Elliott: First CBN Scout of the Year winner Scherrer let go by White Sox

Longtime Chicago White Sox scout Billy Scherrer was let go by the Chicago White Sox this week.

This week the Chicago White Sox said goodbye to scout Billy Scherrer, part of their scouting department for the past 22 years. He began scouting for the Florida Marlins after his playing career, then worked for his old Cincinnati Reds team from 1998 to 2002. Scherrer, who grew up in the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda, N.Y. and later moved to Arizona, was the first winner of the Canadian Baseball Network Scout of the Year award. Also let go were former Jays scouts Joe Siers and Marco Paddy.

  Scherrer wins Scout of the Year

Originally published June 9, 1994

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Now that the free-agent draft is over, it’s time to honour our 1994 Scout of the Year: Bill Scherrer of the Florida Marlins, a man who goes above and beyond the call of duty.

The former Tiger lefty, who pitched for the ‘84 World Series champs, now resides in Buffalo, covering western Pennsylvania, Ontario, Quebec and New York.

It was in Cortland, N.Y. where Scherrer earned his award. Scouts gathered to see a hitting prospect but twice they were rained out.

Now the 4 p.m. start was pushed back to 6:30 because of rain. Finally, as the game was about to start, under less than ideal conditions, the lights wouldn’t work.

As the team headed to the bus, Scherrer, one of Jack Morris’ best friends, asked for permission from the coach to throw batting practice to the prospect.

Scherrer threw from the wet mound wearing new white dress shoes before a captive audience of 14 scouts. The prospect hit balls over the fence and many a line drive.

Eventually, the youngster lined a comebacker through the box as Scherrer, new shoes and white dress pants, went down in the muck and mire.

When Scherrer walked off he was given a standing ovation by his fellow scouts.

"Reminded me of the old days,’’ deadpanned Scherrer, ``I’d come in the game, guys in the other dugout would stand and cheer.’’

In 1990, he pitched for the Kitchener Panthers and then entered the scouting world. He won three World Series rings, one as a player with the 1984 Detroit Tigers and two as a scout with the Florida Marlins in 1997 and the White Sox in 2005. He is also a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.