Eric Davis---1991
Scout Tales..... Eric Davis
Before Eric Davis was a superstar,
he was almost a never-was.
Selected in the 8th round by the
Cincinnati Reds in the 1980 Draft
out of Fremont High School of Los
Angeles; Davis had a horrendous
start to his pro career. The athletic
18-year old from the City of
Angels found himself in Eugene,
Oregon to begin his pro career.
Away from home and playing
against players much more
talented than his inner-city high
school competition, Davis
struggled badly. The rail-thin
shortstop batted a mere .219 in 33
games and showed very little
ability in the field. In 21 games in
the skin, Davis committed 11
errors in 70 total chances, for a
woeful .843 fielding average. No
hit, no field shortstops that can
run, usually don’t last long in the
minor leagues.
A former Reds scout was telling
me about the organizational
meeting that fall of 1980, as the
Reds player development people
and scouts converged to talk
about the state of the Reds and
their players. He recalled that
during the course of the meeting
and the review of minor league
players, it was brought up to
release Eric Davis.
Eugene Manager Greg Riddoch,
who later managed the San Diego
Padres, and several of the player
development staff were all for the
release, which had signing scout
Larry Barton, Jr. fuming. Reds
General Manager Bob Howsom,
interceded and asked the
question, “If he can’t play
shortstop, can he play the
outfield?”
Riddoch put his hands up with an
‘I don’t know’, while Barton shot up
with a resounding “yes,” knowing
that Davis was athletic and
deserved a better shot.
Sure enough, Davis returned to
Eugene as an outfielder in 1981
and promptly hit .322 with 11 long
balls. In the tall grass, the speedy
outfielder would commit only four
errors in 61 games. Within three
years he would find himself
patrolling Riverfront Stadium for
the Reds. In 1987, Davis won the
first of his three consecutive Gold
Gloves.
Not bad for a kid who was almost
released because he couldn't play
shortstop.
(7/10/08)
Before Eric Davis was a superstar,
he was almost a never-was.
Selected in the 8th round by the
Cincinnati Reds in the 1980 Draft
out of Fremont High School of Los
Angeles; Davis had a horrendous
start to his pro career. The athletic
18-year old from the City of
Angels found himself in Eugene,
Oregon to begin his pro career.
Away from home and playing
against players much more
talented than his inner-city high
school competition, Davis
struggled badly. The rail-thin
shortstop batted a mere .219 in 33
games and showed very little
ability in the field. In 21 games in
the skin, Davis committed 11
errors in 70 total chances, for a
woeful .843 fielding average. No
hit, no field shortstops that can
run, usually don’t last long in the
minor leagues.
A former Reds scout was telling
me about the organizational
meeting that fall of 1980, as the
Reds player development people
and scouts converged to talk
about the state of the Reds and
their players. He recalled that
during the course of the meeting
and the review of minor league
players, it was brought up to
release Eric Davis.
Eugene Manager Greg Riddoch,
who later managed the San Diego
Padres, and several of the player
development staff were all for the
release, which had signing scout
Larry Barton, Jr. fuming. Reds
General Manager Bob Howsom,
interceded and asked the
question, “If he can’t play
shortstop, can he play the
outfield?”
Riddoch put his hands up with an
‘I don’t know’, while Barton shot up
with a resounding “yes,” knowing
that Davis was athletic and
deserved a better shot.
Sure enough, Davis returned to
Eugene as an outfielder in 1981
and promptly hit .322 with 11 long
balls. In the tall grass, the speedy
outfielder would commit only four
errors in 61 games. Within three
years he would find himself
patrolling Riverfront Stadium for
the Reds. In 1987, Davis won the
first of his three consecutive Gold
Gloves.
Not bad for a kid who was almost
released because he couldn't play
shortstop.
(7/10/08)
