Baseball's Last Great Scout

“Baseball’s Last Great Scout was a great pleasure for me to read. Hugh Alexander was one of the most interesting and unique men I ever met. As far as baseball: his best quality was enthusiasm for the game along with confidence and desire to make his teams better. He was a great help to me and everyone else he worked with over the years.”—Jim Frey, former Major League Baseball coach and manager

“‘Uncle Hughie’ was truly an icon, a legend, and, as the book shows, a super scout. I’ve always felt the scouting profession in baseball has been underappreciated because so few fans really understand the trials and tribulations of the people who are the lifeblood of any organization. Dan’s book delves into one of the real old-time scout’s daily efforts to find the next Major League Baseball player. Hughie’s efforts played out in every change in scouting from true free agency to several changes in the draft rules. And because of his efforts and shrewdness in adapting to these changes, he helped all his teams get better. A fun read about a true character that I know you’ll enjoy.”—Dallas Green, senior advisor to the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies

"Dan Austin's appreciation of Alexander provides baseball fans with a sense of how scouts discovered and cultivated players before the advent of the Major League Scouting Bureau."—Bill Littlefield, Only a Game