The Dick Scott we welcome to the Hall tonight will not be found in Will Anderson's superb Was Baseball Really invented in Maine? because he was born in Portsmouth, N.H. But he graduated from Traip Academy in Kittery and ranks as one of the top moundsmen to twirl in the Southern York County League.
And he went on to climb the ladder all the way to brief appearances with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
At Traip, where he lettered in four sports, Scott recorded some extraordinary stints. At one point in the 1953 season, he hurled five one-hitters In a row, averaging 17 K’s per game. And these were 7 inning games! In the Western Tournament, he struck out 21 In a 10-inning shutout against Cape Elizabeth - a game in which he drove in the only run.
After graduation in ‘53, Dick was signed to a Brooklyn Dodger contract, but the U.S. Army got first grabs.
The stellar left-hander had a distinguished pitching career working for Uncle Sam. In one game, he struck out 19 to establish a Panama Armed Forces League record - thereby gaining mention in the Sporting News. He was Selected to the Armed Forces All-star team.
Dick's pro career began in 1955 with the Class D Georgia club. In his first season in the Dodger system, he had 251 strikeouts in 216 innings and led Georgia-Florida League with a 2.13 ERA. With these credits, he made the All-Star team and was selected as Rookie pitcher of the year.
He continued to labor in the Dodger system until 1963.
in 1959, he pitched winter baseball in Nicaragua with an 8-2 mark.
He beat Venezuela in the Caribbean Series, 2-1. After toiling at Spokane in the Pacific Coast League (AAA), where he had teammates such as Jim Gentile, Maury Wills, Norm and Larry Sherry, all future Dodger stars, the 6’2”, 190 Ib. southpaw was called up to the parent L.A. Dodgers in 1963. he appeared in 9 games with no decisions.
Following the '63 season, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for whom he pitched in three games, again with no record. Arm problems, which had plagued him earlier in his pro career, returned and he retired In 1964.
Dick now resides in Thomasville, Georgia with his wife of 35 years, Jonnnie.
The Scotts have three children and four grandchildren.
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