Former Italian / American Player- V.P. & Scout: Al LaMacchia (1943-2010)

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Alfred Anthony LaMacchia was born on July 23, 1921 in St. Louis Missouri. The right hander was signed in 1940 by his hometown St. Louis Browns. He won 15 games or more in each of his first three minor league seasons & then went off to World War II.

Upon returning, he made his debut with the Browns allowing five runs over four innings, in a start at Philadelphia. He spent the next year in the mionors making the club again in April of 1945. After one appearance he was sent back to the minors for the season, returning in September. He won his first two games back up, both in relief to finish the year at 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA.

The following season he was traded to the Washington Senators & on the season went 0-1 in ten games. He went back to the minor leagues pitching through the 1954 season, in a 14 year minor league career he was 159-117 with a 3.71 ERA.

After baseball he became a Vice President & long time scout serving in those roles over a period of six decades. He joined the Toronto Blue Jays in their inaugural season (1977) & was the team’s Vice President during their 1993 & 1994 Championship seasons.

As a scout he never believed in radar guns, computers or stop, saying "I trust my eyes... Been good so far.” In his scouting career he worked for the Phillies, Braves, Blue Jays, Devil Rays and Dodgers. He signed MVPs Dale Murphy & George Bell, hundreds of other players including Dave Stieb, Larvell Sugar Blanks, Cito Gaston, Bruce Benedict, Jim Gott , David Wells & Rocco Baldelli. He was considered one of the most knowledgeable & personable men in baseball.

One of his more famous later signings, included getting Dodgers General Manager, Ned Colletti to acquire Andre Either who was originally with the Oakland A’s organization. He was featured in a 2006 L.A. Times article on a story about him & Ethier called “There’s Trust In His Eyes”.

LaMacchia was married to his wife Ann for 66 years & would often be seen with her along the way on the baseball road. He had two children, grandchildren & great grand children as well.

Passing: He passed away in September 2010 at the age of 89 & was still scouting at the time of his passing.

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