Al LaMacchia

Alfred Anthony LaMacchia (July 22, 1921 – September 15, 2010) was an American 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 (1943, 1945–46) 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.

Playing career LaMacchia was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and served with the United States Army during World War II. He 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 (1943, 1945–46) 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 innings pitched. He returned to the minor leagues, playing for various teams and organizations until 1954.

Pat Gillick, a scout for the New York Yankees, competed against LaMacchia for players in South Texas, mentioned LaMacchia during his induction speech at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2011. Gillick hired LaMacchia to work for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976.

He was signed by St. Louis Browns scout Lou Maguolo.

LaMacchia died at age 89 on September 15, 2010, at his home in San Antonio, Texas, after having experienced a stroke in the weeks before his death.