a moment’s notice, because it is all about winning today and tomorrow!

I would like to recognize a few of the baseball scouts that I have met during my high school and college years and of course my Dad, Joe Henderson, was my favorite scout and taught my brothers and I so much. He achieved his ultimate dream by being a part of an organization that won the World Series in 1984 as a Scout for the Detroit Tigers.

They are: George Genovese, Ray Boone, Jesse Flores, Roger Jongewaard, Rosey Gilhousen, Joe Stephenson, Gene Handley, Al Kubski, Spider Jorgensen, Harry Minor, Larry Barton Sr & Jr., and Harry Smith and just to name a few. I truly apologize if I missed anyone, as their stories they all told me taught me so much.

I am so lucky to have met those icons of baseball, they provided many of us a chance to play Professional Baseball!

For me I always hear about the Love of the Game, without Baseball Scouts there would be no game!