Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame

Terry Reynolds Induction - August 25th

2011-08-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

Cincinnati Reds Senior Director of Professional and Global Scouting Terry Reynolds will be inducted into our St. Paul Saints Scouts Hall of Fame on August 25th at 6:15pm.

2011 Recap

2011-08-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

So far in 2011 we have inducted Mike Toomey (Kansas City Royals), Jack Gillis (Colorado Rockies), and Jim Howard (Baltimore Orioles) into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame.

Saints Scouts Hall of Fame Induction

2010-08-22T05:31:00.001-07:00

Tampa Bay Scout Ken Stauffer was inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame at the Saints.

Bob Miske Induction - July 10th

2010-07-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

We had a tremendous time Saturday night inducting Bob Miske into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame. The Renegades staff did a great job, and we had a lot of fun!

Bob Miske- July 10th Induction

2010-07-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

Bob Miske will be inducted tomorrow into our Hudson Valley Renegades Scouts Hall of Fame at 6:15pm.

Giving new meaning to 'scout's honor- Written By Ben Hill

2010-05-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

PBSHOF gives credit to those who identify baseball talent

Professional scouts are baseball nomads, solitary individuals who traverse their territory in constant pursuit of players with potential.

It's a life characterized by seemingly endless processions of amateur ball fields and generic hotel rooms, and anonymity in the world at large is virtually guaranteed. Those who embrace such a profession certainly don't do it for the recognition.

· Ben's Biz Blog
· Read the Farm's Almanac

But recognition is what these men are finally getting, thanks to the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF). This unprecedented shrine to scouting was established in 2008 by the Goldklang Group, which operates three Minor League ballclubs -- the Charleston RiverDogs, Fort Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades -- and the independent league St. Paul Saints. The PBSHOF exists at all four of these team's facilities, with new members inducted each season. Criteria include a minimum of 20 years experience, with selection also based on "quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas ... and involvement to the local community that is honoring them through induction."

Twenty-eight scouts are members of the PBSHOF, including the five who have been (or will be) inducted this season. This year's honorees include Terry Ryan and Dave Yoakum (Fort Myers, March 30), Jax Robertson (Charleston, April 30), Bob Miske (Hudson Valley, July 10), and Ken Stauffer (St. Paul, August 12).

Click HERE For Entire Article

Charleston Scout Induction

2010-05-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last night we inducted Pirates Scout Jax Robertson into our Scouts Hall of Fame at the Charleston RiverDogs. We presented Robertson with a letter from Pirates GM Neal Huntington. Our next induction will be held at the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Dave Yoakum and Terry Ryan Induction

2010-04-01T04:39:00.000-07:00

White Sox Dave Yoakum and Minnesota Twins Terry Ryan have officially been inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame on Tuesday March 30th at Fort Myers Miracle. It was a great day for scouts and their family and friends were wonderful! Next induction is April 30th at Charleston RiverDogs.

Joe Rigoli Featured in St. Louis Globe-Democrat

2010-03-10T03:09:00.000-08:00

Professional scout Joe Rigoli was awarded his profession’s highest honor

Joe Rigoli is undoubtedly the least well-known St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer representing an equally-anonymous profession - scouting.

Despite being universally accepted as an absolutely essential component of every major league organization, scouts have consistently lacked external recognition. One minor league group set out to change that, and in the process, Rigoli, a St. Louis Cardinals scouting legend, officially joined the best in his field.

The Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame inducted Rigoli into their ranks in June. The ceremony, which also recognized Joe McIlvaine, the former general manager of the San Diego Padres and New York Mets, was held at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

The Scouts Hall of Fame was conceived three years ago by The Goldklang Group, operators of four minor league franchises. The Group addressed an unmet need, as The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. recognizes players, coaches, executives, umpires, writers and broadcasters, but not scouts.

Cardinals Vice President of Scouting and Player Development Jeff Luhnow is a firm believer of the benefits of scouting to his employer and to the game as a whole.

“Scouting is truly the lifeblood of any organization,” Luhnow explained. “It is both an art and a science and it takes years of experience and dedication for someone to become a great scout. We ask our scouts to use their best judgment to not only analyze and interpret what they see in a player, but to predict the future. This is not easy, but if done correctly can be very valuable to any baseball club.”

CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE

March 30th- Fort Myers Miracle

2010-02-22T07:17:00.001-08:00

Our first induction will be at our Fort Myers Miracle team. White Sox Dave Yoakum and Twins Terry Ryan will be honored that night. Look forward to seeing many of you there....

2010 Inductions

2010-02-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

GOLDKLANG GROUP ANNOUNCE 2010 INDUCTEES FOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SCOUTS HALL OF FAME

Florham Park, NJ/New York, February 10, 2010 – Five veteran baseball scouts have been named as the 2010 inductees to the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF). This marks the third year of honorees, with the selections announced by The Goldklang Group.

With players, executives, umpires, writers and broadcasters honored annually in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, this is a unique honor given to those who exist at the very foundation of player development for the Major Leagues. The inductees are commemorated with bronze plaques on display at the four minor league clubs operated by the Goldklang Group (Charleston RiverDogs, Ft. Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades, and St. Paul Saints).

We are very pleased to announce this year’s honorees, as follows: Honored at Charleston will be Jax Robertson (Pittsburgh Pirates). Honored at Fort Myers will be Terry Ryan (Minnesota) and Dave Yoakum (Chicago White Sox). Honored at Hudson Valley will be Bob Miske (New York Yankees). Honored at St. Paul will be Ken Stauffer (Tampa Bay).

Their formal inductions will take place on four separate dates. The 2010 inductions will kick off in Fort Myers on March 30th, Charleston RiverDogs to follow April 30th, Hudson Valley Renegades July 10th and St. Paul Saints August 12th.

“The ability to grow this program remains an honor and a tremendous privilege,” said Tyler Tumminia, Vice President, Goldklang Group. “After two years we have achieved our aggressive goal of creating a stand alone and broadly recognized shrine acknowledging the best scouts in the industry. The response and feedback we have received within the sport is humbling, and we are proud to continue carrying the torch.”

Last year’s inductees were Tom Greenwade (New York Yankees), Marti Wolever (Philadelphia), Joe McIlvaine (Minnesota), Joe Rigoli (St. Louis), Rene Mons (Milwaukee), Roland Johnson (New York Mets), Al Goldis (long time scout), John Barr (San Francisco), Bob Fontaine (Toronto), Gary Hughes (Chicago Cubs), Tom Burns (Toronto) and Howard McCullough (Arizona).

Scout Nomination 2010

2009-12-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

I've received many nominations thus far- If you have a scout in mind for the Hall of Fame feel free to email me at tumminia@goldklanggroup.com. We will be nominating six scouts for the 2010 induction.

WALT "CLYDE" FRAZIER

2009-10-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Jumping sports for a moment- I attended the Relay Sports Sponsorship Conference in NYC and got a chance to meet Clyde. A quick summary can be found by visiting my friend Russell Scibetti's site: www.TheBusinessOfSports.com

2009 Scouts Induction Tour Ends With The Saints

2009-08-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

Marti Wolever (Phillies) and Tom Greenwade (Brookyln Dodgers) were the last of twelve scouts inducted this year in to the Scouts Hall of Fame. Congrats to GM Derek Sharrer and his staff at the Saints for helping to make the last induction a memorable event for all.

Sioux Falls Induction- August 5th

2009-08-08T15:42:00.001-07:00

We had a tremendous time at the Birdcage this past Wednesday. John Kuhn and his staff did a great job welcoming Bob Fontaine (Toronto) and Gary Hughes (Chicago Cubs). The scouts bronze plaques were unveiled for the first time, while each scout received a personalized letter from their organization congratulating them on this notable honor.

Ft. Myers Induction

2009-07-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Stars Shine in Miracle Induction

2009-07-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

On Friday July 10th the Ft. Myers Miracle inducted two new members into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame. Al Goldis and John Barr were present for the unveiling of their bronze plaques. This was our fourth stop on a six ballpark tour.

Goldis heading to the Hall ... scout's honor

2009-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090616/columnist/906161035?Title=Goldis-heading-to-the-Hall-scout-s-honor

Rox Induction- June 26th

2009-06-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

On Friday, June 26, Rene Mons (Milwaukee) and Roland Johnson (New York Mets) were inducted into the Scouts Hall of Fame at the Brockton Rox ballpark in Brockton, MA. Brian Voelkel, the Rox General Manager, did a tremendous job of welcoming the scouts and their families to Campanelli Stadium. The scouts viewed their bronze plaques for the first time, and each received a personalized Rox jersey.

A message from Topps

2009-06-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

Topps Visit

2009-06-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Adam Zucker and Joe Vignier for their time and help in filming a special message for the scouts.

Hudson Valley Induction- June 20th

2009-06-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

We had a tremendous time at Dutchess Stadium this past Saturday. Eben Yager and his staff did an excellent job welcoming Joe McIlvaine (Minnesota) and Joe Rigoli (St. Louis) to the park. McIlvaine and Rigoli spoke with the media following their induction, and their interviews will be broadcasted during Dwight Gooden's appearance at the ballpark on Monday.

2009 Scouts Induction Tour Begins with the Riverdogs

2009-06-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

On Friday, June 19th, Tom Burns (Toronto) and Howard McCullough (Arizona) were the first of twelve scouts inducted this year in to the Topps Scouts Hall of Fame. We had a great time and look forward to the rest of the 2009 inductions! The second induction will take place today in Hudson Valley.

Charleston Induction Only Days Away

2009-06-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090614&content_id=5329012&vkey=pr_milb&fext=.jsp

2009 Scout Cards Arrived

2009-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Topps finalized the 2009 Scout Cards- Here is just a sample of what the cards look like this year. The scout signatures are on the front of the real cards.

2009 Induction Schedule

2009-04-28T04:46:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked when the Topps Scouts Hall of Fame Inductions are taking place. We have finalized the dates.

Charleston RiverDogs- June 19th
Hudson Valley Renegades- June 20th
Brockton Rox- June 26th
Fort Myers Miracle- July 10th
Sioux Falls Canaries- August 5th
St. Paul Saints- August 6th

Recent Coverage:

Minor League Baseball:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090614&content_id=5329012&vkey=pr_milb&fext=.jsp

San Francisco Giants:
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090204&content_id=3799736&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf

Chicago Cubs:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090203&content_id=3793698&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Fred Claire- MLB:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20090330&content_id=4092026&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb&affiliateId=CommentWidget

2009 Scouts Hall of Fame- Names Announced

2009-04-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

TOPPS AND GOLDKLANG GROUP ANNOUNCE 2009 INDUCTEES FOR PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SCOUTS HALL OF FAME

Florham Park, NJ/New York -- Twelve veteran baseball scouts have been named to the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF) for 2009 induction.

This is the second year of honorees, with the selections announced by The Goldklang Group, and sponsored by The Topps Company, who also include eight additional scouts in a trading card set paired with star players they scouted.

With players, executives, umpires, writers and broadcasters honored annually in Cooperstown at the Baseball Hall of Fame, this is a unique honor given to those at the very foundation of player development for the Major Leagues. The inductees are commemorated with their names on the walls at the six minor league clubs operated by the Goldklang Group (Charleston RiverDogs, Ft. Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades, St. Paul Saints, Brockton Rox and Sioux Falls Canaries).

This year’s honorees include the great Tom Greenwade, the only inductee who is deceased. Greenwade had a long scouting career for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees and is best remembered for his signing of Mickey Mantle, and later of Bobby Murcer. Greenwade, who died in 1986, also gave Branch Rickey the definitive scouting report that made him decide that Jackie Robinson was the player best suited to integrate the Major Leagues.

Greenwade, along with the Phillies’ Marti Wolever will be honored this season in St. Paul. Honored at Hudson Valley will be Joe McIlvane (Minnesota) and Joe Rigoli (St. Louis). Honored at Brockton will be Rene Mons (Milwaukee) and Roland Johnson (New York Mets). Honored at Ft. Myers will be Al Goldis (long time scout), and John Barr (San Francisco). Honored at Sioux Falls will be Bob Fontaine (Toronto) and Gary Hughes (Chicago Cubs). Honored at Charleston will be Tom Burns (Toronto) and Howard McCullough (Arizona).

Their formal inductions will take place on six different dates to be announced.

The scouts selected for inclusion on Topps cards in 2009, paired with a prominent player they have signed, are Paul Cogan, now a scout for Cleveland (paired with his “find”, C.C. Sabathia), Clarence Johns, Houston (Russell Martin), Mark Wilson, Minnesota (Joe Mauer), Pat Daugherty, Colorado (Matt Holliday), Fred Repke, Tampa Bay (Evan Longoria), Billy Blitzer, Cubs (Jamie Moyer), and Darrell Conner, Philadelphia (Cole Hamels).

(Last year’s inaugural year inductees were John Tumminia (Chicago White Sox), Tom Giordano (Texas), Tom Kotchman (Los Angeles Angels), Rudy Santin (San Francisco), Lennie Merullo (MLB Scouting Bureau), Buzz Bowers (Boston), Lon Joyce (Los Angeles Dodgers), Donny Rowland(New York Yankees), Brad Sloan (Los Angeles Angels), Art Stewart (Kansas City), Phil Rizzo (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Hep Cronin (Atlanta).

The Goldklang Group activated a ballpark campaign in 2008 to spotlight the tremendous dedication of Professional Baseball Scouts, tireless and devoted individuals who spend a significant amount of their lives on the road, and create recognition for their invaluable contributions to the game of baseball.

The criteria for induction includes a minimum of 20 years of pro scouting experience, with selection based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly, their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.

The PBSHOF is the culmination of recent broad scale efforts to create a forum designed to honor one of the game’s most valuable professions. The combined reach and recognition achieved through the partnership of industry leader Topps and the Goldklang Group has succeeded in shining a long overdue spotlight on scouts across the landscape of professional baseball.

ABOUT THE GOLDKLANG GROUPThe Goldklang Group is a sports entertainment consulting and management firm. The Group provides operational consulting and management services in all areas relating to sports franchise and event acquisition, promotion and operation.
The principals in the Group are Marvin Goldklang and Mike Veeck. Goldklang is a noted owner and operator of several highly successful minor league baseball franchises, Chairman of M.S. Goldklang and Company, a New Jersey-based merchant banking firm, and a limited partner in the Yankees. Veeck is a noted public speaker and author, as well as an owner and operator of minor league baseball clubs that continually are recognized nationally for their promotional innovation and financial success. (www.goldklanggroup.com)

ABOUT THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC.Founded in 1938, Topps is a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include “Bazooka” bubble gum, Ring Pop,” “Push Pop,” Baby Bottle Pop” and “Juicy Drop Pop” lollipops. For additional information, visit http://www.topps.com/.

Contact: Tyler Tumminia (Goldklang Group) 845-705-4122
Clay Luraschi (Topps) 212 376-0496
Marty Appel Public Relations 212 245-1772

2008 Scouts Induction Tour Ends with the Saints

2008-08-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hep Cronin (Atlanta Braves) and Phil Rizzo (Seattle Mariners) were the last of twelve scouts inducted this year in to the Scouts Hall of Fame. We had a great time and look forward to 2009! Another twelve scouts will be inducted next year and Topps has announced that they will continue the Topps Scouts baseball cards based on this years success. Stay tuned! Congrats to GM Derek Sharrer and his staff at the Saints for ending this year with a bang

Sioux Falls Induction- August 8th

2008-08-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

We had a tremendous time at the Birdcage this past Friday. Matt Hansen and his staff did a great job welcoming Art Stewart (Kansas City Royals) and Brad Sloan (LA Angels) and his wife Cindy to the park. Earlier in the day, Brad Sloan and Matt Meola went on air to talk about the campaign.

Charleston Inducted Donny Rowland and Lon Joyce

2008-07-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

On July 25th the Charleston RiverDogs inducted NY Yankees Scout Donny Rowland and LA Dodgers Scout Lon Joyce into the Scouts Hall of Fame.

BROCKTON SCOUT HALL OF FAME

2008-07-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday July 25th the Brockton Rox inducted two members into the Professioanl Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame. Lennie Merullo and Buzz Bowers were present for the unveiling of their bronze plaque. This was our third stop on a six ballpark tour.

MIRACLE INDUCTION

2008-07-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Fort Myers Miracle inducted Tom Kotchman of the Angels and Rudy Santin of the Giants. Fun was had by all.

LINK TO STORY:

news-press.com

SUCCESS- RENEGADES UNVEIL FIRST OF SIX SCOUT INDUCTIONS

2008-06-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 21, Texas Rangers Tom Giordano and White Sox John Tumminia were inducted into the Scouts Hall of Fame at the Hudson Valley Renegades ballpark in Fishkill, NY.The scouts viewed their bronze plaque for the first time, each received a personalized letter from their organization congratulating them and Topps took it one step further by giving them their own baseball card!

MLB.COM - By Fred Claire

2008-06-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Fred Claire, a writer at mlb.com, takes a look at the hard work of scouts, and the Goldklang Group's Scout Hall of Fame in his most recent article on mlb.com. You can read an excerpt from the article below, or read the full article by following this link.

=====================

Scouts Deserve Their Due by Fred Claire

=====================

When I think about this week, the week of the First-Year Player Draft, I think about the most important people involved with Major League Baseball in my view -- the scouts. The scouts are the heart and soul of baseball.

They are the guys who sit right behind home plate at the ballparks throughout the country and yet are overlooked in many ways. That's why it was nice to see the recent announcement by the Goldklang Group that it would team up with the Topps Company to establish a Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame and honor 12 scouts in the inaugural class this year.

Make no mistake, this isn't the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. There is a movement to see that the scouts receive their due recognition at Cooperstown, but this hasn't become a reality as yet.

The Goldklang Group is a sports entertainment, consulting and management firm that works with six independent league teams and decided it was time to speed up the process to give the scouts some recognition.

During the course of this summer, beginning on June 21, each of the six teams involved with the Goldklang Group will honor two scouts with a plaque being placed on a Hall of Fame wall to be established at the respective parks. The teams carry somewhat unusual names and in locations where you might not immediately think of baseball -- the Charleston River Dogs of Charleston, S.C.; the Hudson Valley Renegades of Fishkill, N.Y.; the Ft. Myers Miracles of Ft. Myers, Fla.; the St. Paul Saint Paul, Minn.; the Sioux Falls Canaries of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and the Brockton Rox of Brockton, Mass.

It's really quite fitting that the scouts would be honored at what might seem to be out of the way locations. That all ties in with the life of a scout, going to whatever location is needed in the search for talent. For the complete article by Fred Claire, follow this link.

Building A Wall in Brockton

2008-05-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

The process has begun for the Brockton Scout Wall. The Front Office customized their design of the wall providing a dramactic effect that fans can appreciate as they walk into their stadium.

Drive Right Up- Scouts Get VIP Parking At All Six Clubs

2008-05-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

As part of the campaign scouts will receive VIP parking at all six clubs.

A LOOK AT THE NEW SCOUT BASEBALL CARDS

2008-05-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED

2008-05-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

THE GOLDKLANG GROUP ANNOUNCES INDUCTEES INTO PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SCOUTS HALL OF FAME

The Goldklang Group and Topps to Honor Twelve Scouts with Ceremony at Six Minor League Teams

FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY & NEW YORK (MAY 12,2008)- The Goldklang Group today announced the induction of the inaugural class of twelve scouts into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF) sponsored by The Topps Company Inc. The Group-affiliated clubs (Charleston RiverDogs, Ft. Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades, St. Paul Saints, Brockton Rox, Sioux Falls Canaries) will honor the inductees with an on field ceremony along with the unveiling of their bronze plaque.

The following scouts and ceremony dates shall represent our 2008 Inaugural Induction Class:

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES- JUNE 21

John Tumminia – Chicago White Sox

Tom Giordano – Texas Rangers

FORT MYERS MIRACLE- JULY 12

Tom Kotchman – Los Angeles Angels

Rudy Santin – San Francisco Giants

BROCKTON ROX – JULY 20

Lennie Merullo – MLSB

Buzz Bowers – Boston Red Sox

CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS – JULY 25

Lon Joyce- LA Dodgers

Donny Rowland- New York Yankees

SIOUX FALLS- AUGUST 8

Brad Sloan – Los Angeles Angels

Art Stewart – Kansas City Royals

ST. PAUL SAINTS – AUGUST 15

Phil Rizzo – LA Dodgers

Hep Cronin – Atlanta Braves

In conjunction with the ballpark campaigns, Topps plans to feature scouts on their trading cards including the creation of special cards to share with each inductee.

Criteria upon which selection was based: Minimum 20 years professional scouting experience. The selection of inductees shall be based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.

ABOUT THE GOLDKLANG GROUP

The principals in the Group are Marvin Goldklang and Mike Veeck. Goldklang is a noted owner and operator of several highly successful minor league baseball franchises, Chairman of M.S. Goldklang and Company, a New Jersey-based merchant banking firm, and a limited partner in the Yankees. Veeck is a noted public speaker and author, as well as an owner and operator of minor league baseball clubs that continually are recognized nationally for their promotional innovation and financial success. (http://www.goldklanggroup.com/)

ABOUT THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC.

Founded in 1938, Topps is a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include “Bazooka” bubble gum, Ring Pop,” “Push Pop,” Baby Bottle Pop” and “Juicy Drop Pop” lollipops. For additional information, visit http://www.topps.com/.
###

Charleston RiverDogs Wall Complete

2008-04-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend at the RiverDogs ballpark and many thanks go out to GM Dave Echols for finanalizing the wall plans. The wall is aesthetically very pleasing and blends in nicely with rest of the ballpark.

And I want to thank Josh Maurer for his hospitality and it was great to spend time with Bill Henley from Charleston Post & Courier in the Broadcast Booth.

Special Thanks to Celtics Michelle Price

2008-04-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have to say thanks to former Renegades Employee Michelle Price, who now is a star for the Boston Celtics, for providing me with the unmatched experience of sitting court side.

Brockton Rox Wall Location

2008-04-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

I was in Brockton yesterday with GM Brian Voelkel and Director of Media Relations/Broadcasting Matt Futrell. We were going over potential sites for the construction of their Scouts Hall of Fame wall. Here are a couple of possibilities-including the location that Brian and Matt are standing on!

Fort Myers Wall Complete

2008-04-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the final version of the Scouts Hall of Fame Wall.

A Wall Grows in Fort Myers

2008-03-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Fort Myers Miracle General Manager Steve Gliner has done a wonderful job finalizing the Scouts Wall at their ballpark. The Miracle and Lee County worked together on a very short timeline to construct this great wall in time for the bulk of the ML spring training schedule. Thousands of fans and countless industry personnel were able to view the new wall and provided us with great feedback.

An Idea Comes to Light

2008-03-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC. BECOMES OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL SCOUTS HALL OF FAME CAMPAIGN
The Goldklang Group to Honor Scouts Efforts At All Six Minor League Teams

FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY & NEW YORK (NOVEMBER 28,2007)- The Topps Company, Inc. and the Goldklang Group today announced a partnership agreement naming Topps the official sponsor of the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF) campaign at all six Goldklang Group minor league baseball clubs. The Group-affiliated clubs (Charleston RiverDogs, Ft. Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades, St. Paul Saints, Brockton Rox, Sioux Falls Canaries) will create premium new year-round inventory that shall be designated solely for the PBSHOF.

The Goldklang Group activated a ballpark campaign to spotlight the tremendous dedication of Professional Baseball Scouts, tireless and devoted individuals who spend a significant amount of their lives on the road, and create recognition for their invaluable contributions to the game of baseball. There will be a ceremony and established dedication area at each ballpark honoring a scout each year throughout the league schedule.

In conjunction with the ballpark campaigns, Topps plans to feature scouts on their trading cards including the creation of special cards to share with each inductee. The dedication areas at each ballpark are slated to be finalized prior to the start of the 2008 season.

Criteria for Inductees: Minimum 20 years professional scouting experience. The selection of inductees shall be based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction. Please direct nominations based on this criteria to scouts@goldklanggroup.com.

The PBSHOF is the culmination of recent broad scale efforts to create a forum designed to honor one of the game’s most valuable professions. The combined reach and recognition achieved through the partnership of industry leaders Topps and the Goldklang Group should succeed in shining a long overdue spotlight on scouts across the landscape of professional baseball.

“Topps has an unparalleled history in recognizing the accomplishments of those associated with the game of professional baseball,” said Adam Zucker, director of licensing. “This partnership is another step in the direction of Topps working to pioneer change and recognition within the scope of the scouting industry, and we are thrilled to announce that we are adding scouts to our trading cards.”

“We share the passion of recognizing the achievements of scouts in baseball,” said Tyler Tumminia, vice president of integrated marketing. “Through our partnership with Topps we are able to create an exceptional opportunity for the many fans who wish to receive a clearer understanding of a scout’s role, in conjunction with the ability to establish lifelong memories for the families of scouts that are honored.”

ABOUT THE GOLDKLANG GROUP

The Goldklang Group is a sports entertainment consulting and management firm. The Group provides operational consulting and management services in all areas relating to sports franchise and event acquisition, promotion and operation.
The principals in the Group are Marvin Goldklang and Mike Veeck. Goldklang is a noted owner and operator of several highly successful minor league baseball franchises, Chairman of M.S. Goldklang and Company, a New Jersey-based merchant banking firm, and a limited partner in the Yankees. Veeck is a noted public speaker and author, as well as an owner and operator of minor league baseball clubs that continually are recognized nationally for their promotional innovation and financial success. (http://www.goldklanggroup.com/)

ABOUT THE TOPPS COMPANY, INC.Founded in 1938, Topps is a leading creator and marketer of sports and related cards, entertainment products, and distinctive confectionery. Topps entertainment products include Major League Baseball, NFL, NBA and other trading cards, sticker album collections, and collectible games. The Company's confectionery brands include “Bazooka” bubble gum, Ring Pop,” “Push Pop,” Baby Bottle Pop” and “Juicy Drop Pop” lollipops. For additional information, visit http://www.topps.com/.