Cubs Mourn Former Outfielder, Hall Of Fame Scout And ‘Baseball Savant’ After Death

The Chicago Cubs have long relied on talent evaluators and player-development staff to identify the players who can shape the franchise’s future. Some of those contributions become visible through major-league success, while others are remembered most clearly by the people who worked alongside them.

Last week, a former minor league outfielder and longtime Cubs executive whose scouting work helped shape multiple organizations was remembered for his contributions on and off the field after his death.

“We lost a great one yesterday (in) Al Goldism” Cubs front office assistant Jerry Weinstein shared on X. “He was both the scouting director and director of player development for both the White Sox and Cubs. His most notable draft was Frank Thomas. Al was one of one. A baseball savant but also a human savant.”

Former Chicago Cubs Executive And Hall Of Fame Scout Al Goldis Helped Build Talent Pipeline

Though he joined the Cubs in 1992, Goldis became especially influential during his time directing scouting and player development for the Chicago White Sox in the late 1980s. His department helped identify several players who became major-league fixtures.

“The White Sox’s minor league system had a .532 winning percentage under Goldis’ direction, and the scouting department chose Jack McDowell in 1987, Robin Ventura in 1988, Frank Thomas in 1989 and Alex Fernandez in 1990 as first-round selections during his administration,” according to an archived report from the early ‘90s.

Thomas, selected seventh overall in the 1989 draft, went on to become one of the defining hitters of his generation. His success illustrated the long-term value of identifying talent before it reached the majors.

Goldis’s work was not limited to Chicago’s South Side. He also held scouting and player-development roles with other organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Cubs, building a career around evaluating players and helping clubs develop their next generation.

He was eventually inducted into the Professional Scouts Hall of Fame.

Chicago Cubs Remember Influential Executive After Death

Goldis joined the Cubs organization in the early 1990s, reuniting with general manager Larry Himes after their work together with the White Sox. The move reflected the value teams placed on executives who could connect scouting decisions with the development needed to turn prospects into major-league contributors.

Goldis also had a notable professional career himself, serving as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Athletics organizations after attending Temple University in his native Philadelphia.

And Weinstein’s tribute to Goldis emphasized that his reputation extended beyond his baseball knowledge. It was a powerful message for Cubs fans who can take the opportunity to remember a former key member of the organization.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com