July 30, 2017 2017 NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME Schuerholz family of highly talented amateur INDUCTION OF JOHN SCHUERHOLZ athletes from Baltimore, Maryland, led by my grandfather Pop Schuerholz, my uncles Willy and JANE FORBES CLARK: As chairman of Gilbert, my dad, and Uncle Wilson and Uncle the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it's my honor, Donald. John, to welcome you into the Hall of Fame family, Being born into that Schuerholz family was and Commissioner, if you would read the the first of several events that I believe to have inscription on John's plaque. been divine providence or fate, if you will, that has ROB MANFRED: Thank you, Jane. impacted my life in remarkable fashion, and John Boland Schuerholz, Jr., gifted team growing up in that family of sportsmen and athletes builder whose steady hand and eye for talent introduced me early on in my life to the joys and to consistently produced winning results, learned his the challenges of competitive sports, especially craft in the player personnel department of the mid- baseball. 1960s Orioles before joining the Expansion I love baseball. I've loved it all my life. I Royals, developed talented Kansas City nucleus remember my dad rolling me a ball when I was as into AL powerhouse, advancing to the postseason young as I can remember. Then as I got older seven times in a 10-year stretch, named general under handing me plastic balls with plastic bats manager in 1981 and led franchise to first world and he instilled in me the love of our game and championship in 1985. Took over as Braves' especially those line drives when I hit them. That general manager and constructed rosters that love continued to grow with stick ball played would qualify for 14 straight postseasons, winning against the walls of factories in Baltimore, home five NL pennants and the 1995 Fall Classic. First plate drawn with chalk on the walls. With our best GM to win World Series titles in both leagues, broomstick bats we could find, we played until we continued as club president and vice-chairman lost or broke all of the balls or until it got dark. following his days as primary team architect. From stick ball to wiffle ball in the back JOHN SCHUERHOLZ: Thank you, Rob. yards, where I quickly learned to throw it and hit JANE FORBES CLARK: Ladies and sinkers, risers and knucklers, then on to Little gentlemen, John Schuerholz. League, American Legion, high school ball at JOHN SCHUERHOLZ: Thank you all so Baltimore City College High School, college ball at very much. Thank you, Jane. Thank you, Jeff. Towson State Teachers College then and now Some of you may know that I have in the past few Towson University. years served on committees and chaired a few Perhaps the most impactful life event in my committees for Major League Baseball that are life occurred in 1945, when at age five I contracted pretty impactful, one of which is pace of game German measles, which caused me to have a committee. I want you all to know that today's dangerously high fever that left me totally deaf in pace of game committee sits behind me right here. my right ear at age five. Because of this, however, Every one of these gentlemen is our pace of game. I had to learn to be a more attentive and intentional I'm delighted to be here at this moment, so listener, which I believe has served me quite well extraordinarily humbled, deeply honored, and throughout my life. Divine providence, fate, you thrilled beyond measure at this highest of all bet. baseball honors, and too, as the proud son of As my life continued to unfold, I enjoyed Maryne and John Schuerholz, my wonderful, loving playing high school and college baseball with high parents, and to honor them and my extended 07.30.17 - J. Schuerholz 1 visit our archives at asapsports.com hopes and aspirations of one day following in my extended Schuerholz family's outstanding athletic dad's footsteps and playing professional baseball prowess and reputation. as he did. My dad left Southern High School, Al In January of 1966, I accepted that job at Kaline's alma mater, and played three years in the the Orioles to experience my first-ever professional Philadelphia Athletics Organization before baseball Spring Training, actually in Fernandina suffering a broken leg turning a double play that Beach, Florida then, with my hometown Baltimore ended his professional baseball career. Orioles. Imagine that. Only great dreams begin Fast forward to the summer of 1961, my that way. junior year at Towson University. I was invited by I spent those formative years learning the legendary amateur scout in Baltimore, Walter baseball administration, mentored by these three Youse, to attend a two-day tryout camp. I thought I remarkable men, Frank Cashen, Harry Dalton, Lou had quite a good first day, but apparently not Gorman, and how fortunate I was. My dreams and because the start of the second day Walter aspirations of becoming a general manager and mentions me over and without saying a word building winning teams took root in those Oriole quickly hands me a camp roster and quickly hands years and I'm so thankful for it. me a stopwatch and says to me, "Schuerholz, I In 1968, just a few years after I had begun want you to get accurate home-to-first running working with the Orioles, Lou Gorman comes times on every one of these position players left in bursting into my office, and he says, "John, good this camp. news, we're going to Kansas City." Bam. Without saying much more, the And I said, "What's this "we" stuff, Lou? I'm a message of my life was delivered. I'd better Baltimore guy. I'm a city guy. My family and concentrate someplace other than trying to be a friends are here. I went to high school across the professional baseball player. Divine providence, street. I'm not going to Kansas City." fate, I truly believe so. But Lou with his usual good cheer and With that honest dose of scouting reality, I positive manner said, "John, you'll love it, and we'll redoubled my focus on my teaching career and be a part of building an expansion franchise from long-range plans of pursuing a master's degree. the very ground up." And that did appeal to me, One day in 1965, years into my teaching career, and Lou was right, going to Kansas City with him instead of going to the faculty room, which we did was a great decision. In fact, I met my wife Karen. often, I stayed in my room and wrote a letter to the Enough said. Divine providence, fate? Absolutely owner of the Baltimore Orioles, my Jerold so. Hoffberger explaining my lifelong love of the game Lou and I with our baseball staff in Kansas of baseball and my playing background while City, built a very strong organizational foundation expressing an interest in a front office position. My for those Expansion Royals, our special letter was forwarded to Mr. Frank Cashen, the relationship and friendship that he and I shared Orioles' newly appointed vice-president of player continued for many great years until his personnel, who previously was a sportswriter for unfortunate death in 2011, and I love that man. the Baltimore News American and recognized my One of the most impactful people that I've Schuerholz family last name. Frank shared that ever met in my life was Royals' owner Ewing letter with O's new GM Harry Dalton, and he Kauffman. He provided me with support, taught passed it on to director of player development Lou me so much about leadership and was very Gorman, who was interviewing candidates to be instrumental in my being named Royals general his assistant. And Frank said to those gentlemen, manager in 1981 at 41 years of age, then the "I don't know this young man at all, but I know he youngest general manager in baseball history. comes from good stock." Nowadays a general manager who turns 41 is A week later, I got a message to call Lou more likely to find retirement papers on his desk Gorman, and I did. We talked briefly, and Lou than anything else. finally said, "John, we've decided to offer you the My career in Kansas City provided me with job as the administrative assistant in player an opportunity to work closely with some very development for the Baltimore Orioles." And what special people like manager Dick Howser and Hall I thought was the result of a beautifully crafted, of Fame manager Whitey Herzog here with us well-written letter of application was in reality today. What a thrill that was. There also I met a simply Frank Cashen's personal knowledge of the 07.30.17 - J. Schuerholz 2 visit our archives at asapsports.com very special 17-year-old, once-in-a-lifetime player Afterward I was offered and accepted the job as who I saw play his very first professional baseball the executive vice president and general manager game in beautiful Billings, Montana. He always of the Atlanta Braves in the fall of 1990. Divine worked so hard to become great at his game that providence, fate that we shared that ride? No he loved so much, led his teams to winning doubt in my mind. seasons year after year, and rose to his well- Working 24/7 with Stan and Bobby and earned Hall of Fame status, my good friend together with Paul Snyder and Roy Clark and George Brett.