SEATTLE, Wash. - Carl Hamilton, who spent 31 years as a Major League video coordinator - including the final 21 seasons (1990-2010) of his Major League career as Seattle's video coordinator - has passed away at the age of 77.
Hamilton (born Aug. 10, 1940), began his career in Major League Baseball in 1980 with the Texas Rangers as one of the first video coordinators in the Majors, prior to joining the Mariners organization in 1990. His career spanned cutting tape by hand with a razor blade to the digital era. In 2005, the Professional Baseball Video Coordinators Association (PBVCA) awarded its first-ever award for excellence to Carl Hamilton and voted unanimously to name the annual excellence award the Carl Hamilton Award.
"Carl was a baseball original, and he was a key part of the greatest teams in our history," said Mariners President & Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mather. "His work ethic, his constant desire to assist others to be better, and his giving nature were hallmarks of his 21 seasons as our video coordinator. But more than that, the way he lived his life was a great example. A veteran, a heart transplant recipient who worked while awaiting a donor heart, and continued his career for more than 15 years after the transplant, he was an inspiration to many of us. Our thoughts tonight are with his wife Betty, his four children: Kathleen, Mark, Mike and Kimberly, his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren."
In his 21 seasons with the Seattle organization, all as the Mariners Major League video coordinator, Carl's responsibilities include recording every Mariners game and other Major League games for scouting and training purposes; videotaping Major League players and pitchers during spring training and the regular season; taping minor league players at spring training; and preparing training, highlight and motivational tapes for the Mariners organization.
Following his retirement, Carl moved to Texas to be nearer to his children and grandchildren.
Prior to joining the Mariners in 1990, Carl spent 10 years with the Texas Rangers as their Major League video coordinator.
Before his career in baseball, Carl worked as a police officer, in private security and served in the Marine Corps.
His son Mike was the 2006 Carl Hamilton Award winner as video coordinator for the Colorado Rockies before moving to a pro scouting role.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that people consider becoming registered as organ donors.