latimes
The baseball community is mourning the loss of Bob Fontaine Jr., a legendary scout whose keen eye for talent helped shape the Angels' 2002 World Series championship roster. Fontaine died Saturday at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy that spanned more than five decades in professional baseball.
Fontaine's most celebrated moment came in 1988 when, as the Angels' scouting director, he selected left-handed pitcher Jim Abbott in the major league draft. Abbott, who was born without a right hand, had been passed over by seven other teams. Fontaine, however, focused not on Abbott's missing limb but on the exceptional cut fastball he threw with his left hand. "He's actually more suited to the pro game than the amateurs with the aluminum bats," Fontaine told The Times after the draft. "He's going to be breaking off a lot of these wood bats with that cut fastball."
That prediction proved accurate. Abbott bypassed the minor leagues entirely after starring at the University of Michigan, enjoying a 10-year MLB career and becoming an inspiration to many in disabled communities. "I think every scout, if they scout for any length of time, is going to have one player that just is special to you," Fontaine told JapanBall in 2022. "Jimmy Abbott was that."
Fontaine's impact extended far beyond Abbott. He drafted the nucleus of the Angels' 2002 championship team, including Jim Edmonds, Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon, and Darin Erstad. The Angels organization released a statement praising Fontaine as "a gifted talent evaluator and mentor" who "helped shape generations of Angels" and "left a lasting mark on baseball."
Tributes poured in from across the baseball world. Former longtime Times baseball writer Mike DiGiovanna wrote on X: "What a character .. what a storyteller .. and what a talent evaluator .. there is no 2002 World Series title for the #Angels without Bob Fontaine Jr. .. RIP." Dan Evans, former Dodgers general manager, added: "Crushed regarding Bob Fontaine Jr.'s passing, as he was a special man who I was lucky to work closely with three times @WhiteSox @Mariners, and @BlueJays. Fun as hell, elite evaluator, and phenomenal people skills. RIP, Robert."
Key Analysis
Fontaine's scouting philosophy combined traditional observation with an openness to analytics, a balance he believed was essential. "What the traditional scout gives you is personal reference, like with things I learned on players that I missed on," he said. "Analytics didn't do that. I'm a firm believer that the best video camera is your eyes, the best model is your brain, and the best way to make a tough decision is with your heart."
His methods yielded remarkable results. In 1977, he drafted future Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith in the fourth round for the Padres. Four years later, he selected another Hall of Famer, outfielder Tony Gwynn, in the third round. In 1985, with the Montreal Expos, he took 6-foot-11 left-handed pitcher Randy Johnson in the second round—another future Hall of Famer.
Fontaine's career began as a minor league bat boy for the Pirates, thanks to his father, Bob Fontaine Sr., a scout who worked under Branch Rickey and later became scouting director for the Pirates and Padres. By age 19, Fontaine Jr. was an area scout for the Padres. He co-authored a memoir in 2021, "In Search of Millionaires (The Life of a Baseball Gypsy): The Accounts of Bob Fontaine Jr." In it, he wrote: "Baseball has provided me with a fabulous opportunity to see the world and work in an industry that most people envy. I didn't get rich, except in experiences."
Fontaine's legacy is one of perseverance, insight, and a deep love for the game. As he once said, "Hey, you're looking at a guy that barely squeaked through high school, who doesn't have any ability, and I lasted almost 50 years. It's because in baseball, if you listen, and you're not afraid to take a chance once in a while, even somebody with my lack of ability can stay around for a while."
Originally reported by latimes.