Eddie Bockman Selected as the 2013 Dallas Green Award Winner

Longtime Phillies scout Eddie Bockman has been selected, posthumously, as the 2013 recipient of the Dallas Green Award, the club announced today.

"Eddie was one of the best scouts we have ever had in our organization," said Green. "He was an old-timer and a great evaluator of talent that knew the game inside and out. He fought very hard for his guys and his area. I used to go fishing with him, and boy did we have great times together. He was just a solid person."

Bockman, who passed away in 2011, spent 31 years in the Phillies organization as a scout from 1960 to 1991. Prior to his time with the Phillies, Bockman spent four seasons as in infielder in the major leagues with the New York Yankees (1946), Cleveland Indians (1947) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1948-49).

Best remembered for his signing of Phillies Wall of Fame shortstop Larry Bowa, Bockman was involved in the signing of 28 players who made it to the big leagues, including Bob Boone, Warren Brusstar, Mark Davis, Ricky Jordan, Randy Lerch, Buck Martinez, Dick Ruthven, Rick Schu, John Vukovich and Bob Walk.

"Eddie was the only scout that gave me an opportunity," said Bowa. "He overlooked my temper and told me to be myself and use all the negatives like being too small to play in the major leagues to my advantage. He stayed in touch with me during my entire career and I owe him a lot for taking a chance on a skinny kid from Sacramento."

The 2013 Dallas Green Award will be presented on September 17, prior to the game against the Miami Marlins. Accepting the award on Eddie Bockman's behalf will be his sister-in-law, Lois Bockman, as well as his nephew, Gary Bockman. The award is named after Green, who has spent over 55 years in professional baseball, including 43 with the Phillies.

Each year the club presents this award to an amateur or professional scout who best exemplifies the Phillies' standard for scouting while demonstrating the same loyalty, work ethic, dedication and passion as the award's namesake. The award also recognizes the scout's ability to judge not only a player's talent, but also his character and heart.