december june major_league_baseball catcher best known head scout new_york_yankees years death talent played key role building yankees run success murderers row teams 1920s 1950s teams led began professional career minor leagues playing reserve catcher injury threatened career continued play minor leagues began coaching yankees manager signed scout considered greatest scouts baseball history signed players later played professional baseball including future baseball hall recommendation yankees manager instrumental appointment called best judge baseball players saw early life born paris france son german youngest children grew near yankee stadium professional baseball debut catcher new_york club inaugural season moved spent following years season played base played games team achieving batting average hitting doubles began long association manager year took charge playing managing career joined reserve catcher playing games batting average hits runs batted bats following year managed games sharing catching duties bats achieved hits batting average fielding percentage season detroit_tigers stole second home plate inning game catching later game arm detached shoulder arm play home plate injury effectively ended major league career season released recovering injury played seasons minor leagues starting catcher professional debut baltimore_orioles hitting double single pitching served manager making playing appearances seasons resigned june wins player contract worked shipyards world war offseason owner saloon popular players prohibition forced close return baseball season coached baseball team season ended signed coach scout boston_red_sox following season scouting career prior season appointed general manager new_york_yankees requested join time scout time yankees man scouting rotation believed appointment improve scouting staff player signed outfielder signed catcher buffalo international_league princeton_university graduate mainly batting practice pitcher appearing games major league career practice fractured skull high fastball allowing assume place starting lineup discovery early season traveling new_brunswick new_jersey baseball game shared train manager columbia squad discussed left handed pitcher squad hit later day hit home runs bats following game spoke saying found skeptical sent watch columbia game hit home run reportedly went stadium game persuaded sign yankees remainder bonus asked pitching focus hitter joining team batting practice june sent yankees manager good start went long slump suffered depression led consider baseball hearing sent speak star player discovered drinking boosted confidence gave batting advice including batting tricks started hitting eventually joined yankees later 1920s new_york_yankees season collapsed train station north_carolina actions saved life instructions drove hospital traveling train new_york emergency surgery left hospitalized weeks year went connecticut sign shortstop bonus deal concluded sent salt_lake_city watch young second baseman played hit home runs achieved rbis previous season bees asking scouts placed value times lower chicago_cubs given option sign discounted rate declined saw promise player convinced buy time helped acquire shortstop formed new york yankees team considered greatest team assembled starters squad signed including quarters infield main backup signed yankees took games defeat pittsburgh_pirates win world series assist practice season signed left team month signed graduating time involved considered worst deals era asked travel negotiate outfielder named seen believed great hitter hardly played yankees signed beating offer unnamed player exchange turned injury prone backup outfielder yankees gave season traded boston_red_sox cash considerations summer discovered scouting trip massachusetts believed offered contract spot based potential knowing yankees looking jewish players increase jewish fanbase discussed deal father declined knew opportunities limited presence baseman subsequently signed detroit_tigers 1930s early 1930s focused ivy league pitchers saying preferred signing pitchers think harvard_university signed later saying great continued play baseball yale_university scouted pitcher heading stardom winning games seasons yankees suddenly retired professional boxer local scout worked pitcher russo semi professional team deemed russo ready signed yankees twice game winner star injuring arm period included murphy relief pitcher time saves leader signed high school behest yankees followed murphy education gained baseball experience signed player later ace yankees wartime era supposedly discovered allen chance encounter allen worked desk clerk hotel story said recognized scout told pitcher wanted try agreed impressed allen ability signed minor league contract interview sporting news said signed allen discover aside ivy league pitcher focus unearthed position players signed highly touted prospect playing encourage sign met dinner family signed shortstop tried new_york_giants dismissed grounds small decided look impressed way accomplished double plays technique reminded favorite players signed month sent yankees farm club virginia 1940s 1950s target second baseman initially tried convince bypass football baseball player refused father death soon college graduation altered priorities leaving sole supporter mother younger brother signed contract soon mass yankees team scouted baseman realised ford strong arm recommended tried pitching developing effective fast ford helped team win new_york_city ball championship signed ford later hall ace yankees 1950s 1960s played factor signing future star referred scouts pitch impressed saw signed signed oversaw expansion new_york_yankees scouting staff men time scouts scouts hired yankees players hired scouts reduced role chief scout regional scout new_england area involved minor scandal high school baseball star long_island yankees sent scout offered contract blank check willing pay services high school yankees fined commissioner baseball reached majors recommendation manager yankees instrumental office hiring final days honored named head sportswriter president award honored longevity baseball final players signed bonus babies year old baseman advised yankees staff sign thought time retired experienced employee working yankees died june home lengthy illness surgery disease losing pounds days wife years mary died earlier year daughter caroline grandchildren time death scouting style started scouting career followed example early baseball scouts traveled yankees spring training view playing baseball yankees traveled north begin season usually followed scouted local newspapers look games potential prospects playing later style scouting blueprint scouts evaluate players usually ignored obvious tools ability hit size speed human power saying scouted prospect priority checking subject handle pressure playing major_league_baseball got word promising player went play liked saw discussed player goals motivation family decided player ready yankees farm teams use tended risk players passed teams discounted player weaknesses remaining skills par example poor fielder notice intelligence game filled people college graduates believed advantage ability think times collected best prospects area normally day normally consisted practice morning game afternoon staff players believed useful organization dropped thought lacked motivation players survived assigned hierarchy legacy considered greatest scouts baseball history member 1980s led campaign fellow scouts inducted hall_of_fame rules scouts eligible induction appealed directors year scouts members hall_of_fame success bill james historical baseball abstract james awards paul talent scout award example team good chance signing player later star end passing result poor scouting
Paul Krichell