SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

RiverDogs Take Part in First Scouts Hall of Fame Induction Class

Published on May 12, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON- The Charleston RiverDogs, one of the six teams owned by the Goldklang Group, will participate in a summer-long ceremony to induct the first members into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame (PBSHOF) sponsored by the Topps Company, Inc.

The RiverDogs will hold their presentation on Friday, July 25, at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park when the team hosts the Hickory Crawdads.

The other five group-affiliated clubs (Ft. Myers Miracle, Hudson Valley Renegades, St. Paul Saints, Brockton Rox, and Sioux Falls Canaries) will each honor the inductees with an on-field ceremony along with the unveiling of a personalized bronze plaque.

The following scouts and respective dates represent the inaugural 2008 induction class:

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES - June 21

John Tumminia - Chicago White Sox

Tom Giordano - Texas Rangers

FORT MYERS MIRACLE - July 12

Tom Kotchman - Los Angeles Angels

Rudy Satin - San Francisco Giants

BROCKTON ROX - July 20

Lennie Merullo - MLSB

Buzz Bowers - Boston Red Sox

CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS - July 25

Lon Joyce - Los Angeles Dodgers

Donny Rowland - New York Yankees

SIOUX FALLS CANARIES - August 8

Brad Sloan - Los Angeles Angels

Art Stewart - Kansas City Royals

ST. PAUL SAINTS - August 15

Phil Rizzo - LA Dodgers

Hep Cronin - Atlanta Braves

Each scout selected had to have a minimum of 20 years professional experience, and a combination of quantifiable success in the field, contributions made to the game in other areas of the sport, and their involvement and dedication to the local community that is honoring them through induction.

In conjunction with the ballpark campaigns, Topps also plans to create special trading cards for each scout as part of the individual presentation to each inductee.

Lon Joyce

Lon Joyce has been employed by the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1992 as the territorial scout responsible for the evaluating and signing of amateur players in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Throughout his tenure as a professional scout, he has signed five major leaguers to date: OF Reggie Abercrombie, OF Luke Allen, RHP Jonathan Broxton, RHP Edwin Jackson and INF/OF Adam Riggs.

Joyce got his start as an affiliated scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers, while he was coaching and teaching at Spartanburg Methodist College in Spartanburg, SC. During his 14 years coaching at SMC, he led his teams to a 473-170 record and had 42 of his players sign professional contracts with six of them making it to the major leagues.

Joyce resides in Danbury, NC with his wife Reada along with their two daughters, Brett and Cathryn.

Donny Rowland

Donny Rowland began his professional career with Detroit as an eighth round pick in the

1985 draft. After his playing career ended in 1989, he served as a Tigers Minor League instructor and then as a scout.

Rowland joined the Royals organization on Aug. 26, 2004 as Senior Director of Player Personnel. Rowland oversaw the evaluation, modification, integration and communication of player plans in the areas of player development, scouting and Latin American operations.

Rowland served as the Director of Scouting for the Anaheim Angels from 1999-2003, which included the Angels' 2002 World Championship season. Before joining Anaheim, he served as a national scout and pro cross-checker for the New York Yankees from 1995-99.

Rowland graduated with a degree in Management and Finance from the University of Miami in 1987. He was a member of two Hurricane National Championship teams (1982, 1985). He resides in Gallatin, Tennessee with his wife, Annette. The couple has two sons, Shane and Tristan.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 12, 2008


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