Cliff Floyd---1992
It has always been a dream of
sandlot youngsters to be
immortalized on cardboard. To be on
a real baseball card is the ultimate
recognition of finally making it to the
big leagues.
However, to bring rookie cards to
collectors faster, Topps began to
issue cards of the previous season's
top draft picks in the early 1990s.
This is interesting, since these kids
hadn't made it to the majors, yet.
As evidence, we give you Cliff Floyd’s
1992 card, which was issued the year
after the slugger was selected by the
Montreal Expos with the 14th overall
pick in 1991.
Cards allow the player’s image to live
forever. We have a feeling that Floyd
has had to live this one down for
years.
Our advice to high school players
who are posing for their first baseball
card… stand like a big leaguer and
lose the medal.
(7/31/08)
sandlot youngsters to be
immortalized on cardboard. To be on
a real baseball card is the ultimate
recognition of finally making it to the
big leagues.
However, to bring rookie cards to
collectors faster, Topps began to
issue cards of the previous season's
top draft picks in the early 1990s.
This is interesting, since these kids
hadn't made it to the majors, yet.
As evidence, we give you Cliff Floyd’s
1992 card, which was issued the year
after the slugger was selected by the
Montreal Expos with the 14th overall
pick in 1991.
Cards allow the player’s image to live
forever. We have a feeling that Floyd
has had to live this one down for
years.
Our advice to high school players
who are posing for their first baseball
card… stand like a big leaguer and
lose the medal.
(7/31/08)
Scout Tales.... Cliff Floyd
As a scout, there is a certain feeling when you see that special player. It can be a
tingling sensation down your neck or a feeling of serenity, as you watch the player in
action. The feeling is amazing and just like the movies, as the player will move in
slow motion as you become a part of the moment. It is a definite feeling and a high
for the scout who hunts for the future major leaguer as he travels the endless miles.
Recently, I spoke with Marlins pro scout Orrin Freeman, who in 1991 was the
national cross-checker for the Montreal Expos. As a lieutenant for scouting director
Gary Hughes, Freeman was dispatched to Chicago to watch Cliff Floyd as a senior
at Thornwood’s Markham High School.
Floyd was a first baseman with a big bat. He jumped onto the scouts’ radar,
especially Expos area scout Stan Zielinski, during his junior season, when Floyd hit .
449 with 13 home runs and 61 rib eyes in just 25 games. His senior season was
going very well also, as Floyd would ultimately hit .557 with nine long balls and 69
RBI in 38 contests.
“I wasn’t getting a comfortable guy that I liked for our first pick,” said Freeman. “But I
ended up seeing Cliff and he hit a couple of doubles and a triple into the wind.
“He showed the power and the speed, he was a 6.60 runner in the 60 (yard dash),”
added Freeman. “On his triple, I was so excited that I stood up.”
Following the game he called Expos scouting director Gary Hughes with the line, “He’
s our guy.”
As the draft neared, it was becoming apparent that Floyd would be available at No.
14 for the Expos. During pre-draft meetings, Hughes and his crew smiled as they
watched Floyd's bat on the Major League Scouting Bureau video tapes. Their only
concern was with his fielding.
Showing more than a casual interest as a young General Manager, Dave
Dombrowski wanted to see Floyd on tape. The problem was that Floyd was a terrible
fielder and the tape made him look more like a low pick at a Little League draft, than
a first-rounder for a Major League club.
Thus, Hughes would show Dombrowski just the hitting clips of Floyd, until the GM
pressed to see the youngster with a glove. Well, Dombrowski was less than
impressed to see Floyd going down on a knee to field ground balls that were hitting
three feet in front of him. Floyd’s arm was also poor, as Freeman described it as,
“his throwing looked like a hook shot.”
Then-Expos Director of Player Development John Boles chimed in that the fielding
was not a problem, it was just in his feet and that his people could fix it.
Having convinced Dombrowski that Floyd was the guy; the Expos selected the
Chicago native with their first-round pick. The franchise was rewarded with a big
leaguer just two years later.
However after four seasons, the Expos brass had yet to see Floyd’s power emerge,
as the lefty swinger belted just 12 home runs in his first 661 at bats. With the old
Expos front office having moved in as the first Florida Marlins executives in 1992,
Dombrowski would trade for Floyd during Spring Training in 1997. The outfielder
would be a part of the Marlins ’97 World Championship club before maturing into an
All-Star for the Fish in 2001, when he hit 31 long balls.
Throughout the years Floyd has provided highlights with his bat that has caused
many onlookers to stand up and take notice... including a scout back in 1991.
(8/1/08)
As a scout, there is a certain feeling when you see that special player. It can be a
tingling sensation down your neck or a feeling of serenity, as you watch the player in
action. The feeling is amazing and just like the movies, as the player will move in
slow motion as you become a part of the moment. It is a definite feeling and a high
for the scout who hunts for the future major leaguer as he travels the endless miles.
Recently, I spoke with Marlins pro scout Orrin Freeman, who in 1991 was the
national cross-checker for the Montreal Expos. As a lieutenant for scouting director
Gary Hughes, Freeman was dispatched to Chicago to watch Cliff Floyd as a senior
at Thornwood’s Markham High School.
Floyd was a first baseman with a big bat. He jumped onto the scouts’ radar,
especially Expos area scout Stan Zielinski, during his junior season, when Floyd hit .
449 with 13 home runs and 61 rib eyes in just 25 games. His senior season was
going very well also, as Floyd would ultimately hit .557 with nine long balls and 69
RBI in 38 contests.
“I wasn’t getting a comfortable guy that I liked for our first pick,” said Freeman. “But I
ended up seeing Cliff and he hit a couple of doubles and a triple into the wind.
“He showed the power and the speed, he was a 6.60 runner in the 60 (yard dash),”
added Freeman. “On his triple, I was so excited that I stood up.”
Following the game he called Expos scouting director Gary Hughes with the line, “He’
s our guy.”
As the draft neared, it was becoming apparent that Floyd would be available at No.
14 for the Expos. During pre-draft meetings, Hughes and his crew smiled as they
watched Floyd's bat on the Major League Scouting Bureau video tapes. Their only
concern was with his fielding.
Showing more than a casual interest as a young General Manager, Dave
Dombrowski wanted to see Floyd on tape. The problem was that Floyd was a terrible
fielder and the tape made him look more like a low pick at a Little League draft, than
a first-rounder for a Major League club.
Thus, Hughes would show Dombrowski just the hitting clips of Floyd, until the GM
pressed to see the youngster with a glove. Well, Dombrowski was less than
impressed to see Floyd going down on a knee to field ground balls that were hitting
three feet in front of him. Floyd’s arm was also poor, as Freeman described it as,
“his throwing looked like a hook shot.”
Then-Expos Director of Player Development John Boles chimed in that the fielding
was not a problem, it was just in his feet and that his people could fix it.
Having convinced Dombrowski that Floyd was the guy; the Expos selected the
Chicago native with their first-round pick. The franchise was rewarded with a big
leaguer just two years later.
However after four seasons, the Expos brass had yet to see Floyd’s power emerge,
as the lefty swinger belted just 12 home runs in his first 661 at bats. With the old
Expos front office having moved in as the first Florida Marlins executives in 1992,
Dombrowski would trade for Floyd during Spring Training in 1997. The outfielder
would be a part of the Marlins ’97 World Championship club before maturing into an
All-Star for the Fish in 2001, when he hit 31 long balls.
Throughout the years Floyd has provided highlights with his bat that has caused
many onlookers to stand up and take notice... including a scout back in 1991.
(8/1/08)