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FSL Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Mike Radcliff Enshrined in Killebrew Root Beer Professional Scouts Hall of Fame

September 3, 2021 - Florida State League (FSL)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are proud to announce Minnesota Twins VP of Player Personnel Mike Radcliff as the 2021 inductee into the Killebrew Root Beer Professional Scouts Hall of Fame.

Radcliff becomes the 16th member of the heralded group, and will be formally inducted prior to a Twins' spring training game in 2022. Radcliff's plaque will join the 15 members already enshrined outside the main entrance to William H. Hammond Stadium.

"It's always great to be recognized by your peers in the baseball community," Radcliff said. "This one has more prominent meaning to me because it has the name Killebrew in it. Harmon Killebrew was such a great player in our organization, but beyond that - he's someone that's so looked up to by everybody in the organization for the way he handled himself, the way he respected the game. It's a great honor all the way around."

Radcliff was nominated by a panel of his peers, many of which are current members of the Killebrew Root Beer Professional Scouts Hall of Fame.

Requirements for induction include:

Strong professional scouting background

Represented the scouting community in a professional manner and made contributions to growing the game of baseball

Made a significant impact within their organization

Worked and resided in Florida for a significant portion of their career

"As a scouting director, I spent more time in Florida than any state in the union," Radcliff said. "The combination of our complex and scouting in general, I'd always go to spring training in the Fort Myers area. I'd always try to scout as much of Florida as possible in February and March. Even though I live in Kansas City, I feel like I'm a part time resident of Florida."

Radcliff dedicated over three decades of his life to the Minnesota Twins' organization, and still oversees draft operations and various scouting ventures. He was hired by Twins' scouting director and eventual general manager Terry Ryan in 1987, and has been with the organization ever since.

Radcliff started his tenure as the club's Midwest Area Scout, but quickly ascended to Scouting Director in 1993. He became the longest-tenured scouting director in Major League Baseball, holding the position until 2007 when he transitioned into the role of VP, Player Personnel.

In his 14 years as scouting director, the Twins won four division championships in a five-year span from 2002-06, one of the most successful stretches in franchise history. Radcliff oversaw the selections of several legendary Twins' players - including Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter, Denard Span, Todd Walker, Glen Perkins, Pat Neshek, Michael Cuddyer, A.J. Hinch, A.J. Pierzynski and many others.

After his title change in 2007, Radcliff continued to be a significant voice inside the Twins' draft room and scouting efforts. As the generations of front office personnel turned over and technology evolved, Radcliff's testimony still holds as much weight as anyone in the organization. In 2011, his MLB peers voted him the Midwest Scout of the Year. In 2014, he was inducted into the Professional Sports Hall of Fame. He received the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award in Scouting in 2016 - a tremendous honor given by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.

As the industry continues to evolve, Radcliff's dedication and belief in scouting remains steadfast.

"What scouts can offer up most is the vetting of the player, the makeup of the player - what he's about," he said. "His different personality traits are going to impact and affect how he applies his physical tools to the journey of developing. The best teams are incorporating all of that into one giant process. Hopefully we're one of those teams."

The Mighty Mussels and Killebrew Root Beer Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame look forward to celebrating Mike's career alongside his beloved Twins' colleagues during spring training. More details on the spring training induction ceremony will be distributed as they become finalized.

KILLEBREW ROOT BEER SCOUTS HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

John Barr Tom Kotchman Rudy Santin

Murray Cook Jorge Posada Sr. Tim Wilken

Larry Corrigan Mike Radcliff Luke Wrenn

Jack Gillis Mike Russell Dave Yoakum

Allen G. Goldis Terry Ryan

Dan Jennings Marty Scott

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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