SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Braves' Paul Snyder to be Inducted in the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame

Published on May 15, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Paul Snyder, the longtime amateur scouting director for the Atlanta Braves who helped mold the likes of Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, David Justice, Jeff Blauser and Chipper Jones, will be enshrined in the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame on Friday, June 14, prior to the Charleston RiverDogs game against the Augusta GreenJackets at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

This will be the sixth year of honoring pro scouts, with the selections announced by The Goldklang Group, owners of the Charleston RiverDogs.

"The honor of inducting scouts that have given their lives to this profession and the game of baseball remains a tremendous privilege," said Tyler Tumminia, Senior Vice President of The Goldklang Group. "Over the past six years the SHOF has transformed from an idea into an initiative that is widely lauded within the industry. We are proud to continue this tradition of celebrating the careers of these deserving and distinguished scouts."

Criteria for induction includes a minimum of 20 years of pro scouting experience, with selection based on a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport whether professional or amateur, and importantly, their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.

Snyder (born June 11, 1935) played an integral role in the rise and sustained dominance of the Atlanta Braves during the 1990s as the team's longtime amateur scouting director (1981-1990; 1999-2000), assistant to the general manager (1991-1995; 2001-2006), and director of player development (1977-1980; 1996-1998). In recognition of Snyder's career accomplishments, Baseball America named him one of the top 25 people in the game on the publication's 25th anniversary in 2006.

"When I got the call I was overwhelmed," said Snyder. "I'm very honored by this. The biggest thing when one is a scouting director is that you need good help. And I was blessed to have had great help. It's nice to be honored, and I thank the RiverDogs for it."

Snyder was born in Dallastown, Pa. He spent his entire 50-year professional baseball career in the Braves' organization, signing with them as an outfielder and first baseman in 1958 when the team was still based in Milwaukee. As a player, Snyder never reached the Major Leagues, peaking at Class AAA in 1963 with the Denver Bears of the Pacific Coast League - a season which also saw his debut as a minor league manager in the Braves' farm system.

Snyder managed Braves' farm clubs and scouted for them between 1963 and 1972. In 1973, he joined the team's front office as assistant minor league administrator before taking the reins of the Braves' farm department in 1977. Working with then-general managers Bill Lucas and John Mullen, Snyder was a major architect of the Braves' strong early 1980s teams under manager Joe Torre - despite having suffered a stroke at age 40.

When the Braves went through a prolonged rebuilding process after winning the 1982 National League West Division championship, Snyder, as the scouting director, assisted general manager Bobby Cox in drafting and developing the talent base - players such as Glavine, Avery, Justice, Blauser and Jones - that served as the foundation for the Braves' string of first-place teams of the 1990s and the 1995 World Champions. He also served as top assistant to John Schuerholz when he took over the Atlanta front office after the 1990 season and performed a number of key functions in the Braves' baseball operations department in addition to working as scouting or player development director.

Snyder retired from the Braves after the 2007 season. In 2005 he was inducted into the Braves Museum & Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he was presented with the King of Baseball Award given by Minor League Baseball.

Charleston's Members in the Professional Scouts Hall of Fame

2013 - Paul Snyder, Braves

2012 - Bill Lajoie, Tigers

2011 - Mike Toomey, Royals

2010 - Jax Robertson, Pirates

2009 - Tom Burns, Blue Jays

Howard McCullough, Diamondbacks

2008 - Lon Joyce, Dodgers

Donny Rowland, Yankees

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 15, 2013


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