Al LaMacchia

Who was Al LaMacchia?

Alfred Anthony LaMacchia was a professional baseball player and scout. He was a right-handed pitcher who spent 14 years in the minor leagues where he accumulated a record of 159–117 and spent parts of three seasons with the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators compiling a 2–2 record. After his playing career ended, LaMacchia spent six decades as a scout with the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Los Angeles Dodgers, during which time he discovered dozens of players who made it to the major leagues.

He was born on September 15, 1921, in St. Louis, Missouri and served with the United States Army during World War II. LaMacchia started his pitching career in the St. Louis Browns organization with the Class D Paragould Browns in 1940, where he had a 16–7 record and worked his way up to the majors with a 15–5 record with the Class C St. Joseph Autos in 1941 and a 15–16 record with the Class A1 San Antonio Missions in 1942. LaMacchia made his major league debut on September 27, 1943 with the Browns, pitching portions of three seasons as a relief pitcher with the Browns and Washington Senators, with a 2–2 career record, 6.46 earned run average and seven strikeouts in 30⅔ innings pitched. He returned to the minor leagues, playing for various teams and organizations until 1954.